Hive hub waste

martin_j

We recently bought a house that was fitted with the hive heating system which the previous owner left behind. When I tried to link to my account it failed because it was still linked to the previous owner. I contacted Hive and asked if they could deregister the hub but they told me I had to buy a new hub for £60. I find this an utter waste of money, there is nothing wrong with the existing hub but I'm expected to throw it away so they can con me out of £60 as they are obviously desperate for the money.

Bendy_House

It's a strange setup right enough.

Hive's 'reasoning' is that the Hub is tied to the original account holder, so they are expected to take it with them to their next house - where they presumably buy a new Stat and Receiver... Yup, cynical.

What to do? Yup, buy a new Hub. You can get them for a bit less than that if you bide your time on t'Bay, but make absolutely certain it's 'new and UNUSED' - not registered - and is a Hub 2 or 2.5.

Or, if you know the contact details of the previous owner, there's no harm in asking them if they mind passing on their email addy and login details, and you should be able to continue to use it - but don't be surprised if they say 'Non'!

I fitted a Hub to my system recently (by deft buying and selling, it cost me not a penny), and I added a new gmail address with 'Hive' and my home address in the title specifically and solely for this. The customer name I added was that of the house's first owner back in 1939 - my name isn't really 'Reginald'  :-) When I come to sell, it'll all be passed on to the new owner, and Hive won't even know - not that they could do anything about it if they did.

Arfa__

Had the same issue when we moved into a house with a full Hive set up last year. The prior owner was very kind and did try to contact Hive to transfer ownership, but could not persuade Hive to do this. Ended up buying a new hub.

Totally sucks that Hive proposes we fling perfectly good hardware into landfill because they want to force a fresh sale. Certainly puts me off going with Hive again when we need to replace the boiler and ancillary kit.

TBF the hub only lets you control stuff via your phone, the on-wall thermostat should still work regardless, from which you can set up everything just the same. Granted the phone app is slightly easier to set up your hot water and heating schedules and you have the option to 'boost' the heating/water from wherever you're sat, but in retrospect, it's very rare I actually delve into the phone app, you're not getting a huge amount of functionality or convenience for your £60. I'd personally save your cash and just control everything from the wall control panel.

FreeBear

Arfa__ said: Totally sucks that Hive proposes we fling perfectly good hardware into landfill

Electronic equipment should never go to landfill - There are regulations in place to encourage recycling or reuse - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regulations-waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment

Hive should be accepting the return of any equipment that they want you to replace and fund measures to recycle.

Bendy_House

Whatever their presumably cynical reasoning, it isn't that bad in the scheme of things. You either accept it as a quirk of Hive's, or don't, and choose an alternative. It's not a big outlay for the duration of your house stay.

The phone app makes it HUGELY easier to program, and is actually pretty essential if you go for the much neater 'Mini' - there's a lot you just cannot do via the actual unit with that model.

You can pick up an unused Hub for around £40 quite easily. 

Anyhoo, as I said, whoever takes on our house won't even have that minor issue.

SarahB16

martin_j said:

We recently bought a house that was fitted with the hive heating system which the previous owner left behind. When I tried to link to my account it failed because it was still linked to the previous owner. I contacted Hive and asked if they could deregister the hub but they told me I had to buy a new hub for £60. I find this an utter waste of money, there is nothing wrong with the existing hub but I'm expected to throw it away so they can con me out of £60 as they are obviously desperate for the money.

I can understand your frustration.  I wonder if the hub you have is one of the ones which is being discontinued next year?  

I have had Hive heating ever since they launched (was one of their first customers) and wouldn't be without it.  It's far easier to use than Nest heating.  

The hub I had is being discontinued (middle of 2023 (can't remember the exact month they said in their e-mail to me)) however they did offer me a 50% discount (perhaps because I am an existing customer though) if I bought the new hub (i.e. so I only had to pay £30).  

It might be worth you phoning them again and seeing if you can get a 50% discount.  If you buy directly from them if you have any problems you can speak to their customer advisors as you would be a registered customer. 

I would highly recommend Hive heating to anyone as you only need to pay the one off amount and thankfully no ongoing monthly charges.  

Bendy_House

It doesn't matter where you buy the hub. As soon as it's registered to 'you', then you have full help and assistance via 'chat' - and I have found them to be very good.

Is the Hub500 Nano 2.5 the very latest? If so, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234649906154?hash=item36a2396bea:g:i1EAAOSw6Oti7kF5 ?

SarahB16

Bendy_House said:

It doesn't matter where you buy the hub. As soon as it's registered to 'you', then you have full help and assistance via 'chat' - and I have found them to be very good.

Is the Hub500 Nano 2.5 the very latest? If so, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234649906154?hash=item36a2396bea:g:i1EAAOSw6Oti7kF5 ?

I've checked my order and unfortunately in the order details they do not provide that level of detail and my Hive box/packaging is now in my loft however from looking at the link to ebay it does look exactly the same as the one I got approximately two weeks ago so I would say yes this would appear to be the very latest one.     

Bendy_House

It's usually printed on the underside of the Hub - like Hub320, 360, 500.

I was just wondering in general if the Nano 2.5 - Hub500 - is the very latest, as that would make that eBay sale a bit of a bargain.

SarahB16

Bendy_House said:

It's usually printed on the underside of the Hub - like Hub320, 360, 500.

I was just wondering in general if the Nano 2.5 - Hub500 - is the very latest, as that would make that eBay sale a bit of a bargain.

On checking my Hub yes it is the Nano 2.5 - Hub500.  In very small print on the underside of the Hub it does say Hub500.   

Bendy_House

Thanks for that, Sarah. The 2.5/Hub500 would appear to be the latest then. And that eBay listing a very good deal.

There you go Martin