Smart Meters - Page 5

Margaret Pilkington · 03-08-2017, 06:58

I had a phone call yesterday from my energy supplier to try to induce me into having one of these meters.
When I politely, but firmly declined the lady told me that the government was going to make them compulsory by 2020.

'Are you sure about that?' I asked her.
Well, she hummed and aahed for a couple of minutes and said that this was what she had been told to tell me.
Wasn't it a good job I had been reading an article in the Daily Telegraph.
One which said that the uptake of these monitors has been 'disappointing'...so much so that the government has changed its stance to say that every household will be 'offered' a smart meter by 2020...there were no plans to make them compulsory.
I told her that she was using misleading information to try to get people to take one of these.
I asked her to remove me from the calling list AND the mailing list....so I guess I will get another phone call, oh....sometime next week!

hilleluk · 03-08-2017, 07:18

If you don't want a meter, you don't have to have one. It is not compulsory

cashman · 03-08-2017, 07:48

Seems to me like they will try anything to get people to agree to these meters!!even downright lying.

Margaret Pilkington · 03-08-2017, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilleluk

If you don't want a meter, you don't have to have one. It is not compulsory

I know that, but the woman on the phone seemed to be hoping that I didn't know.
It was strange because just a little earlier yesterday I was reading the article in the Daily Telegraph.

Six reasons to say no to a smart meter

maxthecollie · 03-08-2017, 10:16

There was an article on smart meters last night on watchdog re fires. When it does eventually happen ask the installer for his credentials. What was brought up last night was that the "tails" i.e. the cables going to the meter have to be connected tightly.There was an instance where they were loose.If there is a loose connection there is a potential to spark and cause a fire . When eventually I get them I will personally check the gas and electrical connections. The problem is that the installers are told to do so many in a day and if they are rushing there could be loose connections.

monkey hanger · 03-08-2017, 10:46

seems that the one,s who don,t get these meters are smart.

cashman · 03-08-2017, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkey hanger

seems that the one,s who don,t get these meters are smart.

We have refused em a few times when asked, due simply to people we know having got em and were far from happy,

Margaret Pilkington · 03-08-2017, 12:35

I will have a smart meter/TV/phone when these said items are smart enough to make the bed, do the dusting,the washing, the ironing and then put everything away...until then I won't have anything with the prefix'smart'.

hilleluk · 03-08-2017, 14:27

We have one provider for gas and electricity, They rang us about two months ago, this is how the conversation went.

Hello...me
Scottish gas about you're smart meter, when can we come to fit it, only takes about an hour
Smart Meter, never asked for one,

SG. You must have you're on our list.
Do not want or need one. Please listen, I must have had a bad turn on the day I asked for one. when was it?
SG. It doesn't say, but your account would not be on here unless you had called. It's a good thing to have, you can see how much energy you are using per day, and you won't have a shock when you bill comes in.
SHOCK, the only shock I have had today is that I might have to go to the Doctor for memory loss. Please do not ring again.

Margaret Pilkington · 03-08-2017, 15:21

There are various estimates as to how much this roll out is costing...I have seen figures which state it is 11billion...and others that say 14 billion...now I know that the government is not footing the whole bill, but that the money is being taken from customers (whther they have one of these devices or not) so we are all paying a stupid amount for something that is of doubtful value...that may be a health hazard, a fire hazard and that will just lead to surveillance in our own homes...and supplies which could be terminated remotely either by the supplier or by malevolent hackers.
Thanks, but no thanks.

hilleluk · 03-08-2017, 15:27

There is another point here as well, if you change provider, it is highly likely hat there meter is not compatible with the new one. Shock horror another new meter has to be installed. No Thanks

Rowlf · 03-08-2017, 16:14

Well as I said initially they are not that 'smart' as they would not work in my house and I am sure there are hundreds of other houses where that is the case. I shall not bother with one .