It's all Martin Lewis' fault! [grin]

Pepper59

Perhaps, but all I was saying was that both these people were convinced their bills increased, long before the current situation. The person won the dispute and got it removed. Thats all I know about either situation. They are not people who would do anything illegal.

I had a “smart”meter about three years ago,found it anything but smart,rang the company asked them to come and remove the “thick”meter and put a traditional one in which they were quite happy to do. ?

I cannot understand the distress the thought of having a smart meter causes some people.

It is just a machine that can be read remotely, rather than the human having the bore of having to kneel down in a cupboard/go up a ladder once a month and then phone or email the reading in.

I had big estimated bills at my previous house, I am glad to receive accurate bills now.

Oldnproud, I don't want one and don't have one. You probably know more than me. Im relating what others told me.

Pepper59

Perhaps, but all I was saying was that both these people were convinced their bills increased, long before the current situation. The person won the dispute and got it removed. Thats all I know about either situation. They are not people who would do anything illegal.

I get your point, Pepper.

All I am trying to say is that one of those people was probably mislead by the in-house display. They seem to be designed to make people feel that their usage is higher than it was, but they are not the Smart Meter.

My own Mum was in a terrible panic when she first had one, convinced by the in house display that her usage had shot up.
I was able to access her account and could see that her usage was definitely no higher than before ( in fact it had fallen), but she took some convincing, and the device was soon consigned to a drawer. The smart meter remained in place, quietly doing its job and ensuring that she was paying exactly the right amount, but without the need for her to read it herself and send readings to her supplier.

Perhaps, but all I was saying was that both these people were convinced their bills increased, long before the current situation. The person won the dispute and got it removed. Thats all I know about either situation. They are not people who would do anything illegal.

Pepper59

One of them was in definite dispute, got the meter removed and still paid their bills by direct debit, so you must be able to do it. The other person who disconnected it, it's sat in a cupboard, nothing illegal about it and they still pay their bills.

As Beechnut said, that sounds more like "the other person" disconnected the in-house display, the device that can show the cost of the energy you are using each day (if it has been accurately programmed) but not the actual smart meter.

One of them was in definite dispute, got the meter removed and still paid their bills by direct debit, so you must be able to do it. The other person who disconnected it, it's sat in a cupboard, nothing illegal about it and they still pay their bills.

Beechnut, one got the power company to remove it. The other person somehow still got power but they did disconnect the meter, they were still paying bills, so somehow they must have got it sorted.

Great minds Oldnproud ?

Quite.
Sorry I missed your earlier post, Beechnut, but I was thinking exactly the same as you.

It might just, at a pinch, be possible to persuade an energy company to remove a recently-fitted smart meter if it seems to be malfunctioning, but someone disconnecting their own smart meter? That sounds both illegal and unworkable!

Pepper59

Oldnproud, one person I knew disconnected it from the wall. Not sure how and another got their energy company to disconnect after months of arguing with them. Unfortunately, I do not know which company they were with.

As I asked several posts ago if they disconnected their smart meters what did they do for power?

Oldnproud, one person I knew disconnected it from the wall. Not sure how and another got their energy company to disconnect after months of arguing with them. Unfortunately, I do not know which company they were with.

Mind you, one friend thought his rate was fixed regardless of how much he used so he leaves his heating on high as he thinks it is all included - he calls if getting value for money! He no longer gets paper bills and does not bother to check online so he will have a shock when he gets his annual statement which will adjust the direct debit - it’s the first time he has been on a fixed tariff!

Oh dear!

Have you explained to you friend what fixed tariff means?

DeeJaysMum

I'm on a fixed rate until July next year (thankfully).
I usually submit meter readings on 1st of the month but I'm waiting until next week this month.
I've told so many people on various social media platforms that if they're on fixed rate contracts they don't need to submit readings on 31/3 coz their rate won't change until the contract ends. I've said that on the last day of that contract they'll need to send in a reading so avoid what's going on now happening to them at that particular time.
It's amazing how many people don't realise this.

I too have been telling people but I don’t think some of them believe me as I know a few who have sent in meter readings regardless!

Mind you, one friend thought his rate was fixed regardless of how much he used so he leaves his heating on high as he thinks it is all included - he calls if getting value for money! He no longer gets paper bills and does not bother to check online so he will have a shock when he gets his annual statement which will adjust the direct debit - it’s the first time he has been on a fixed tariff!

