Smart meters

They have to have a warrant from a magistrates court.

 

Who do?
The energy company?

 

Thing is with pre payment meters. If you have to have one installed then theres a pronlem. Either you have the cash but wont pay or you cant pay. Its the cant pay people that are the worry. If someone cant pay then a pre payment meter simply means that they will suffer without energy. It wont make them pay up.

In the end its better to continue to supply energy and then to worry about getting the money back later imho.

 

I think that was the argument put forward.
Its cutting people off by the "back door".
They are not allowed to cut you off so they put you onto prepay knowing you cant afford it.

 

Yes. They apply for a warrant the same as the police have to and the official who gains entry to your property must bring it with them.

 

With a prepayment meter Smart or otherwise, people simply run out of credit and the gas/electricity stops; until the customer obtains more credit. With Smart meters the change can be made remotely and apparently they don't always tell the customer.
The supplier is not cutting the customer off, so legally they are fine. They would no doubt claim that the customer is benefiting by not racking up debt they cannot pay.
Morally it stinks.

 

It always makes me laugh when they say that if you have a problem paying, talk to your energy company.
So they either give you a pre pay meter or put you in debt, you still have to pay or get no energy.

You might as well talk to the nearest wall, in fact the wall might be a better communicator.

 

My sister told me today that her variable Direct debit has been stopped and they will be taking £250 a month by direct debit instead.
She, who likes working all this stuff out, has worked out in 12 months time they will be £600 in credit at todays rates.

Its about time someone clamped down on energy companies holding on to peoples money in this way.
As my BIL said, you wouldn't pay for petrol/diesel in this way, give the garage X amount every month regardless of whether you use it or not.

 

Was there some garages going to charge you £100 for fuel even if you only put in £20 worth then they would refund you the extre at some point??

 

They said that if she paid in arrears as I do, and she used to do they would add 10% to the price.

 

I think you mean when you pay by card at the pump, they take an amount before you fill your car and once you have filled up they give you back what you have not had.

It stops people filling up and just driving off.

 

Time for a change of supplier me thinks.

 

Well, maybe, but I've heard they are all doing this now, I'm expecting similar from British gas at some point.