Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Terbs on 17 October 2016, 12:12:28

Title: Efficiency
Post by: Terbs on 17 October 2016, 12:12:28
Had a letter from SSE asking if we wanted a Smart Meter. Spoke to a friend who has one, and he thinks its great. So just phoned SSE.
After initial details, etc, etc, I was told the Calendar said Dec 19th was first available date for fitting. Ok said I, go for it. She then said she had to do various bits and pieces, and put me on hold. After about three minutes she came back, and said I will check the Calendar for a date !!!! ??? I said we have said a date. 'Oh yes' she said..'I'll check if the 20th is free'..Whaaaat.. I said we had agreed the nineteenth.  'Oh yes' was the response..'I'll just check the Calendar to see if it is free' Whaaat...I am hearing this.!!!!!! 'Err sorry sir, the Calendar keeps saying error, can I ring you back'. So she rings back....'First appointment is January 23rd, sir'. 'Not here' says I, 'whats next' 'The Calendar won't let me go further'. :(
Now the best bit.....(had told her in initial enquiry, that this November was no good.) 'Why don't you ring us when you get back in September !!!! Whaaaat :o  'Oh..September has gone, when will you be back??'
Good grief, I can't believe what I am listening to. 'I'll be back in December' I said. So she says, 'Ring back then, and more dates might be open'. I said..'Yeah...but more people will be after having these meters fitted and dates will be taken'. 'Hmmm, that's true' she conceded. So after she apologised, I said forget it and I would contact next year if I decided  to go ahead. >:(

The government want us to reduce our bills, but this is like banging your head against a brick wall :o

In the words of Jeannie C Riley, in the song 'Harper Valley PTA'......I wouldn't put you on, because it really did, it happened just this way. :y
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 October 2016, 12:19:52
We didn't get a choice... :-X
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 October 2016, 12:33:21
Don't bother with a smart meter. Just turn some stuff off. It sounds like a lot less hassle. ;D
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Terbs on 17 October 2016, 12:36:19
Don't bother with a smart meter. Just turn some stuff off. It sounds like a lot less hassle. ;D

Kevin.....the exact words I said to swmbo ;D
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 October 2016, 12:39:18
I think I read somewhere or maybe when I asked about smart meters on here, that they are not universal to all energy companies?  So if you have one you cannot switch company?  :-\

But I just don't like the idea of some little gadget in my house beaming out my energy usage and habits to GCHQ my energy company.  :P  ::)  ;)
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 17 October 2016, 12:42:13
You couldn't make it up, nothing ceases to amaze me where incompetence is concerned.
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Terbs on 17 October 2016, 13:01:17
I also failed to mention after the September bit, and the unavailability of the 19th December, I was offered 22nd December to be told...'No I meant the 23rd'. then followed by, ' Oh sorry, I meant January'

Where the heck do they find these people !!!!!!! :o
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: STEMO on 17 October 2016, 13:26:16
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I've had a few like that this month. I've stopped being disgusted/astounded/confused, I just laugh now.
Unfortunately, I don't wait till I hang up, I just LOL on the phone. I've even had one who burst out laughing too.
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Nick W on 17 October 2016, 13:35:05
I also failed to mention after the September bit, and the unavailability of the 19th December, I was offered 22nd December to be told...'No I meant the 23rd'. then followed by, ' Oh sorry, I meant January'

Where the heck do they find these people !!!!!!! :o

Those are the people they consider capable of dealing with the customers!

Although having done a customer service job for a while, many of them shouldn't be allowed to interact with other people.
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: ronnyd on 17 October 2016, 13:36:09
Surprised that they didn,t want to send a salesman, ops, sorry, i mean person, round to try and tell you that all of your appliances are inefficient and need replacing. That,s what they ( Brit Gas) wanted to do with us. Told em not to bother.
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: ted_one on 17 October 2016, 13:45:18
I've not seen one of these smart meters yet,are they compact in size and if so can they be inserted into an orifice of my choosing when refusing to accept SSE's offer of said device.I would like to clarify that this will not be an orifice about my own person as there is no room due to the fact that H.M government has got there first :o
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Terbs on 17 October 2016, 14:05:15
Assume you are with SSE then, Ken. Have you had the letter. If you go ahead, best of luck...I hope you do better than me !!!!! ;D
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: aaronjb on 17 October 2016, 14:35:55
I had the letter from SSE, too. Since a smart meter isn't magically going to save any electricity all by itself I ignored the letter.. I'll consider it when/if they offer me a discount for fitting one.

Although if they're anything like the meters being fitted in the US which have nothing in the way of security (no encryption, no authentication, nothing to stop a man in the middle attack, which given that they can remotely disconnect your electricity means that realistically anyone could turn your leccy off..) I'm not sure I want one, even then.
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Terbs on 17 October 2016, 15:25:19
Well, after Aaron's reply, I did a bit of googling on smart meters....seems they are not that smart. Average saving £26 per year, and 10.6 billion to supply and fit. And...major concerns for hacking.

Methinks SSE will be waiting a long time for my call :y
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 October 2016, 16:18:27
The saving to the suppliers, however, once they've sacked most of their meter readers... ;)
Title: Re: Efficiency
Post by: aaronjb on 17 October 2016, 17:29:38
Eggsackerly.. now, if they'd like to pass that saving on to me then I might consider it ;D

Otherwise, it's just another thing on the "Internet of Things" that will probably end up as part of a botnet..
(https://i0.wp.com/pbs.twimg.com/media/CuY3m-oWIAAHNHn.jpg)