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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to refuse to allow my meter to be read

28 replies

artyjools · 27/02/2011 13:01

I'm usually an accommodating sort of person. I like people, I know some have hard jobs, I prefer to help someone than not, but I refused to allow a guy in to read my gas & electricity meters yesterday.

Once upon a time, my meters would be read about once or twice a year. We pay by DD, we are never in arrears, we have never had a problem with bills. Over the last 2 or 3 years, readings have become increasingly common. Now, I have someone coming about every 6 weeks and it hacks me off.

I know exectly what is happening as one of the guys told me. The work is franchised out and the companies that carry out the meter reading have targets of reading so many meters per month. I work part time and then largely from home, so I am usually around during the day. I am guessing that my name is on a list which says I am usually in, hence the ridiculously high number of calls. I've had enough of needlessly having my train of thought disturbed. No more Mrs Nice Girl!!!!

OP posts:

HecateQueenOfWitches · 27/02/2011 13:11

I think you only, legally, have to allow someone in once a year or maybe even once every 2 years. you'll have to find out.

So you can tell them this.

"I have already had my meter read this year, I am not obliged to let anyone in more than once a year /two years and I don't intend to, so you had better put that on your notes."

Original poster

artyjools · 27/02/2011 14:03

Thanks for this - I'll check that out. I have raised it with the last 4 or 5 guys, and this one was quite ok about it. He didn't threaten me with anything LOL.

OP posts:

LadyOfTheManor · 27/02/2011 14:05

YANBU.

Tell them to jog on, it's been done.

I was told it was every quarter (but legally they only need access once a year-usually at the close 12 months with that said company)

sb6699 · 27/02/2011 14:40

I've had this recently. My meter has been read about 6 times in 6 months.

One guy appeared at 7.15 am and I refused to let him in.

frgr · 27/02/2011 14:52

Well I don't let them in at all if I'm on my own, i don't care if it's been a year or ten since they were last year. I submit monthly meter readings online, so it's always accurate.

Do they really have a legal right to enter my home if it's been more than X period of time?

Surely I would have the right to request re-arranging for when someone else is in the property or ask them to pre-phone with an appointment?

i've never had an issue with turning readers away at the door before when i've explained i won't let them in - maybe i've just had terribly nice ones.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 27/02/2011 14:58

You have to legally have your meters read and checked once a year. Not just for billing but for safety.
Your provider can force entry using a warrant if necessary.

Acekicker · 27/02/2011 14:58

YANBU however personally I am jealous that you get your meter read. Two years ago our gas meter had to be moved to outside our house (gas co. insisted) - in doing so they managed to set fire to my house (I kid you not!)...

...since then the buggers have never been to read it and instead send me a letter every so often asking me to do a reading for them - this of course now necessitates going outside, getting torch etc and fannying around in the dark/rain/etc whereas previously (before the arsonist twats got to work) I just needed to look in the cupboard to read the bloody thing!

NorthernGobshite · 27/02/2011 15:03

I let them in about once a year (when forced!) for very same reason. I am with EDF/Sainsburys and they have been very fair about DD's - they are open to discussion on what amount should be. I have even had refunds!

The meter readers are private companies who are paid per reading they get. We get 3 a week sometimes as live on busy road. I don't even answer the door now, just say "no thankyou" out of the window!

HecateQueenOfWitches · 27/02/2011 15:50

A quick google seems to suggest that the legal requirement is once every two years. and to check the condition and safety of the meter as much as anything. And you don't have to let anyone in more frequently than that.

So I think I'd make a note of the last date it was read, and to anyone coming after that, "It was read on X date. Legally, you do not have right of access for two years. so piss off Come back then and I'll let you in."

MsFaithless · 27/02/2011 16:03

My solution to this is to never answer the door

Original poster

artyjools · 27/02/2011 18:10

Aaahhh - so its not only me! Northern - I'd be flippin furious. Good idea HCW.

Acekicker - they set fire to your house!!!!!

OP posts:

MumdiddyMum · 27/02/2011 19:11

YANBU - We have them all the time, its really annoying. Some of them are really rude too! The last time someone came my dogs were barking. The chap said 'tie up your dogs or I'm not coming in' I said 'OK, see ya' and shut the door lol A please and thank you goes a long way with me!!

mmsmum · 27/02/2011 20:22

I get my meter read often and I like it, it means I don't have to do it. It is the bill payer that is responsible for making sure their readings are up to date so that their bills are accurate. You do not need to let anybody in at all if you don't want to, but it is in your interests to make sure regular readings are taken. Although you can do this yourself I find it easier to let someone else do it for me

pointythings · 27/02/2011 20:56

I do my meter readings online ( so no estimated bills) and only get an actual man about twice a year. They also know we both work f/t so show up early evening-ish, very good.

I wouldn't allow more than this anyway.

FER1 · 28/02/2011 13:32

I went through a stage in the second half of last year of getting a knock on the door every TWO WEEKS.

Then I got my quarterly bill which was for hundreds of pounds more than it usually is and when I called up (EDF) they said it was because my metre reading had been based on estimated readings for the last 12mths because no one had access to read the metre!

The woman on the other end of the phone was astonished when I asked who the guys were coming to the door every 2 weeks to look at the metre and told me to stop letting them in. She helped me set up a password which I can ask the next dick that knocks on the door for and if he doesn't have the password then I shouldn't let him in.

Amazingly, no one has been around since so i wonder if some sort of notification of password has been put against my name and so they ignore me now.

