British Gas and Smart meters

TELLIT01

In January this year I had a text from BG telling me that an engineer would be attending my house on a certain date and time to install smart meters.  As I would either be in hospital or just returned home after major surgery that date was not suitable.  I was unable to cancel on the app, just attempt to reschedule, and the available period was far too short.  I had to phone BG and wait an eternity before I could speak to anybody.  I asked if it was compulsory and told it was not.  I said I didn't want to get them installed at this time and was informed that a note would be put on the system to that effect and I would not be contacted again by BG. It would be up to me to let BG know if and when I wanted to proceed.

Fast forward to today when I received a new text, again telling me when the engineer would come.  I also received an email stating that if I wasn't home I could be hit with a £30 bill.

Why should it be up to me to tell them once again that it's not convenient, as I have already done so?  Once again, despite the e-mail saying I can cancel using the app, there is no way to do so.  If I want to cancel I'll have to go through the phone faff all over again.

Before anybody starts on about the benefits of smart meters, that isn't the point.  BG were told that I didn't want them and acknowledged that it was my decision.

mr_stripey

just call them and arrange a time when you will be at home 

JetpackVelociraptor

I had a similar issue with British Gas. Remember, you have the right to refuse to have a smart meter installed at all! I cancelled my appointment, and will continue to cancel every appointment they make until it actually becomes compulsory. At the moment, it isn't.

I was able to cancel mine online, I received an email from them with a link to "change or cancel" the appointment. The link was britishgas.co.uk/smartbook if that helps?

For anyone wondering why someone might not want a smart meter, just have a think about how much you trust your electricity supplier. For me personally, the answer is not at all, and it's the same for all of them because at this point I've had poor experiences with every electricity provider I've ever had. I don't pay via direct debit for the same reason. I'm happy to let someone read the meter, and I'm happy to supply meter readings, but I sure as hell won't trust them to make an accurate recording of the usage no matter what technology they claim to be working with.

rollingmoon

BG did this to me when I was with them briefly... the customer neither asked for nor made the appointment, therefore the £30 penalty is unenforceable in my opinion. I ignored several of them, on a couple of occasions they turned up, as evidenced by a card pushed through the door, but the appointments and visits stopped, presumably when they worked out I wasn't remotely interested and wasn't going to engage with them. Certainly nothing was ever said about following up on the '£30 penalty' threat.

mr_stripey

JetpackVelociraptor said:

For anyone wondering why someone might not want a smart meter, just have a think about how much you trust your electricity supplier. For me personally, the answer is not at all, and it's the same for all of them because at this point I've had poor experiences with every electricity provider I've ever had. 

Or, for balance, the vast (silent) majority of people have had no problem with their electricity or gas supplier. The industry is regulated and has it's own independent ombudsman to oversee disputes.

There are millions of smart meters installed and very few problems. But some people love to get all bent out of shape about the energy companies replacing their meters.

sheramber

Nothing to stop you reading your smart meter and checking the readings with the readings shown online.

I randomly check mine and go online to check what reading is showing, It has never been wrong.

Jude57

I'm sure I read somewhere that you can have a Smart meter set to 'dumb', meaning that it isn't connected to your internet provider and doesn't therefore provide meter readings to your supplier, leaving you free to carry out your own readings and the provider satisfied that they have met their safety requirements (which, according to British Gas is why they want me to have a Smart meter) by installing a new meter.

MeteredOut

Jude57 said:

I'm sure I read somewhere that you can have a Smart meter set to 'dumb', meaning that it isn't connected to your internet provider and doesn't therefore provide meter readings to your supplier, leaving you free to carry out your own readings and the provider satisfied that they have met their safety requirements (which, according to British Gas is why they want me to have a Smart meter) by installing a new meter.

Smart meters are not connected to your internet provider. They use their own wireless comms (which can be different for different providers/areas).

mr_stripey

it is worth remembering that dumb and smart meters measure the energy used in the same way. The "smart" bit just enables readings to be taken remotely. For most people, this is a good thing, saves time and ensures accurate billing. 

HillStreetBlues

TELLIT01 said:

In January this year I had a text from BG telling me that an engineer would be attending my house on a certain date and time to install smart meters.  As I would either be in hospital or just returned home after major surgery that date was not suitable.  I was unable to cancel on the app, just attempt to reschedule, and the available period was far too short.  I had to phone BG and wait an eternity before I could speak to anybody.  I asked if it was compulsory and told it was not.  I said I didn't want to get them installed at this time and was informed that a note would be put on the system to that effect and I would not be contacted again by BG. It would be up to me to let BG know if and when I wanted to proceed.

Fast forward to today when I received a new text, again telling me when the engineer would come.  I also received an email stating that if I wasn't home I could be hit with a £30 bill.

Why should it be up to me to tell them once again that it's not convenient, as I have already done so?  Once again, despite the e-mail saying I can cancel using the app, there is no way to do so.  If I want to cancel I'll have to go through the phone faff all over again.

Before anybody starts on about the benefits of smart meters, that isn't the point.  BG were told that I didn't want them and acknowledged that it was my decision.

Make it clear that this will be the last time you will phone them.
You will not be cancelling any further appointment made, and if someone turns up you will charge BG £30.

TELLIT01

Thanks for the help. I used the link suggested and have cancelled.  Just as well I did as when I used the app, the best I could do was set a new date in October.  When I went in on the link the date hadn't been changed.

Just to pick up on other comments and suggestions - as I mentioned in my OP, I was on the phone for ages last time round trying to speak to somebody and I have no desire to repeat that exercise.  I also agree about them not being able to enforce a £30 charge if the customer is not available for an appointment they didn't book and don't want.

The e-mail and text only gave 7 days notice of installation visit.  At this time of year many people are on holiday and wouldn't necessarily be aware of the notification.  I don't take my laptop with me, which is where I check e-mails and when abroad my phone stays locked in the safe most of the time.