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AIBU?

About meter readings for next door..

45 replies

Becca19962014 · 25/07/2014 22:55

Today an engineer called and demanded access via my bedroom into the back garden so he could get in the corridor between my property and the one next door.

He refused to show me his ID, instead rolling his eyes saying he is in uniform, has a truck and was obviously genuine, when he showed me it only had his first name, no reference and no picture. I refused access and he had a go at me, demanding he had the right to access as he saw it when putting the meter in and he had every right to use it. I said there isn't access. There is a door but only access is via my private bedroom on the ground floor at the back of the property, it's private and not for access, there are a few steps to the garden as it is sunken, and full of rubble after a lightening strike a few years ago (it didn't effect the building I live in), I cannot use the door due to disability and it certainly it is not a access route or fire exit.

The building has been checked by the fire brigade.

He than said he had every right to come in and I was unreasonably blocking him doing his job. If the door was not fire exit then he would get the building condemned as unsafe and make me homeless and made comments about me burning to death trapped in a fire. That is a phobia of mine having been trapped before, whilst he wouldn't know that, I was upset by that.

I rang the electricity company to complain and they couldn't see what the problem was they said it's the best place for meters between properties (I live in a terrace) as there is a greater chance of reading the meters. Having got someone to go and look it turns out the corridor is almost blocked by these meters on the floor so no one could get out via it anyway.

Am I unreasonable to send a complaint letter to the company and demand they do something about him, and their stupid policy of putting meters in access corridors? The building next door is to be for severely physically disabled people who move in august (I know that as I applied to live there but was too late).

OP posts:
phantomnamechanger · 25/07/2014 23:00

so, the meter is in an alley between the houses? the other house is not occupied so he cant get to it through their house? and he thinks its fine to demand he comes through yours? NO WAY! does the alley not have a front gate/access from the road, for bins etc?

phantomnamechanger · 25/07/2014 23:03

oh and the rudeness and horrid things he said, definitely need reporting. what a vile person he must be!

In those circs I would expect a very very polite apologetic request for access and total understanding that you may say no. IF he was friendly and a bit embarrassed about even asking, I might say yes. If I said no, I would NOT expect verbal abuse.

OnIlkelyMoorBahtat · 25/07/2014 23:08

He ha absolutely no right to enter your house unless you give permission. How dare he have a go at you, and how dare they think it's not a problem?

x2boys · 25/07/2014 23:15

Once there was a suspected gas leak when I lived in flats British gas was called and apparently they are able to enter homes without permission if there is a gas leak as obviously this would be endangering lives but as this was definatley not the case the meter reader was being very unreasonable .

Becca19962014 · 25/07/2014 23:21

I live in a terrace and an alley was included every two properties to aid access to emergency services. There's a locked plastic door over the entrance (there was a problem with homeless people sleeping in it). You definitely couldn't get a bin down it now!

No he wasn't apologetic or remotely embarrassed. In the end I shut the door in his face. He said they had permission from the landlord to go through at any time (that's a lie).

Yeh the person on the phone was all why are you being so unfair about this? We need to read meters, it's an ideal location in these access corridors in terraces as we can get in via either property, no our engineers don't need photographic ID (I thought they did) and I got a very weak apology, for him saying I'd be made homeless etc.

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 26/07/2014 00:16

He did more than just say you'd be made homeless though didn't he? He was threatening you with your house burning down with you in it! Of course he'd say he didn't mean it like that, but that's a pretty sinister thing to say IMO.

I would go at this one until they acknowledged he (and the person on the phone) were being totally unreasonable and tell me what they're going to do to stop it happening to someone else.

It's just a random police page from the web, but this one from Essex police says to call them if they refuse to listen.

I'm not trying to ratchet up how you feel, but this man was threatening you for not letting him in, that isn't right.

I'd write everything down because it's easy to forget in a day or two, including the dates and times of when you've talked to someone about it (get their name/ID number if you call anyone else, make them accountable for their bollocks). Much better if you can be precise about what's happened.