Acekicker · 28/02/2011 15:31

artyjools - yes they did! . And this was on the 2nd visit to put right all the shoddy work they'd done 1st time around! To be fair it was the joists that started burning due to the arsonist twat not having the right soldering equipment but the house filled with smoke etc (as did next door - terraced house)...

When they wrote to me about 10 months later saying they needed to now replace the gas meter I went ballistic at them and there's now a note on my file which says something along the lines of 'do not screw this woman around she is still harbouring a grudge about the fire'

starfishmummy · 28/02/2011 15:42

My provider told me they would only be sending bills every six months so it seems reasonable to me to expect them just to read the meter every six months too!

cuckooclock · 28/02/2011 22:37

We signed up for online account management to avoid having to get our meter read every couple of months or so. Our electricity meter is under the stairs accessed from our living room. If I have visitors or dd playing it was not always convenient to allow them access. Well since we went to online the meter readers are at our door every 4-6 weeks. We tell them (politely) that we do it online so they only read our meter once a year but they just ignore that and say "so to confirm, you are refusing us access?"

I have complained twice to our energy company and they say they have no control over these readings. Interestingly our gas meter is outside and NO meter readings ever appear on our account unless we have input them. I am convinced that they just come to the door to harass us.

On another, totally off topic point, we also get harassed by our energy supplier coming to the door and asking us to sign up to their company. I have lost count of the number of similar conversations "We are already customers of yours", "You cannot be, I have you down as with XXX", "No that is incorrect, here is our latest statement to prove it", "Are you sure your husband hasn't transferred you to another comany recently?", "No, he wouldn't dare!". About a year ago I contacted my energy supplier and asked them as I wasn't a customer of theirs (according to their records) could they please refund me all the amounts I had paid them over the last 10 years. Their reply - "You are in fact our customer and this information you refer to is obviously incorrect". I have that email and issue a copy to anyone who now comes to the door.

My conclusion - they are all totally useless and treat us all as idiots.

KittaKatta · 28/02/2011 23:07

Oh thank God, I thought it was only me. . .

OH has recently started doing a few days working from home, and I think he's starting to wonder, as they all go 'OH!' as if to say Oh My God a Man!!
Surely there's lots of men at home now days?

Anyway we have the online account thing too, and I submitted my readings regularly, but still get them minimun 1 a month, assuming that they come around more than that as I do leave the house everynow and then, really.

NetworkGuy · 01/03/2011 01:10

While you may not want the meter reader to visit, that 'you have no right of access for 2 years' could lead to higher than you wanted 'estimates'.

After all, while they may allow you to read your meter yourself, you could be submitting lower than actual readings to avoid paying them - it will likely mean someone doing so would end up paying more with costs increasing, but they have no way to be sure...

Sorry to read of them setting light to your home, Acekicker. As for having to go out and look when it is dark, can you never take a look in the day ?

Also, if you are fed up with them not coming to read, why not ignore their card asking for a reading a few times. If asked "We get so much junk mail, must have thrown your card away".

If they remind you it was the last 3 requests, say the junk mail has been bad for years and you now only look out for bank/credit card statements and items from the Council, shred or throw pretty much everything else...

NetworkGuy · 01/03/2011 01:16

cuckooclock - maybe you should consider switching supplier - however first you should double check

a) which firm is used by existing supplier for readings, and

b) which firm is used by future supplier (will take some waiting on the phone no doubt, or patience waiting for an e-mail)...

nailak · 01/03/2011 01:17

if you pay prepaid, why do they stil come and check meter?

NetworkGuy · 01/03/2011 01:25

Knowing that British Gas were raising the costs for both electricity and gas in December, I took meter readings (within a few days of 10/12) and got e-mail acknowledgements.

Not long ago had e-mail saying bills were online, and then 2-3 days later, more e-mail thanking me for my meter readings. So they took my December readings as if they were taken in 2011. Oh well, I know I will still pay for my usage, but it will bugger up their estimating system for future as it will assume more usage in February-April than Sept-January now!

Planning to switch to EDF's 20:20 as I am up and about a lot more at night so may as well get a discount on my electricity use. However, have to do some more calculations as BG only has a per unit fee, while EDF charges a daily fee as well, so even in an empty home (or for some, a holiday home) there would be costs without even being there, just like water or phone line rental.

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 01:25

I dont see what such a del is this to you, it means you get accurate bill, be you wouldnt be saying this if you'd been charged too much due to an over estimated bill, if you soo bothered, move to online tariff (cheaper) and submit your own meter reads at your leisure.

But then again I am very bothered by the postman who leaves his red elastic bands outside my house, I hae five collected and shall complain in due course - We All have our bug bears....

NetworkGuy · 01/03/2011 01:31

nailak - because they (a) need to adjust for unit cost changes (else there would be a build up of arrears) and (b) that safety/ calibration to be sure you have a working meter with no over/under charging through electronic fault.

They did hit me with a bill for 400 pounds after being on a prepayment meter for 18 months, and I asked them to provide me with detailed month-by-month figures for my consumption and payments to top up the meter - I had been in arrears so they demanded they fit the meter and for the first year much of what went to top-up was to cover earlier debt, but can only assume they went down too far.

Anyway, I had been evicted by mortgage lender before there was any further action over the demand for 400 quid. I never had details out of them and would still insist on same, and then do my damndest to show they should have known they were undercharging (if that was what they had claimed) based on my payments and how many days went by between top-ups. It would be relatively easy to estimate the cost per unit (and they had set it, after all, so would know what it should have been if they had managed to set it wrong).

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