British gas won't provide home display unit.

Zandoni

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

In my experience, people get the customer service their behaviour deserves... 

In my experience I get very good customer service.

Really? Because I can't remember the last time I had to make a complaint  

I actually had to complain to British Gas when they tried to get out of a repair to my boiler, it worked out OK. You wouldn’t need to complain if you just accept everything.

Were you entitled to a repair under the terms of your agreement? Or did you want them to do something that you had no right to expect? 

Because for me, that's the difference... 

You tell me then...

Hopefully you a agree that was a genuine complaint.

I think that your experience has little or nothing to do with the OP having no right to a replacement IHD more than 12 months after the install.

If you want my opinion about your issue (why?) then I'd have to say I'm struggling to read the terms and conditions of your contract from here...

Personally, when I have a problem the first thing I check is the contract I signed and I would never rely on a verbal reassurance from an engineer, or expect that engineer to know the details of my contract (especially given most of them are sub-contractors who work for several companies). 

I would agree you had a valid complaint that your original complaint wasn't logged/responded to - if that makes sense? 

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

Zandoni said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

In my experience, people get the customer service their behaviour deserves... 

In my experience I get very good customer service.

Really? Because I can't remember the last time I had to make a complaint  

I actually had to complain to British Gas when they tried to get out of a repair to my boiler, it worked out OK. You wouldn’t need to complain if you just accept everything.

Were you entitled to a repair under the terms of your agreement? Or did you want them to do something that you had no right to expect? 

Because for me, that's the difference... 

You tell me then...

Hopefully you a agree that was a genuine complaint.

I think that your experience has little or nothing to do with the OP having no right to a replacement IHD more than 12 months after the install.

If you want my opinion about your issue (why?) then I'd have to say I'm struggling to read the terms and conditions of your contract from here...

Personally, when I have a problem the first thing I check is the contract I signed and I would never rely on a verbal reassurance from an engineer, or expect that engineer to know the details of my contract (especially given most of them are sub-contractors who work for several companies). 

I would agree you had a valid complaint that your original complaint wasn't logged/responded to - if that makes sense? 

You’re right it doesn’t have anything to do with the OPs question, I was simply answering yours.
 I don’t particularly want your opinion I was again answering your question.
There is nothing pertaining to my problem in my contract, the person in the complaint department told me I was correct, that’s why they agreed to do the repair.
Thank you for agreeing to the last bit of my complaint, it means a lot. 😂

I'm really not sure what you want to get from this discussion? 

We obviously have very different approaches to resolving service issues - and I can't see that we are going to agree any time soon (and I think the OP left the conversation some time ago). 

I’m not sure what you are getting from this discussion either, perhaps you should stop asking me questions.

badmemory

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Gerry1

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Exactly.  The IHD is just bait to ecourage the take-up of smart meters.  If it really was an essential function it would be supported for the lifetime of the meters.

Once a smart meter installation has been completed the IHD has achived its purpose, hence it's effectively redundant after only 12 months.

Chrysalis

Gerry1 said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Exactly.  The IHD is just bait to ecourage the take-up of smart meters.  If it really was an essential function it would be supported for the lifetime of the meters.

Once a smart meter installation has been completed the IHD has achived its purpose, hence it's effectively redundant after only 12 months.

You are probably right from the suppliers point of view, I know when I was getting my IHD fixed, Octopus seemed really disinterested.

The IHD just seems a little odd to me, as we in an era of smart technology, but there is no integration with smart apps on phones.  Try to use the thing unplugged and it has one of the quickest draining batteries I have ever seen.

The Octopus mini on the other hand has no screen, so very likely cheaper to make, also has no battery, but doesnt really need one due to the way it functions.  Its data is consumed via a smart phone app, and that app unlike the IHD can be maintained by the supplier so is working correctly with all its tariff's etc.  The IHD's really should have been like this, simply access via an app on your phone.

I think the value for consumers is there of course, as you get a live wattage read out for the entire home, as well as data coming in for the "current" day.  Since getting the mini I havent touched the IHD it just feels very obsolete in comparison. I do make use of this as I am sure other people do as well.

Obviously Octopus are using this data for their own purposes as well, so luckily they seen value in it so us customers could benefit from the Mini.

