An Ipswich coffee shop has criticised British Gas for not fixing their smart meter for over a year despite numerous attempts to contact the organisation.

Applaud Coffee on St Peter’s Street installed the smart meter in January last year and it has not been sending readings to the company automatically as it should.

This left co-owner Beth Tchie frustrated as gas is used to cook Applaud Coffee’s cakes and heat the café.

Ipswich Star: Sisters and co-owners, Beth Titchie (left) and Hannah Huntly (right)Sisters and co-owners, Beth Titchie (left) and Hannah Huntly (right) (Image: Newsquest)

However British Gas arranged to come and fit the smart meter properly after it was contacted by this paper.

Speaking before the fix, Ms Tchie said: “Here we are in March 2024 well over a year later and the smart meter is still not working.

“It is more difficult reading the new meter than the previous meter, due to it be located inside a box at floor level.

“I am fed up with doing this and so we are being charged on estimated readings.”

Beth added: “The whole point of smart meters is that the supplier and the customer have accurate up to date readings. Estimated bills are not good for us.”

British Gas said the meter was not fully commissioned to allow automatic readings and that they have now reach out to resolve the issue.