How would I go about getting a pay as you go electricity meter replaced with a normal billed meter? 30 January at 11:04PM in Energy 71 replies 1.8K views

Leeroy909

Hi folks, so I've just moved into a property supplied by SSE that has a pay as you go leccy meter. This is obviously quite inconvenient, so I've tried to get them to change it back to a normal meter and get bills like I've always had and like every other meter in the building. However, they've been extremely pushy with trying to get me to have a smart meter, going as far as lying to get me to agree to an appointment and hanging up on me to prevent me cancelling the appointment.

Would anyone be able to tell me how I can change back over to a normal billed meter and not a smart meter? The only other thing I can think to do is change supplier to one that would be less hassle to get this done. If this is the only thing I can do, how would I do it and which supplier would be the best to get it done?

Thanks!

GingerTim

The energy suppliers are under no obligation to install anything but a smart meter if you want to switch from on old school pre-payment meter to paying by credit - and indeed are required to.

Keep_pedalling

You have two choices stay as you are with a crappy PAYG meter or replace it with a more convenient smart meter.

Why the strong objection to a SM?

pochase

All replacements will now be smart meters, there are not even any other meters in stock at most suppliers.

So if your meter breaks or as in your case you want another meter it will be a smart meter. 

Changing to a different supplier will not help you here. They cannot force you to get a smart meter, and you cannot force them to install a non smart meter.

TimSynths

I think your only option is to move to a home with a dumb meter.

Dolor

My understanding is that if a smart meter is fitted then it may be fitted as in the pre-payment mode and once the account is up and running the meter is then changed to credit. This apparently is avoid the possibility of industry data flow confusion/errors.

macman

The above post is correct. Any new meter fitted now will be a smart meter.
If you change from a PPM to a credit meter you will be charged. So, to avoid this, request a smart meter, on PPM. Once installed, you can request a switch to credit mode, which will be done remotely.
If you wish, you can then wrap the meter in a double layer of tinfoil  and it will revert to dumb mode....

EssexHebridean

Hi OP - if you can let us know why you are unhappy about having a smart meter fitted there is a very good chance that some of the well informed and knowledgeable folk on here will be able to set your mind at rest on what is concerning you. There is a lot written and said about smart meters which simply isn't true, or contains a very small element of fact padded out with much fearmongering - and unfortunately that sort of "fake news" has a habit of gaining traction and putting people like yourself, who would really benefit from a meter change - off taking that path. 

diystarter7

Leeroy909 said:

Hi folks, so I've just moved into a property supplied by SSE that has a pay as you go leccy meter. This is obviously quite inconvenient, so I've tried to get them to change it back to a normal meter and get bills like I've always had and like every other meter in the building. However, they've been extremely pushy with trying to get me to have a smart meter, going as far as lying to get me to agree to an appointment and hanging up on me to prevent me cancelling the appointment.

Would anyone be able to tell me how I can change back over to a normal billed meter and not a smart meter? The only other thing I can think to do is change supplier to one that would be less hassle to get this done. If this is the only thing I can do, how would I do it and which supplier would be the best to get it done?

Thanks!

Hi OP

It's not your outfit that does that

From our supplier and I have made an official complaint to get it stopped. You get a call they talk fast and tell us "you need to get a smart meter installed as per government incentive........."  Thy make it sound as though its mandatory and when challenged they get confused,

I complained a couple of months ago and the first response was bs cut and paste that claimed to have confirmed I wanted a smart meter I was a bit unhappy with that so rang up, demanded to speak with a manager and that took doing then got an apology and they agreed to "train up.." the staff that had rang us,


I would not have a Smart meter as posting here about it having read the problems, though these problems may be small when compared to the numbers installed, it is not for us. The first generation smart meters, lol, the stories I've rad about them wanting to change to another supplier, gen two has addressed this they say

Another fear I have is once there are a few more of these smart meters - as recent weeks the suppliers gave a "discount" to some that opted not to use gas/elctiric at a certain tiem - its only a matter of time before those on smart meters may be asked to pay more during peak hours.

We have a water meter not via choice but because we moved - costs a lot more than not having one for us.

Sadly as another poster said, you will need to keep the meter you have or move if you want the meter the old type metter millions have in their homes in  England

Thanks

GingerTim

diystarter7 said:

Leeroy909 said:

Hi folks, so I've just moved into a property supplied by SSE that has a pay as you go leccy meter. This is obviously quite inconvenient, so I've tried to get them to change it back to a normal meter and get bills like I've always had and like every other meter in the building. However, they've been extremely pushy with trying to get me to have a smart meter, going as far as lying to get me to agree to an appointment and hanging up on me to prevent me cancelling the appointment.

Would anyone be able to tell me how I can change back over to a normal billed meter and not a smart meter? The only other thing I can think to do is change supplier to one that would be less hassle to get this done. If this is the only thing I can do, how would I do it and which supplier would be the best to get it done?

Thanks!

Hi OP

It's not your outfit that does that

From our supplier and I have made an official complaint to get it stopped. You get a call they talk fast and tell us "you need to get a smart meter installed as per government incentive........."  Thy make it sound as though its mandatory and when challenged they get confused,

I complained a couple of months ago and the first response was bs cut and paste that claimed to have confirmed I wanted a smart meter I was a bit unhappy with that so rang up, demanded to speak with a manager and that took doing then got an apology and they agreed to "train up.." the staff that had rang us,


I would not have a Smart meter as posting here about it having read the problems, though these problems may be small when compared to the numbers installed, it is not for us. The first generation smart meters, lol, the stories I've rad about them wanting to change to another supplier, gen two has addressed this they say

Another fear I have is once there are a few more of these smart meters - as recent weeks the suppliers gave a "discount" to some that opted not to use gas/elctiric at a certain tiem - its only a matter of time before those on smart meters may be asked to pay more during peak hours.

We have a water meter not via choice but because we moved - costs a lot more than not having one for us.

Sadly as another poster said, you will need to keep the meter you have or move if you want the meter the old type metter millions have in their homes in  England

Thanks

I would suggest that it's much more likely that those not on smart meters will be paying peak rates all the time, with no option of cheaper rates at certain times offered to those with smart meters - much like the Octopus variable tariffs.

macman

Those on smart meters will have access to TOU tariffs, so rates will vary by the half hour. No different to E7, but much more flexible and sophisticated. 
If you had a water meter fitted from the day you moved into the property, then how do you know you are paying 'much more' compared to RV biling, since you will have never paid an RV bill at that property?