Friend had smart meter installed without consent

hubb

A good friend of mine who is 80 told British gas she did not want a smart meter under any circumstances. Some time later a man who did not identify himself knocked at the door to read the meter as work was going on with new pipework outside. He then said he was just going to move the meter to somewhere outside. He didn't say anything about a smart meter but installed one nevertheless. Has my friend any comeback on this deception as it happened within the last 12 months. 

mr_stripey

Wouldn't have thought so. It is their meter, not hers

NorfolkCanary

Were they actually an employee of British Gas? or their contracted meter readers, possibly morrisons?

Happy to be corrected, but meter readers don't typically possess the tools, equipment and knowledge to disconnect, remove, install and re-connect a meter, on a random day, without prior warning or agreement.

Are there some details missing here, i.e. was the previous meter end of life? Installed dangerously (against current regulations) in a small cupboard or under a counter?
What about the cables or pipework, if the old meter was interior and is now exterior what about excavations, wall chasing etc?

More to the point has the closing reading(s) from the old meter been accurately billed for?

Hoenir

What's the full story ?  The edited one is missing a lot of background fact. 

leonj

British gas don't just randomly show up and move meters outside, it sounds like cadent

LeesArt

hubb said:

A good friend of mine who is 80 told British gas she did not want a smart meter under any circumstances. Some time later a man who did not identify himself knocked at the door to read the meter as work was going on with new pipework outside. He then said he was just going to move the meter to somewhere outside. He didn't say anything about a smart meter but installed one nevertheless. Has my friend any comeback on this deception as it happened within the last 12 months. 

Plenty of cases explaining what Cadent are doing with plastic pipes and wrong walls.

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/cadent-came-knocking-today-apparently-i-have-to-move-my-gas-meter.547327/

and

https://community.screwfix.com/threads/cadent-want-to-move-my-gas-meter-to-the-outside-of-my-house.220904/

The argument will be that any new installation must be a smart meter vs it was not a new installation vs it was past it's life.

The issue is one of communications and consulting the customer, so I would have your friend make a formal complaint to her supplier in writing, she could expand it by giving reasons why it affects her as she can't get on with apps and can't get to the location they have put it, has not had a chance to be consulted on the location.

It might be that the location is in a place that makes her slip, causes other issues like space for the car being parked safely, can't get by with shopping and has already caused a fall.  

I imagine she is already on the priority service register which brings other duties

Then she can ask for a deadlock letter and/or escalate to the Ombudsman at 8 weeks, she will probably lose but not only will the supplier have to pay the £400+ fee but they might slap the supplier on the wrist with a fine paid to her.  She could draw a comparison with how they used a 3rd party company to bully vulnerable people with debt meters.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/mar/12/british-gas-service-arvato-made-a-third-of-all-warrant-request-to-force-fit-prepay-meters

A smart meter can be installed or converted into a debt meter so there is an argument they have breached rules 

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/energy-regulator-outlines-next-steps-forced-prepayment-meter-ppm-installations

See note below

She should look at her suppliers promises and terms to see if they are in breach of those

She can pick up some terminology on the cadent website

https://cadentgas.com/services/household-customer/moving-your-gas-meter

I suspect that with a well written complaint the supplier will offer a settlement.


Note:

“The rules and regulations are clear that installing forced PPMs should only be done as a last resort and only where it is safe and practicable to do so. We expect suppliers to treat customers with compassion and professionalism and those executing a warrant should take into account what they find when they visit a home and pause the installation if they see a safety risk. Where this hasn’t happened, we will hold suppliers to account.  

However, I’m telling suppliers not to wait for the outcome of our reviews and to act now to check that PPMs have been installed appropriately, and if rules have been broken, offer customers a reversal of installations and compensation payments where appropriate. There will also be fines issued from Ofgem if the issue is found to be systemic. 

“We are taking this issue extremely seriously and customers should feel reassured that where the rules have been broken, Ofgem will act.”   

imeach

Wouldn't be a meter reader. 
Sounds more like DNO carrying out gas mains work when they quite often move meters outside, but normally ask first. 
Also don't normally fit new meters, usually just moving existing one. 

Need more info really

400ixl

Ignoring the likely hood of a whole load of missing information and not deception.

What is your friend trying to get out of this now? They will not get the smart meter replaced, they could potentially get it put in dumb mode, but what is the point of that. They may be able to raise a complaint and get some financial compensation.

What is their objection to a smart meter? All it is doing differently is supplying up to date readings without your friend having to do it.

SAC2334

Cadent usually just reinstall the same meter when moving outside because of new pipework even if the meter was an older version . .Most people like this because they get their old meters moved outside and in a box all for free and are so happy they make them a cup of tea . 
These Cadent workers on the pipe renewal work would not be keeping new meters with them to replace the old one as its a trained meter fitter  specialist job and they have to  pair it up to   the electric smart  meter . 
Even if they did put another meter in for some reason it won t be working as a smart meter as its just sending out pairing signals for no reason and flattening its battery .
The OP should return to the occupier to get more info as this post is not making sense , either way OP please inform the occupier that they have to accept a smart meter nowadays and that its a very good thing because it opens up the pathway to much cheaper energy prices .

hubb

SAC2334 said:

 please inform the occupier that they have to accept a smart meter nowadays and that its a very good thing because it opens up the pathway to much cheaper energy prices .

Well it isn't and it doesn't. I (and many people who I have spoken to) will not have one either. On the contrary, It opens up the path to errors. For one reason in the recent news 4 million have gone wrong. But then again why are you questioning why she doesn't want one ? My op was about freedom of choice that was overridden. 

The meter she had replaced was a very old type but they still didn't give her the chance to say yes or no. That's the issue. 

lohr500

But fundamentally, I am not sure she has the right to say Yes or No.
The old meter wasn't hers and if it was deemed to be end of life when the fitter moved it, a smart meter would be installed by default