EthicalPickle · 26/07/2014 00:59

Which company was it?
I was sure they had to carry photo id. It sounds very, very odd that he didn't Confused

I would have let him in If he had had photo ID that had checked out ( I would have called my energy company to confirm that the guy was legit)
If he had have been rude I would have complained about him though.

EthicalPickle · 26/07/2014 01:00

Also, if the guy on the phone said you would be made homeless then complain as the calls will most likely be recorded. It sounds like a very strange thing to say though.

EthicalPickle · 26/07/2014 01:01

Oh, ignore my last post I misunderstood who had said you would be made homeless.

Becca19962014 · 26/07/2014 01:50

The company is swalec.

There are procedures in place to access the meters where I live, including photo ID, passwords and warning they are coming, the police helped me set this up. There is no reason for them to assume I will always be in, usually I am due to illness but our meters are next to the front door and they don't need to enter my bedroom. If it was for my meter they know what to do, passwords etc. they know they won't get access to my bedroom without someone else being present even if they have photo ID (these are personal reasons I won't go into in a public forum so likely look unreasonable to people here)

My other issue is it isnt to do with where I live, not an emergency and he assumed after looking over the wall before installation and seeing my door I'd be happy for them to wander through to look at/service meters whenever they want. Even when I explained it is not an access door but my bedroom and personal space he still insisted it was okay for him to come in and out as needed. He specifically mentioned them being put in the access corridor instead of inside next door (where they were prior to renovation) because it was much more likely they'd be read as the meter reader could use my door for access. I would have to be in for them to have access no one else in the building has access to my bedroom so if I was out they couldn't have access anyway.

I don't understand why they didn't ask my landlord, and, me, if it was ok first before putting them there.

OP posts:
NoodleOodle · 26/07/2014 03:44

Even without 'special' reasons I wouldn't want a stranger in my bedroom for ANY reason, especially if I were alone. Complain complain complain. And, do as PP mentioned and write everything down now so you don't forget and can be as accurate as possible.

YANBU

ParsingFlatly · 26/07/2014 04:29

So... the electricity company were concerned the residents of the building next door wouldn't let them in to read the meters for that building.

So they have installed the meters in an alley, that they can only get into by going through YOUR building. Your bedroom, in fact.

They assume YOU will let them in to read someone else's meters. But not the people whose meters they are?

Barmy.

Full letter of complaint, detailing everything. Check the electricity company's website for their complaints procedure:if you don't have full resolution after a specified number of weeks, you escalate the complaint to Ofgem.

Of course, it's entirely possible the engineer who came round today was the one responsible for siting the meters so badly. So he'll swear black is white because it's his arse on the line here.

Oh, and call Building Control at your local council and tell them the positioning of the meters is restricting access via the alleyway. This might be quite serious in itself.

EthicalPickle · 26/07/2014 09:44

Ok, that's even worse if they disregarded your 'vulnerable customer' status. Shock
I would make a formal complaint. The next stage of complaint is to contact
Head of Customer Services. Call 0800 975 7772 or email [email protected]

If they don't resolve your complaint in 5 working says you can contact Ombudsman Services: Energy – Telephone on 0330 440 1624; Textphone on 0330 440 1600; email at [email protected].


Make sure you have written every thing down before you contact them if you are going to phone them. It might also be worth taking a few photos to help explain the situation.

Might they be able to put a smart meter in so that you won't have this problem in future?

I cup and pasted the complaints info from SWALEC's Customer Charter

OwlCapone · 26/07/2014 09:51

Who has the key to the plastic door on the access alley? If it is for access to your property as well as that of next door, shouldn't you have been provided with a key - then surely no one would have to enter your property to read the metres.

He was completely out of order. It wasn't unreasonable for him to ask, but after you said no, that should have been the end of it.

droitwichmummy · 26/07/2014 09:53

Whilst his and the company's attitude was appalling, legally if there is no other access to the metre they are entitled (with suitable id) to enter your property to read it and make sure it is safe. If you refuse they can get a warrant to do so.

