How would those microcells be legal? It's not just that 3G or whatever gets shut down, the frequencies are usually reallocated to something else so you can't legally operate a 3G network on those frequencies anymore.

It's common all over Europe. It's short range wireless btw, a person from the company has to walk the building halls to collect the data from the meters for example, or come near the house. They use this on all types of meters — power, gas, water.

They still have to do a visual check once in a while because some people are shifty fuckers and can't be trusted. 😄

It's relatively new and is a lovely way for utilities companies to side step the rules on cutting people off. They advertise it as an option for people so they have more control over their spending when in reality it has a higher unit charge and is targeted at people who are likely to be financially struggling or close to it.

So what happens is it can just shut off when you haven't paid yet. I work in utilities and I have dealt with literally thousands of homes and these are always in impoverished and working class areas where if the people were to be on a standard policy they would have protections against cut off due to non payment.

This isn't meant as any disrespect to the guy above, I know two sentences about him and that all, just my view of this bullshit.

In some places, you pay for utilities before using them, and they shut you fuck off right in the middle of the month if you've used it up. :/

I would not want to miss the feeling of getting up at 3 am to put a farthing in the meter to keep the room above freezing.