Chrysalis

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Well for the consumer it helps you learn about what is consuming what so does offer help in controlling your energy, I think Gerry's point is right from the supplier's point of view, but not necessarily the consumer.

badmemory

Honestly if you need an IHD to know what energy you are consuming well.  I have known since well before smart meters were a thing, just what I was using when.  Like getting rid of those old CRT screens would save me a fortune.

Spoonie_Turtle

badmemory said:

Honestly if you need an IHD to know what energy you are consuming well.  I have known since well before smart meters were a thing, just what I was using when.  Like getting rid of those old CRT screens would save me a fortune.

I've found it extremely useful to find out in real time how much wired-in appliances are using. 

ArbitraryRandom

Chrysalis said:

Gerry1 said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Exactly.  The IHD is just bait to ecourage the take-up of smart meters.  If it really was an essential function it would be supported for the lifetime of the meters.

Once a smart meter installation has been completed the IHD has achived its purpose, hence it's effectively redundant after only 12 months.

I think the value for consumers is there of course, as you get a live wattage read out for the entire home, as well as data coming in for the "current" day.  Since getting the mini I havent touched the IHD it just feels very obsolete in comparison. I do make use of this as I am sure other people do as well.

Obviously Octopus are using this data for their own purposes as well, so luckily they seen value in it so us customers could benefit from the Mini.

I always considered the IHD a pointless toy that added an unnecessary cost to the rollout of smart meters (in that they're issued to everyone and add to the install time regardless of if the person is going to use it or immediately throw it away - IMO, they should have been issued on request). 

Since switching to the squidly one, I've heard about the mini and wonder if it's worth putting my name down for?

I have several plug monitors for if I'm curious re the use of individual devices, and I use the bright app (occasionally for a spot check) on my phone. As the only thing I'd be vaguely interested in is gas use, and nothing seems to give a 'live' reading for that (thanks to the way the meter works), I'm not sure it would be for me... 

debitcardmayhem

Spoonie_Turtle said:

badmemory said:

Honestly if you need an IHD to know what energy you are consuming well.  I have known since well before smart meters were a thing, just what I was using when.  Like getting rid of those old CRT screens would save me a fortune.

I've found it extremely useful to find out in real time how much wired-in appliances are using. 

But of course you can’t work out how much your gch costs in real time, it seems to me that someone thought ihds would help save energy but didn’t take into account how people are supposed to turn off their ch until it’s too late/too cold/too expensive

Gerry1

Chrysalis said:

Gerry1 said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Exactly.  The IHD is just bait to ecourage the take-up of smart meters.  If it really was an essential function it would be supported for the lifetime of the meters.

Once a smart meter installation has been completed the IHD has achived its purpose, hence it's effectively redundant after only 12 months.

You are probably right from the suppliers point of view, I know when I was getting my IHD fixed, Octopus seemed really disinterested.

Chrysalis said:

badmemory said:

Actually this whole thread just goes to prove that the concept of the IHD supposedly helping you control how much you use etc is just a meaningless item in an advertisement.

Well for the consumer it helps you learn about what is consuming what so does offer help in controlling your energy, I think Gerry's point is right from the supplier's point of view, but not necessarily the consumer.

I'm writing exclusively from the consumers' point of view.  Well, this consumer anyway.

If becoming aware of your usage was the main aim of the smart meter programme that's costing over £400 per household, the IHD wouldn't just be a 12-month disposable trinket.

Smart meters will change the balance between suppliers and consumers.  It's always been the case that it was the suppliers' responsibility to meet the peak demand, the consumer was in control. You switch things on when it suits you, and the supply / distribution network has to accommodate the demand accordingly.

However, if and when the rollout is completed, it'll be the other way around.  Supply capability will fall as existing power stations close and are not replaced, and how will substations and the ageing street cables cope when heat pumps and pure EVs will cause the demand to triple?

It may be almost inevitable, hence the need for smart meters to control your usage patterns. It's known as Demand Side Response.  It's why there's such enormous pressure on suppliers to fit smart meters, with heavy fines if they don't; contrary to numerous pledges, smart meters are effectively becoming compulsory because they have to be fitted in new builds and when existing meters become life expired.

Yes, it maybe unavoidable, but I object to the unpublicised and underhand way it's being marketed and operated.  But if you explain everything about Christmas you won't get many turkeys voting for it.