Mumsnet Talk

ebwy. You should contact your Utility Company I am sure they would be happy to come to some arrangement with you.

A quick look shows that NPower suggests that anyone with any special requirements register with them. I guess all the Utility Companies have Similar set ups (hopefully )

I think a meter reader is the only stranger I would freely let in my house to be honest in fact one came the other week, holding out his ID with a cheery "Alright luv".

Someone up thread asked how single people manage with out a big strong man to supervise meter readers etc.

As a single parent I do not let unannounced callers in unless I know them. Why would I? Even if I have friends round. They do not have the right to come into my home I am perfectly capable of entering readings online and should they need to actually service the meter they can make an appt.

Why would any woman question another woman's feminist loyalties for standing up for her right to not do something that makes her feel unsafe.
We are our own worst enemies

I'm mentally ill, strangers in my home freak me out and the after-effects of an unexpected meter reader coming in can last weeks. I wish the gas & electricity companies would send us notice about a week beforehand so I can arrange for someone else to be here. Surely they should know when your street is due to be checked.

I do let them in but they have to dig their way through to the meters themselves because I'm not turning my back to them. They may be lovely but I don't like people I don't trust getting behind me due to my anxiety disorders

Erm even if you phone and they are genuinely from a utility company doesn't mean they are not going to make inappropriate comments and you should let them in your home if you don't wish to.
I am certainly not coming from the every man is a potential rapist stance, but yes men are generally physically stronger, if you need to be 100 per cent sure to let a man into your home when you are vulnerable in any way. And that includes having a sleeping newborn, having just got out the shower, having a screaming baby who needs breastfeeding. People's meters are not all in the hall readily accessible, they have to take them in the house and move things. If its not convenient it's not convenient FFS. If the genuine utility employee is a bit sneery or rude or has muddy boots or wants to take a shit in your loo, or is looking at you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable then yes, of course you can decline entrance. Amazed at the views that you should allow entrance at all costs on here. Make an appointment, that's not hard either. Yes, tricky if everyone insisted but in reality it seems a reasonable thing for the vulnerable and not many will insist but it should be their right.

I wouldn't let someone come and read the meter every 2 months - it's too much.

I rarely answer the door to unexpected callers to be honest. If it's important they can make an appointment.

I haven't had my meter read for years. Ill have it done if I ever move. They haven't cut off my power. It's not about feeling afraid of the strange man. Its about me choosing how I spend my time in my home.

I wouldn't let someone in if I wasn't dressed.
And I think if you are getting a 'spidey sense' about someone it is perfectly sensible not to let them in and it's silly to repress that for fear of being thought to be a feeble little woman.

Nope I don't let them in either. We update our meter readings on line and I therefore don't see the need for them to be paid to come and read it again. It is a pain for them to go in my understairs cupboard when I am in the middle of doing something.

We had a letter recently asking us to ring them to make an appointment (otherwise they will make one for us and write to tell us when it is) and I didn't bother - I didn't have time! The letter actually said they are legally obliged to check the meter but didn't refer to any legal obligation of ours to let them in so I am not sure they can insist - however I won't block if they do send us an appointment.

I know our meters are safe as we have recently had gas/elec safety certs done because we are going to rent out the house.

But you are not letting anyone in. You can confirm who they are by phoning your utility company on their official number.

Obviously, if it's a wierdo who makes an inappropriate comment THEN don't let him in. (although you should still make a note of his ID so that you can report him )

Is not about how little women have moved on...like it or not there aren't many woman who could fight off a man and if you let just anyone into your house you could be putting yourself at risk. I weight around the same as my dh and he's not muscly etc but if we play wrestle he can easily over power me.its nothing to do with being a feminist etc but simply that men are stronger...therefore an unexpected visitor will never gain access to my home.

But they only really need to check the meter every 2 years. What's the point of the in between visits???.

If you're in when he asks for entry, you might as well let him in and get it over with. Hopefully then you'll be out or not hear him in future and won't have to do it for another 6 months or even a year...

Blimey a lot of you are determined.

How about this.

'hi, can I please read your meter'
sure, can you hang on a sec while I check your ID.

(you phone your utility company. The number to call is on your bill or on the utility companies website (eg see here Or here )
You can also take a moment to slip your coat on.
You open the door and invite the meter reader in.

sorry but would you mind taking your shoes off
'no problem'
And sorry about the mess
'doesn't bother me at all'

A couple of minutes later he has read the meter and left.......

Surely it's not that hard.

I wonder if that prick of a workman would have offered to scrub my back if my big strong husband was at home....

I'm not a frightened little woman, hiding behind the couch in case a big bad man comes and knocks on my door. I was, however, naked except for a towel and a dressing gown, with a brand new baby asleep in his cot.

I answered the door, hiding my body behind it, so that just my head was in view but this "gentleman" still offered to perform an intimate act for me.

I for one won't be answering the door to unannounced callers from now on and I hope the man in question remembers the tongue lashing he received from this "scared little mouse" every time he attends a premises, big strong hubby at home or no.

Some women don't feel happy to allow people through their doors at times when they feel vulnerable...deal with it! And in return, we shall deal with the fact that there are others who will let unannounced callers into their home.

Maybe if these people learned some manners or customer service, all the ones that come to my door have been very pushy, and I have yet to meet one who doesn't traipse their muddy boots through my carpet. Very good point!! Being a woman with 2 children you can feel vulnerable letting a complete stranger into your house, like zzzzz said it has everything to do with your life experience, at the end of the day its my home i should have every right to ask them to come back at a more convenient time

cantspel ignorance is bliss. It's not terribly fun being frightened of being alone with a strange man. It has nothing whatever to do with being a ickle woman, and everything to do with your life experience.

Ah yes. Because if I ring the number on the fake ID then I wouldn't just be phoning fake ID man's friend who will of course say he's legit?

Exactly.

cantspell I feel particularly vulnerable after an accident so am reluctant to let someone unannounced in (meter is in the garage as I said earlier so doesn't apply but if it was in the house I wouldn't be letting them in), a few years ago it wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest. Perhaps have a bit of understanding and less despairing?

say completely agree

Ah yes. Because if I ring the number on the fake ID then I wouldn't just be phoning fake ID man's friend who will of course say he's legit?

Well despair then because some women who have just had a baby and are tired and feeling vulnerable after a night up with said newborn don't feel like letting anyone through the door let alone a grumpy rude meter reader.

Maybe if these people learned some manners or customer service, all the ones that come to my door have been very pushy, and I have yet to meet one who doesn't traipse their muddy boots through my carpet.

I dispare of the number of women who wont lt someone in to read a meter unless their big strong man is home. I thought we had moved on from the little woman being incapable and needs her man to look after her.

And if you are so worried about fake i/ds then each id will have a number on you can ring and check it is legit.

Workmen don't tend to turn up unannounced and ask to do work in your home.

I am fine with workmen coming in, the meter reader could be someone with fake ID. Probably unlikely, but there is a chance.

I have refused entry to meter man, HV, and MW! Over a couple of decades, I'm not some weird recluse. Sometimes I'm busy. .

YANBU. Whilst it may be inconvenient for him and how he does his job, it is his JOB. It was inconvenient for you personally not professionally and I would have done exactly the same thing in your situation. Like others have said, your home is supposed to be your own territory and you choose when it is convenient. I am an accommodating reasonable person but there is no way on earth I would let someone in if it is was inconvenient to me either- you should feel good that you stood firm.

We do pay for this service via our bills so should be entitled to have someone call when it is convenient for us (and I work for a major energy supplier!)