to be peeved when gas man just turns up to read the metre

[silvercrown]

with absolutely no warning at all??? It's something that has always concerned me but I always says ok and have let them into the house but it is soooo annoying because there is no warning at all and anyone can surely pretend they've come to read the metre? (sp?) - it's the same with the electricity of course but surely it wouldn't hurt for these companies to send a letter round one week in advance to say "we will be calling in your street next week - if you will not be home please leave card in window" etc and not to just expect any lone female to open the door to a strange man (never ever had a woman call) and let them into her home when she may or may not have children around. Had a chap call today and seriously this guy looked a right sight - a short scruffy, dirty looking man, long unwashed hair standing there (van behind him with the proper company name on etc so he was legit) but he looked like a very frigthening ex-con (from a movie) - the type you wouldn't really be inviting into your home at all. Just feel that since they send people around from various companies (and I've heard that it's not just a company sent from the gas/elc supplier you use for your bills but ALSO rival companies sending people round to calculate how much you are using to see if they can make you savings etc) they should all wear uniforms, look clean and presentable and friendly, have identification in large bold print with photo, drive company van parked in plain sight every time and send warnings in advance - is that really too much to ask??????

[BecauseImWorthIt]

And breathe!

[tamarto]

Yes. What a waste of paper, nothing wrong with asking for I.D.

[JacobsPrincess]

I sent a meter reader man packing today - I was trying to dress a 3yr DS1 and bf 7 week old DS2, last thing I needed was doorbell ringing and strange man in the house.
He got a bit shirty when I said it wasn't convenient and I'd get my husband to phone in a reading. He told me that they have to take a reading and self-reading won't do. I told him it still wasn't convenient as furniture would have to be moved.
I don't let ANYONE in unless they have an appointment. Totally agree that they should give notice to read the meter.

[zippitippitoes]

well i let anyone in me did you see this thread i started

here

[Lauriefairycake]

I never let them in. My meters are in an inconvenient place and I have to move a load of furniture to do it. Instead I keep my online readings up to date.

[Mercy]

Agree he should have had a uniform and/or ID.

The last man who read ours said that they are now paid on the basis of how many meters they read - a few pence each time.

[JacobsPrincess]

That's what I though Mercy - he was spinning me a line about how he MUST do the meters because he was getting paid extra for each one!
He still wasn't coming in though!!

[almostblue]

This very much isn't what I expected this thread to be about.

I was anticipating a lively discussion about the false expectations raised by decades of dodgy porn productions...

[zippitippitoes]

i feel quite sorry for them it must be really hard to make a decent wage

[silvercrown]

well we had a letter from the water company advising about work to be done in the area and then they stated that there were people operating in the area pretending to be from the water company and gave a number to call if we were unsure. I still think that it's inconvenient but also very risky for very vunerable people like the elderly or people at home with young children or childminders etc. It's one thing to open the door to a parcelman holding a big box (which I did on Monday actually - just read the link to the other thread and had to smile) I was also bra-less with a stringy vest on and the parcel guy asks me if I would like to open the box and check the contents first - never had them ask me that before but it meant bending down inf ront of him - cheek!!!

[solo]

But I believe that the metres have to be read by an employed to read it man once a year.

[SparklyDiscoGirl]

YANBU.

I rarely answer the door to anyone that I either don't recognise or am not expecting when I am at home alone in the day time.

A lot less hassle to just not answer than to answer and then have a tedious discussion about why they are not coming in.

Is that unreasonable? I'm not sure.

[silvercrown]

But how many poeple only invite the gas/elec man in ONCE a year?? I can guarantee the area where I usded to live I was called upon about 6 times a year which is when my husband told me that he checked with the gas company and they said they sent someone about twice a year and the rest are from rival companies and companies that have to keep an eye on the gas/elec companies or something.

[mayorquimby]

yanbu
just don't let them in unless it's a scheduled visit that you agreed to.
same with the tv licence inspector

[DaphneMoon]

God I'm glad mine are both outside!

[SlartyBartFast]

they always ring me! and i have to read it myself and convey it to them over the phone!

[FAQ]

ahh but with the TV licence you will have received a letter telling you that you could get a visit

[mm22bys]

YANBU.

I don't let them in, I just leave them at the door and go and read the meters myself.

There are so many dreadful stories, YANBU at all.

[debzmb62]

i alway get a phone call to say they are in the area ! alway alway ask for id never invite stranger in to your home !! be it on there own head to open the cupboard lol like said don,t let them in without id !!mind you in my case its been a woman for the last 3-4 years !

[LaVieEnRose]

I started a thread ages ago saying that I wasn't comfortable letting the british gas man in when it was just me and ds in the house and I got flamed!

I was accused of reading the daily mail!

[soon2be3]

I too think it's unreasonable but appearently I'm in the minority.

I don't have gas - only electric and oil.

The electric chap has been coming every 4 months since 2001 until 2005 and then every 6 months.

He turns up unannounced. Luckily it's been the same chap so at least I know him now.

[misi]

they are required by law to read the meter at least once in 2 years now. you can say no if not convienient and then phone in but they have to read it at some point. the people who read the meters now are not from the energy companies but a third party and they have no right of entry like the meter readers of old. MY dad was a meter reader/fixer and he had a warrant card that entitled him to gain entry if he thought there was something untoward happening. he never did, he said he wasn't paid enough for the aggro but would report funny goings on when he got back as most readers did.
I am not sure if you can pre book appts now like you used to be able to do. worth a try if you really don't want these people in. phone the energy company, they will tell you who reads for them and try calling them see how you get on?