Forum Topic

EDF

Had a call from EDF yesterday, trying to persuade us to have a knew meter, I said I don't want a smart meter.  He went on and on saying we need to make an appointment to change your meter, I said there is nothing the matter with my meter I read it you get the readings and I pay. Oh it's not a smart meter we have a new meter and you need one. I said if it is anything like your smart meters I don't.  I've heard so many things going wrong with them, battery, sending customers the wrong readings. I'm happy with the one I have that works. Mine is the old dial meter, no problem. In the end I think he knew he wasn't getting anywhere so gave up.

Barbara Stevens ● 365d17 Comments

Stop Patronizing people, you think you know it all, but don't.

Barbara Stevens ● 362d

What readings got to do with it Philippa, the wiring from the cellar was to short. he tried for 4 hrs, now shut up and go back to Ealing.

Barbara Stevens ● 362d

Barbara  -  if you read even the link without the article then you would learn something.  All the energy companies are becoming more and more digitalised so as to reduce costs for themselves - but for us - and the planet - as well.  The Govt expects them to install or try to install smart meters everywhere possible and has actually fined some energy companies for failing. (Six UK energy companies were fined £10.8m for failing their smart meter targets.) Who do you think pays those fines?  I thought you'd already said once that they couldn't get readings off a smart meter when they tried to install one at your place.  Surely they should have a record of that and so stop asking you to have one?You are on the internet now so getting yourself on the Priority Services register (if you aren't already) in case you can't get a real person to talk to at all when you call them could be a very good idea.  They say they could even send someone to read your meter for you.https://www.edfenergy.com/help-support/PSR

Philippa Bond ● 363d

Philippa, what has your post got to do with anything I put on here. I said my meter reading was less than theirs. which it was, but they said it was more, because they decided to add another standing charge. stop putting all these  https://www. If you haven't a clue what your putting down or it hasn't happened to you don't answer my posts.

Barbara Stevens ● 363d

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-12239881/EDF-quietly-axes-quarterly-billing-option.html#:~:text=An%20EDF%20spokesman%20says%3A%20'Customers,although%20British%20Gas%20still%20does.We're repeatedly told that we can get refunds if they overestimate but not everyone finds it so easy...  and the post appears to be no longer as reliable so bills and overdue letters may not arrive or arrive in the wrong order...

Philippa Bond ● 363d

According to citizen advice, if I have read it correctly: if it's fault then the supplier will replace it free of charge.If you ask for it to be tested and it is not faulty then "Your supplier might ask you to pay the cost of the test if your meter isn’t faulty."It would be interesting to know how often that happens in one off cases. But I think this is no different than with a normal meter.With Smart meters you can still press the button on the meter and get a reading.Obviously you have previous bills so you should know approximately how much you use. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/find-out-if-your-energy-meter-is-faulty

Ed Robinson ● 363d

Came back from holiday Sunday, yesterday received estimated elec bill. Read meter as now we have to pay every month. This was a joke, I range gave the meter reading I said our reading is a bit lower than yours, so I would like to pay the right reading.  The young lady typed in to her computer and said no it's not less it's a bit more now. I still said the reading is lower than yours, I said we have been away so it's only for 3 weeks usage. So she said, yes but our bill was dated a week ago, I said but it only came in the post yesterday. So she said yes but you have another week standing charge to put on the bill. I said this is all stupid.  So she said as a good will jester I will knock a £10 off your bill. Oh thank you, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry..

Barbara Stevens ● 363d

Mine is mains powered

Andy Pike ● 364d

Smart Meters are always going wrong. Or the battery goes. If they go wrong I think you have to pay for them to get fixed, or a new one.

Barbara Stevens ● 364d

I think the correct term is that meters are certified for a period of use. The last time I recall being contacted by an electricity company to have a meter routinely replaced was in the early 1980s; I do wonder if since privatisation energy companies aren't as assiduous at replacing them - after all it costs them money - at least until they were under government pressure to install smart meters. I agree it should be a customer's choice but - as with digital voice - if the old equipment is no longer being manufactured then as the current installations fail there'll be no option other than new technology - in this case that's a smart meter.

Michael Ixer ● 364d

I've just had a dial meter replaced with a smart meter a week ago. Not sure about the best before date as this was installed in the sixties and manufactured some time before that according to the very helpful and patient engineer.It was quite difficult to get an appointment for it's replacement.I do not think those old meters are going to pack up any time soon, probably outlast us all. It is more likely you get someone out to read it that doesn't appreciate some of the dials go anti-clockwise and record an incorrect reading. I always used to take a photo and read it from there - it saved getting the steps out too.With the present cost of electricity I think you should be entitled to what ever type you are happy with as long as you are paying the bills.

Ed Robinson ● 364d

The meters have a best before date which the energy companies have access to from the manufacturers (usually a 10-20 year period). They've always replaced meters after they reach a certain age (I've had them replaced long before the days of smart meters). Apparently non smart meters are no longer being manufactured so if a meter needs replacing it will almost certainly be with a smart meter. If they still have a old style meter in stock, possibly one that's been refurbished, they may not insist on a smart meter but may charge for the replacement meter.

Michael Ixer ● 364d

In that case Barbara seems it's part of their general upgrade programme to get rid of the dial meters.As they age they become less efficient in recording usage and parts are difficult to source.

Andy Pike ● 364d

Hi Andy, he wasn't selling a smart meter he said it was a different one, so I declined. Probably telling me a load of rubbish.

Barbara Stevens ● 364d

I agree with John. I was dead against a smart meter in London but inherited one when I moved to Brighton and it's great. No issues not even whe  switching from Shell to Octopus.I think the dial meters are being phased out due to obselecense. I'm told that if you have a feed back agreement to hang on to the final meter as long as possible  as unlike the digitals  it does go backward during feed in periods.

Andy Pike ● 365d

For the other side of the coin...We have one and it works perfectly well. Being able to see how much gas/electricity we're using on the real-time display has helped us cut our bills quite a bit.Also our billing is more accurate too and it gave us the option to pay for exactly what we use each month rather than building up credit in the summer to smooth out the payments for the more expensive winter months.

John Kettlekey ● 365d

Well done, Barbara. We do not have a smart meter and we are certainly not in a hurry to get one.

Ivonne Holliday ● 365d