We don't have a smart meter and don't want one. But it's easy to read our meters, just outside the front door, so I can understand people wanting them if meters are difficult to read. My DB used to read meters, he had all sorts of stories about crawling through attics and cellars to try to read the meter. Once had to clear someone's junk room to get to one.

Pepper59

Volver, I didn't mean to be rude and mean no insult to yourself or anyone on here. I just don't trust energy companies who are making billions in profits each year, to do the right thing. I do know people who disconnected their Smart Meters as they swore as soon as they were installed their bills increased. This was before all the price hikes. Ive been pooh poohed before, but on other issues Ive been proved right. I also think we are heading into a depression, not just recession and Ive been warning people for months that things were going to be bad, all pooh poohed but hey, that's ok. Take care and I hope all here do ok.

How did they disconnected their smart meters?

Buntymart thanks for that . Sounds like an impasse - no Smart meter or no fixed price contract!

Buntymart

No - you do not have to have a smart meter if you don't want one! Don't let them bully you into having one

rowyn you asked if you had to have a smart meter.

Citizen Advice quote:

You don't have to accept a smart meter if you don't want one. If your supplier tells you that you must have one installed, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. If you refuse a smart meter, you might find it hard to access all tariffs.

Buntymart

No - you do not have to have a smart meter if you don't want one! Don't let them bully you into having one

From a purely practical point of view I wonder if this is true. Would they stock the old ones when it is government policy for everyone to be transferred to smart ones?

We have self generated our own power for 40 years and have recently had mains installed. Two reasons: our current battery storage system is at the end of its life and we wanted a more eco-friendly way of producing energy during periods when our photovoltaics don't produce enough for our needs. The later means a diesel generator. We do intend to invest in more battery storage but currently we are now on mains all the time and probably will be until late 2023.

I first approached Octopus to have the meter installed but they couldn't and advised us to go to one of the Big Companies. We did and Scottish Power fitted it two months ago. Despite the disadvantages with SMART meters, we have had one fitted. Reading this article and others from the EcoExperts website, we felt the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

www.theecoexperts.co.uk/energy-switching/top-problems-with-smart-meters

I go onto Scottish Power's website now to check what reading they have collected and I also record our daily use. Producing your own energy puts you into that mind frame any way.

Yesterday I contacted Octopus to ask about changing to them. Their website states : Right now, energy prices are at record highs, and most homes will be better off staying with their current energy supplier for the present. If your fixed term is coming to an end, don't choose a new tariff or switch supplier.

I still rang them and they couldn't offer anything better than Scottish Power.

Oh, good point Beechnut.

Did those people really disconnect their smart meters (and if they did what did they use for power) or just turn of the smart meter display monitor?

I do know people who disconnected their Smart Meters as they swore as soon as they were installed their bills increased.

That's a coincidence, really. It just can't happen that smart meters make your bills increase just by being there.

But of course the energy companies won't do the right thing. That's one of the reasons I've got a smart meter, so I can keep track myself of what's happening.

I'm not insulted, don't worry.

Volver, I didn't mean to be rude and mean no insult to yourself or anyone on here. I just don't trust energy companies who are making billions in profits each year, to do the right thing. I do know people who disconnected their Smart Meters as they swore as soon as they were installed their bills increased. This was before all the price hikes. Ive been pooh poohed before, but on other issues Ive been proved right. I also think we are heading into a depression, not just recession and Ive been warning people for months that things were going to be bad, all pooh poohed but hey, that's ok. Take care and I hope all here do ok.

Pepper59

Volver, if things get really bad I wouldn't trust them not to switch you off. Look at what Russia is threatening to do to most of Europe. I still won't touch Smart Meters. Most people I know who have them disconnected them as they were finding their bills were increasing. I don't trust energy companies and I certainly don't trust any politicians. There were all those incentives for people to get solar panels, then the feed-in tariff got snatched away and many solar panel companies went bust. Sorry, but if people trust energy companies and politicians to do the right thing, you are naive. You can only depend on yourself. Rip-Off Britain did a segment where people with Smart appliances were getting hacked. If you don't believe me, look up their website.

They will cut you off if you don't pay your bills. Having a Smart Meter is neither here nor there.

Smart Meters don't make your bills go up, that's the suppliers doing that.

I've had a Smart Meter for as long as they've been around. Won't be getting rid of it any time soon.

First time I've been called naïve, but there you go.