British Gas still using intimidatory tactics for smart meter appointments

TheElectricCow

You’re interpretation of those messages clearly differs from mine, but to me none of that reads as remotely malicious or intimidating.

Absolutely agree they should not be making the appointment without consulting you first, but it seems quite clearly explained that you’d be able to freely cancel or reschedule it anytime within the next week without incurring any fees.

Somniac

mmmmikey said:

This looks like a standard notification that goes out when a smart meter appointment has been made. I can see it would be annoying if you either didn't or don't remember making an appointment but I think it's a stretch to describe it as intimadating.

Is it possible that at some stage you signed up to a tarriff where the terms said they could install a smart meter and the time for them to do that has finally come? Or maybe at some time you got one of those "if you do think that you don't want (whatever) then don't tick the box that says yes" questions and you mistakenly agreed to having one?

Even if it isn't one of these things it could be as simple as a human error somewhere and cancelling the appointment if you don't want it is all that is needed.

Yes I have cancelled it. No I'm sure I didn't knowingly make the appt. because I have read about numerous problems with fitting them to gas meters in particular and am sure I have never wanted one fitted.
It's possible it was in some terms and conditions but they haven't pushed it so I don't know. It was the tone I had a problem with and just imagined how an 80 year old internet unfamiliar would deal. I am 71 but quite savvy.

Gerry1

A 'Penalty If You Don't Opt Out' system is completely wrong, especially with such short notice.

For all BG know, the OP might have been in hospital or on a cruise and out of reach of snail mail and WiFi.

Submit a formal complaint and make a big fuss to stop it happening to others.

GingerTim

Somniac said:

Dolor said:

Somniac said:

Hi all

I recently got a notification (unsolicited) for a smart meter installation (which I don't want). They had made an appointment for installation with a warning I would be charged £30 if I wasn't in or didnt cancel soon enough. After some struggle,I found the appointment on the gas account not on the electric account. I have now cancelled the appointment. This seems to me to be intimidatory.

What did the notification say? If your meter is end-of-life, then the supplier has the legal right to/ and is required to fit a replacement meter. Under Government policy, the supplier can now fit a smart meter in these situations.

My meter is fairly new. The notice referred to the gas meter (about 3 years old) but I assume they would fit a smart meter to the electric meter also. (about 5 years old). Both meters are outside my flat and accessible without my knowledge or cooperation.

I was under the impression that if the meters are outside your property that they can be changed without your permission. Is that incorrect?

Gerry1

Yes, it's incorrect.  For gas, they have to bleed the air from downstream of the new meter.  For electricity, apparatus and sensitive items need to be closed down individually before the power is switched off.  Obviously this cannot be achieved without the householder in attendance.

Even then, things can still go badly wrong when smart meters are fitted:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5776998/smart-meter-fitted-now-boiler-broken

Somniac

Gerry1 said:

Yes, it's incorrect.  For gas, they have to bleed the air from downstream of the new meter.  For electricity, apparatus and sensitive items need to be closed down individually before the power is switched off.  Obviously this cannot be achieved without the householder in attendance.

Even then, things can still go badly wrong when smart meters are fitted:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5776998/smart-meter-fitted-now-boiler-broken

A very interesting thread. Thanks. I have read of numerous cases like this with gas meters.

GingerTim

Gerry1 said:

Yes, it's incorrect.  For gas, they have to bleed the air from downstream of the new meter.  For electricity, apparatus and sensitive items need to be closed down individually before the power is switched off.  Obviously this cannot be achieved without the householder in attendance.

Even then, things can still go badly wrong when smart meters are fitted:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5776998/smart-meter-fitted-now-boiler-broken

Ta!       

Somniac

I also note gas meter must be closer than 10 metres or according to some 18 metres apart. I am on the 5th floor and my electric meter is on the same floor whereas the gas meter is on the ground soit could be they couldn’t fit it anyway but nowhere on the BG site does have this info that I could find. They could fit the meter and it won’t work because it’s too far from the electric meter.

[Deleted User]

Somniac said:

Gerry1 said:

Yes, it's incorrect.  For gas, they have to bleed the air from downstream of the new meter.  For electricity, apparatus and sensitive items need to be closed down individually before the power is switched off.  Obviously this cannot be achieved without the householder in attendance.

Even then, things can still go badly wrong when smart meters are fitted:-

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5776998/smart-meter-fitted-now-boiler-broken

A very interesting thread. Thanks. I have read of numerous cases like this with gas meters.

The physical process of changing a gas meter has not changed in decades. The installer turns off the gas; removes the meter and the regulator; fits a new meter and regulator; turns on the supply; tests the system pressure and purges all air out of system. A boiler failing is most likely due to the fact that ELECTRICAL power is also turned off to protect the boiler.

There are now over 32M smart meters in our homes with over 3M being installed each year. A few posts about a gas boiler PCB failure on this forum does not constitute ‘numerous cases’. PCBs deteriorate over time.

Spoonie_Turtle

Somniac said:

I also note gas meter must be closer than 10 metres or according to some 18 metres apart. I am on the 5th floor and my electric meter is on the same floor whereas the gas meter is on the ground soit could be they couldn’t fit it anyway but nowhere on the BG site does have this info that I could find. They could fit the meter and it won’t work because it’s too far from the electric meter.

It will work as a meter, it just wouldn't be functioning as a smart meter because it couldn't communicate with the hub that's usually on top of the electricity meter.  They can fit communications hubs on gas meters as well though, as an exception where need be.