I am so glad this happened in England, but if it would have happened in the US I would have reported it and demanded change. Every business makes mistakes and has to correct them, if they are honest. I would like to think we in the alternative energy world were better than most. But you know that’s just a dream. After the Guardian got involved, they made it right. But then other people started speaking up.
Installation of smart meter leaves elderly woman facing £4,000 bill
Vulnerable 94-year-old’s boiler had to be scrapped following work by SSE
A 94-year-old woman, who relies on a wheelchair and a daily home help, was left with a £4,000-plus bill after SSE installed a smart meter and left her previously functioning gas boiler out of action and irreparable.
In August Anita Grant, who lives alone, agreed to have the meter installed in her Harrow home.
But rather than the easy process promised in the advertisements, her son Neil says that the decision was set to cost her £3,840 for a new boiler plus £250 redecorating costs, after SSE first said it would fix it, but then denied any liability.
Only after the Observer got involved did SSE agree to cover the cost of the replacement boiler and the additional redecorating costs.
Experts say a smart meter installation should not affect a normally functioning boiler. But in recent years there have been a small but steady stream of people claiming “it happened to me, too”.
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Go there and read. It’s disgraceful. More next week.
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