Smart meter trap

ellismp

Hi
We had a smart meter installed over 12 months ago by outfoxthemarket but it stopped sending readings after a week or two.
We have an electric cat and would like to switch to eg the octopus go tariff which is 12p at night for charging.
But they won't take us on with a smart meter that doesn't work. 
Outfoxthemarket have sent engineers several times but the last was early October and he said it all needs redoing. 
They refuse to give us an appointment so we're stuck with them. This seems very convenient for them as we are high users. 
What can we do? 

ellismp

Electric car!!! 

ariarnia

theres some advice here on what to do if your smart reader has stopped sending readings. i've only had a quick look at the forum but some of the suggestions there about how to diagnose the problem. if you can tell out fox or octopus exactly what the problem is then they might be able to help. 

https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/what-to-do-if-your-smart-meter-isnt-sending-readings

[Deleted User]

Just switch to Octopus on a standard tariff. The meter assets then become Octopus’ responsibility.

MattMattMattUK

ellismp said:

Hi
We had a smart meter installed over 12 months ago by outfoxthemarket but it stopped sending readings after a week or two.
We have an electric cat and would like to switch to eg the octopus go tariff which is 12p at night for charging.
But they won't take us on with a smart meter that doesn't work. 
Outfoxthemarket have sent engineers several times but the last was early October and he said it all needs redoing. 
They refuse to give us an appointment so we're stuck with them. This seems very convenient for them as we are high users. 
What can we do? 

There is a shortage of smart meters is due to the semiconductor shortage at the moment, if they do not have them then they cannot install them and their priority will be people who have a non-working meter (not just not working in smart mode), new builds etc.

Your usage will be irrelevantly small to them, they do not care about you leaving, it is why energy providers do not have retention departments. 

As others have said you can switch to Octopus and then ask them to get the smart meter working. You will probably find the timescale will be similar, but at least you will have already completed the switch so when the meter is working in smart mode again you will be able to start on Go immediately. 

ellismp

MattMattMattUK said:

ellismp said:

Hi
We had a smart meter installed over 12 months ago by outfoxthemarket but it stopped sending readings after a week or two.
We have an electric cat and would like to switch to eg the octopus go tariff which is 12p at night for charging.
But they won't take us on with a smart meter that doesn't work. 
Outfoxthemarket have sent engineers several times but the last was early October and he said it all needs redoing. 
They refuse to give us an appointment so we're stuck with them. This seems very convenient for them as we are high users. 
What can we do? 

There is a shortage of smart meters is due to the semiconductor shortage at the moment, if they do not have them then they cannot install them and their priority will be people who have a non-working meter (not just not working in smart mode), new builds etc.

Your usage will be irrelevantly small to them, they do not care about you leaving, it is why energy providers do not have retention departments. 

As others have said you can switch to Octopus and then ask them to get the smart meter working. You will probably find the timescale will be similar, but at least you will have already completed the switch so when the meter is working in smart mode again you will be able to start on Go immediately. 

Octopus told me they won't take anyone without a fully working meter. 

MattMattMattUK

ellismp said:

MattMattMattUK said:

ellismp said:

Hi
We had a smart meter installed over 12 months ago by outfoxthemarket but it stopped sending readings after a week or two.
We have an electric cat and would like to switch to eg the octopus go tariff which is 12p at night for charging.
But they won't take us on with a smart meter that doesn't work. 
Outfoxthemarket have sent engineers several times but the last was early October and he said it all needs redoing. 
They refuse to give us an appointment so we're stuck with them. This seems very convenient for them as we are high users. 
What can we do? 

There is a shortage of smart meters is due to the semiconductor shortage at the moment, if they do not have them then they cannot install them and their priority will be people who have a non-working meter (not just not working in smart mode), new builds etc.

Your usage will be irrelevantly small to them, they do not care about you leaving, it is why energy providers do not have retention departments. 

As others have said you can switch to Octopus and then ask them to get the smart meter working. You will probably find the timescale will be similar, but at least you will have already completed the switch so when the meter is working in smart mode again you will be able to start on Go immediately. 

Octopus told me they won't take anyone without a fully working meter. 

Did they say they will not take anyone full stop, or that they will not take you onto one of their ToU tariffs? If you asked to transfer to Go without a working smart meter they would say no as it requires a working smart meter, but they may well take you on their SVR?