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my electric meter is in my cellar/playroom, so they have to trapse through my house to get to the meter. I had a screaming baby so i told him it wasnt convenient I got quite a lecture about checking it for safety so i asked him to come back in a couple of hours (to give me a chance to sort lunch out and clear the playroom floor so he doesnt break his neck!) he was not impressed and knocked again half an hour later. I ignored it he knocked 3 times! It was only read 2 months ago and I dont really like strangers demanding entry to my home! Anyway i now have a note to say ive refused entry twice!

Why didn't you read the numbers out for him?

I can kind of understand why he was annoyed. He probably couldn't come back in a couple of hours as he would have had other meters to read.

Can you have it moved to an outside location?

I thought legally they only need to take a reading and see the meter once every 12 months. I would have just given him the reading myself if I were you.

Did he want to read the meter, or check it for safety? If just the former, you can probably read it yourself and phone/post/do it online.

He was only trying to do his job so I can understand him being a bit annoyed. If someone is in they want to get it done and onto the next house.

apparently they can go to court to get access to property to read meter so I was told. I work full time and not there when they kept coming round. in end I had to take annual leave to wait for the meter man.
I've also had cards left and rung up to give reading and they said "your readings are up to date I don't know why they called to read it again"
so now makes me suspicious of people saying they've come to read meter so frequent!!

I would have let him in after checking his ID. I think it was a mean and a bit obstructive of you. If everyone did what you did then it would take meter readers hours longer to their work which would result in everyone having to pay more.

It would have only taken him a moment and I am sure he could have coped with the toys on the playroom floor

YAB VERY U

I ignored the meter reader knocking on my door yesterday. Both dogs were going mental and I was in my pjs.

I'd be a bit suspicious of anyone that keen to get into the house.

I think they only have to check the meter once every two years. I think also that meter reading get paid for each reading they do so for them they want to read as many as possible.

I think Fry is correct. I input my reading online and cannot remember the last time someone came to read it. Mind you he just walks in and reads it if no one answers the door.

they will take you to court for access if they don't have access to the meter after 2 years, not 1.

www.consumerfocus.org.uk/get-advice/energy/your-energy-questions-2/staying-connected/understanding-energy-contracts

YABU. The guy has a job to do and can't be arsed to come back in a couple of hours. In a couple of hours he'll be miles away reading other people's meters.

There may well be ways to cut down on the number of times your meter is personally inspected, but the guy is only doing his job.

that's strange re meterman,
one came to read mine in december, i actually wrote down the date and meter reading.
1month later he was back and he challenged me when i said he had only been a month earlier and i refused him entry.
When i phoned scottish power they had no record of my reading from december, i wonder if the meter readers earn more if they have to call more than once.
And no YABNU to not let yours in

Yes, it is two years. I had a letter last summer from my electricity supplier asking me to make an appt for the meter to be read and safety checked as they had no records of any meter readings since the summer of 2010.

Turns out my local meter reader, who I actually know as I worked with the idiot years ago, had not been passing on the readings he had definitely taken. I mean, I know I let him have access to the meters at least 3 times since summer 2010.

I've now signed up to providing readings online. And I guess he's not working as a meter reader anymore, becuase I haven't had anyone come to read the meters since that two year check last summer.

No they do not make more if they have to come back, but they also get paid by how many meters they read, once they finish they don't just go home and put their feet up they have to upload their computer through a telephone line (not sure if that has been updated) and they be out in all weathers! You were VERY inconsiderate

YABU. There is a difference from being out and just turning them away saying it isn't convenient. But on the other hand if it was only read two months ago I don't see the urgency.

Our electricity meter is in a cupboard which has a dryer in front plus coats, shoes etc. I pull it out the last day of the month hoover behind it, sort shoes coats etc and take a meter reading which I submit online, the guy always turns up a few days after and I'm buggered if I'm pulling it out again, I just tell him I've just submitted it online and he normally just accepts that and leaves, he does take gas as that's outside.

When I let meter readers in, they just do their business and let themselves out. I don't care if my house is a tip or whatever. I am sure they don't give a shit, and they've seen it all. It's honestly not a bother to let the guy in. At MOST one might have to put on a robe.

Why are people so pissy about letting meter readers in? It's their job.

He has to scramble about in a cupboard here,I'm sure he doesn't give a toss.

I've refused accress before too.
My meter is in a cupboard under the stairs in ds bedroom. DS has autism and learning difficulties - meter reader turned up unannounced at 6.30 pm when ds was already getting into his bedtime routine. I wouldn't let him in as it would have upset ds and could have been up all night!!! (meter readings were up to date as I enter online monthly). Told him he was welcome to come back any day as long as it was before 5.30pm -he didn't come back.

You feel sorry for him. He can find the meter, read and let himself out-the fact the baby is screaming and the house is a mess doesn't matter to him.

I once had a meter reader get very pissy with me because I didn't want to let him in even though I explained he would have had to squeeze past 2 week old ds2 in his moses basket when he'd only finally just got to sleep, and there was no way in hell he was going to wake him up. Moving it outside, to the other side of the wall it is on, would cost over £1000.

He is only doing his job, would you stop a MW or HV coming into your home.