ParsingFlatly · 26/07/2014 09:53

I wouldn't do this by phone.

Do it all in writing, so you have something concrete to refer to when if you have to escalate this.

And I've just realised you did indeed say this was the engineer who installed the meters in the first place. So he may try to lie or badmouth you to cover his arse.

whois · 26/07/2014 09:55

Totally out of order. they absolutely have to carry photographic I'd and show it to you if you ask. You 100% did the right thing in not granting access.

Please make an official complaint.

ParsingFlatly · 26/07/2014 09:56

But droitwich, it's not the OP's meter, and not even on her property.

The property they are legally entitled to enter is the neighbouring one to which the meter belongs. Which is how the engineer installed the meter in the first place.

travailtotravel · 26/07/2014 09:57

If they have installed the meters in such a way that access to your property is restricted - ie you can't get the bin down the alley, or get, say a wheelchair up and down it if you wanted to, then that also needs looking at ... a serious issue. Is your landlord on your side? Its an issue for them too really as may impact on their future ability to use the property.

I am so sorry you have had such a scary experience.

PigletJohn · 26/07/2014 10:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EthicalPickle · 26/07/2014 10:05

If they have seemingly legitimate photo ID that you wish to double check you should check the phone number given is a proper number. Ie cross check it online or with your bill.

UriGeller · 26/07/2014 10:08

Crikey Becca, is this on top of your trouble with the neighbours buggy blocking the communal hallway? You're really getting it at the moment aren't you?

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flyingtrue · 26/07/2014 10:27

He sounds like a complete dick OP, and saying those things about a fire risk, definitely use the email you've been given and email them. Email is better than a letter. Put on 'read and delivery receipt' if you have outlook. They can refuse to give a 'read' receipt but you'l have a delivery one.

Becca19962014 · 26/07/2014 11:34

Thanks for all your help I'll definitely use the email you have given. I have a draft copy with details of when he came round, van registration and when I rang them who I spoke to. I did try phoning the number printed on the van but was told it has been disconnected and wasn't given an alternative.

He refused to show his ID to begin with and when he did it was a simple card with just his first name on, I couldn't see a photo and he knew nothing about the password. I won't repeat the language he gave when I said I was going to phone, he kept going on about his uniform and having a van so he was legit, my understanding and I might be wrong is I have the right to question anyone wanting access and checking their ID and anyone who is legit won't mind me doing this even if it does hold them up. I admit I was upset by his demands I give him access to meters next door now so may not have looked properly at the card, it is possible I am wrong on that point, certainly I couldn't see the back of it only the front and he wouldn't give it to me to look at (along with the password they are meant to allow me to look at the card and not just wave it at me).

Yes he got access via the council to install them in the first place so he knows how to contact them their number is in the front window.

The key for the alleyway is on the inside of the door on a ring to let people out, my landlord has one as does the council for access. The people who live there will have their own keys to get in/out via the door, although it can be accessed via my bedroom like I said it isn't a fire exit or anything like that and isn't accessible for me personally due to steps so I don't have a key. The council have a key (it's a council property) and it has their details in the windows in case of emergency etc. It doesn't say go next door for access!!

Yes the man who came is the man who installed the meters, hence me knowing the reasons for them being put there as he obviously felt sharing that with me would mean I'd let him in and was very clear his sole reason for doing so was because he could also access via the door he saw from over the fence into the back garden where I live. They are aware who will be living in the property next door and possible difficulties getting to the door, well I have those as well, and those are documented with the company anyway.

Yes this is on top of the other problem I'm having with the buggy, and other stuff going on. I am really getting it from all sides at the moment Sad

Thanks again for all your help and support I really appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
ParsingFlatly · 26/07/2014 11:46

Make sure you mention in your email that he claimes he installed the meter in that position specifically with the plan of using your house as access to it. That's utterly outrageous (among all the other outrageous things he's done).

Thanks for all the crap you're getting at the moment.

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