Re: smart metres
Originally Posted by
Vlad
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It’s pricing blackmail
Yes, exactly. That's what it is and also I feel it's the thin end of the wedge too. Just wait until the companies find out when the most electricity is being used and put a premium on that! We will all have a choice, use electricity at the cheapest times which obviously will be at 'off-peak times' like the middle of the night or pay the premium price!
Originally Posted by
Dextrous63
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Baz - read your post but won't quote it to save screen space.
There's no guarantee anyway that having a smart meter won't lead to a price increase anyway, and if you're happy to send them monthly/frequent readings, they should accept that.
As for not being allowed to change supplier, this is utter tosh anyway. Unless you are significantly in debt (which would need clearing before moving), or mid-annual-contract, you can change whenever you want.
Might be worth having a look round on uswitch or similar (Bulb is my supplier for the last 18months ans still seems competitive) for better deals, and make it clear to the new supplier that you do not want a smart meter.
I have only been with this company, found on Uswitch, since December 2018. Since then my account has only been
IN DEBIT when they have used their own estimated readings rather than mine. That was for £7.00, £16.00 and £22.00. Each time though that has then gone to being
IN CREDIT after the monthly Direct Debit amount has been paid. Like now, one day I am told I am
IN DEBIT (due to them using their estimated readings) yet a couple of days later I am
IN CREDIT for £50.00!
The problem being that they should keep to what they originally agreed to for the usage given to them, from my last supplier. Also they should not need to estimate any reading as one has been submitted on the same date, every month without fail, since January 2019!
All this I feel is for one of two reasons – first it seems that they are almost wanting payment in advance, second it's trying to 'persuade' me to have a 'smart' meter, which I have insisted all along that I do not want. Also there is the 'threat' to increase the Direct Debit themselves if I do not, there's also a £30 payment for leaving the two-year contract before it ends in December 2020.
Needless to say I will be looking for another supplier at the end of this contract, perhaps Bulb, so thanks for that name.