Shocking EHU Contract - read the terms

TheOtters
TheOtters Forum Participant Posts: 3 Participant
First Comment
We were planning to stay at Steamer Quay where the metered EHU trials is taking place. To get EHU there, you must sign up with the provider. Many people just tick the box accepting the privacy and terms, but in this case, may we suggest members carefully read what they are signing up to. Cyber crime is widespread, complex, expensive and always involves user accounts one way or another. We found the indemnity terms a real eye opener and there was no way we could agree to them. We think metered EHU is probably a good thing, but not on these terms.

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 24,149
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper

    Sorry, "Shocking EHU….." made me do a double take🤣

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,547
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic

    I am a bit puzzled to what you are inferring? I assume you are referring to the MeterMacs T&C's

    could you explain a bit more? This company is used by several campsites which are not part of the Club Network.

    David

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member, Member Moderator Posts: 6,237
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic

    Although I have no experience of the system at Steamer Quay, I am also alway concious of Cyber Crime. I alway have a seperate account with only a small balance which I tend to use for 'anything I'm not ultra happy with', and top up when/if necessary. Might this be a way forward for folk who are less happy... ?? Fortunately, I have never been 'had' so don't know if this really works or not?

    David

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 1,015
    500 Likes 500 Comments Name Dropper

    you do have to supply N email address. I have also seen reference to having different email addresses for different sites. There is no way I am going to g to set up a different email address for each site where this company manages the meters.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 11,477
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper

    Under the "Limitations of Liability" and "Indemnification" headings I'm fairly sure that you cannot avoid ones Common Law obligations by merely saying you are not going to liable for anything. I'm not a lawyer or have practiced law but have dealt with contracts. What the company set out in those 2 headings seems to be their attempt to nullify their Common Law liability. A court would need to determine what was reasonable as a duty of care on the company to the user.

    I'm never happy with these blanket "Not my fault" type of conditions but I use Tesco car park regularly where they state the same but if one of their employees scraped my car whilst recovering trolleys, for example, I'm fairly certain my motor insurer would recover their costs or I would sue Tesco myself.

    I'd be more worried about data protection with this meter company.

    We do something similar @DSB.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 24,149
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper


    "We do something similar @DSB."

    Me too, both with a second bank A/C and a credit card. I also have an alias email address I use for such things.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,547
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic

    I should have perhaps added to my original post that in the past I have had a MeterMacs account (we were going to stay at Cofton Holiday Park in Devon but sadly we had to cacel, so didn't actually use it for electricity but I did have to add some credit to the account prior to arriving on site. As we didn't get there, that credit was refunded without question.

    David

  • TheOtters
    TheOtters Forum Participant Posts: 3 Participant
    First Comment
    Hi all,

    I thought I posted a reply to all your comments. Not sure where that reply has gone? Here they are the headline responses again.

    (1) Yes, MeterMac's terms and conditions place a huge responsibility on users to indemnify them against anything. No limitations, no say for the user. Very onerous, very broad and potentially extremly costly.

    (2) These indemnities are not limited to the money you have on deposit in the scheme, these indemnities are unlimited and completely at their call.

    (3) Yes, these T&Cs probably would fail in court, but who wants to go to court? When I go to site, I just want electricity for my stay. I don't mind paying.

    (4) If you think they aren't going to ever going to apply those onerous and very costly terms, then why have they included them and why MUST you sign up to them to use their services?

    The Club is now moving to stage 2. I asked to be sent the T&C's of that phase, but haven't been sent anything yet. I hope the club has addressed this serious risk to members.
  • Rowena
    Rowena Administrator, Club Member, Staff Posts: 463 admin
    250 Likes 100 Comments Photogenic Name Dropper

    Hi @TheOtters, to confirm phase 1 is over, and phase 2 is now in play. The Electric smart metering "terms of service" are part of the journey in the app and kiosk. Now the phase 2 trial is covered under our UK campsite booking terms & conditions. I hope this helps.

  • TheOtters
    TheOtters Forum Participant Posts: 3 Participant
    First Comment
    Hi Rowena,

    Yes, by chance I got a response to my email to the club yesterday afternoon.

    You are right to flag that its different under Phase 2. I have checked the T&Cs that now cover phase 2 and its all good. The onerous indemnity charges have not been carried over, so members who sign up now don't have the same risk. My wife and I might give Steamer Quay a visit now its safe to book up EHU. We have never minded the idea of paying for the electric we would use, it was the thought of paying legal team bills for MeterMacs that we found unacceptable.

    Thanks,
    Keith