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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not expect the meter reader to be rude to me?

50 replies

AuntieMaggie · 22/09/2011 20:53

I was rushing to leave the house earlier and was running late (about 7pm) and there was a man knocking on the door next door. He asked if I lived here and said I've come to read your meters. I said I didn't have time as I was running late. I'd just locked the door, remembered I'd forgotten something, went back in leaving the door open and he was peering round the door and said "your meters only up there" pointing behind the door and I told him that the other one (gas) is in a cupboard in the living room. He said it would only take 30 seconds I repeated I didn't have time. He walked away muttering something under his breath.

The way he spoke to me was so rude and I'm a bit put out by him nosing in my house after I told him I didn't want him reading the meters.

Argh! Sorry I just can't stand rudeness.!

OP posts:

Original poster

AuntieMaggie · 23/09/2011 08:42

I think it was his manner that annoyed me more than anything which is hard to describe. I appreciate they have a job to do but equally they should appreciate that its not always convenient to just turn up on people's doorsteps and expect to be able to read the meter.

OP posts:

ElizabethDarcy · 23/09/2011 10:20

A smile and being courteous go a long way in my book, no matter how tired or dreary the job is.

biddysmama · 23/09/2011 10:21

when i moved into this house the meter had been 'fixed' me being naive didnt realise for a few days after moving in, after i'd put some money on it and the balance didnt change, i called the company to tell them (after spending ages finding who actually sorted it out) they were very very rude to me, accused me of doing it and lying about when i'd moved in, the guy that came to fix it was rude to me about it and then they kept dropping in to check it wasnt fixed again! i had to get my landlord to ring them to vouch for me and tell them the details of who had moved out.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 23/09/2011 10:39

We have a meter reader who comes around periodically, I never let anybody in because of the dogs who go nuts but, he just leaves me a card and goes off. I write down the reading, stick it up on the glass door so he can see it in case I'm out when he calls back - and he puts a 'thank you' through when he's got the reading. Surely he gets paid for that the same way he would if he came in to do the reading?

I don't see why everything has to be 'instant'. It's not always a good time and quite honestly, if I'm in the house on my own in the day I wouldnt' want people I don't know coming in. A genuine person, like our meter reader, just wants what he needs and is happy for the information, however he gets it.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 23/09/2011 10:42

TunaTiebacks... Surely the energy companies can determine that from the readings? I mean, if you're spending the same amount and it's within normal 'range' for your household, why would they think that you're defrauding them or have tampered with their equipment? Is that the default setting now? Everyone's a criminal...

loudee · 23/09/2011 10:45

totally agree OP I wouldn't want anyone in my house who was being pushy or rude regardless of what job they are trying to do or how much their wages are.

mumeeee · 23/09/2011 11:17

You could have let him read the meter as he said he would have been in and out in 30 seconds. We pay our electricity and Gas by direct debit every month. But our meters are still read so that the amount we pay can be altered. We just got a cheque from our Gas provider as we had paid too much last year.

diddl · 23/09/2011 11:22

TBH it doesn´t come across from your OP that he was rube(imo).

And he´s not to know that you have furniture in the way that would make it longer than 30sec.

itisnearlysummer · 23/09/2011 11:22

smellslikecatpee The reader who banged on the living room window was a woman! They aren't any better than the men!

diddl · 23/09/2011 11:23

rube??!!

good grief-it´s not as if b & d are even that close on the keyboard!

Smellslikecatpee · 23/09/2011 11:27

itisnearlysummer: really, not that she was rude but in 15 years of living in this area I have never seen a female meter reader, well you live and learn

perplexedpirate · 23/09/2011 11:30

Our meter is outside and every so often I hear banging around and when I go out they've read the meter but left all my plant pots all over the place. Not rude exactly, but quite annoying.
Until...last month there was a knock at the door and a lady said that she'd come to read the meter, she knew where it was but she didn't want me to be worried about the noise, dead pleasant AND she put all my pots back. That's the only female meter reader I've seen. Maybe there should be more.

perplexedpirate · 23/09/2011 11:31

Oops, cross post. Maybe not...

manicbmc · 23/09/2011 11:35

I've never had a rude meter reader. I find people tend to treat you as you treat them though.

It takes a minute to read a meter and the poor bloke was only doing his job.

Tewkespeggy · 23/09/2011 11:46

manicbmc i have always been pleasant and accomodating.... my default status... until he was rude to me.

manicbmc · 23/09/2011 11:58

I am always polite, even in the face of rudeness (unless it is really worth my while getting riled - then I am vicious ). It is very difficult to continue being rude if some one is being extremely pleasant and reasonable.

TunaTiebacks · 23/09/2011 13:08

LyingWitch It's just their legal obligation, I'm not sure exactly what the wording of the law is but they're quite hot on it, I was always dealing with angry customers who'd had a warrant letter! Estimated bills are done by average usage but they can be wildly inaccurate, and then you can end up with an enormous bill and big complaints when it's finally read. Not everyone bothers to check it and get the bill amended, and plenty lie about it to pay less. I live in a 2 bed terrace, just me and DS, use v little hot water and hardly ever have heating on etc. Next door to me are a family of 5. I can guarantee they use far more than I do but an average would only be calculated on property size, so I'd end up overcharged and they'd probably pay too little.

Sandalwood · 23/09/2011 13:34

It's their meter too.

Isn't it?

(unsure now)

galletti · 23/09/2011 13:37

Get smart meters - free of charge from some suppliers call and ask them - you never have to let a meter reader in again, or indeed have an estimated bill! I know all meters are going to be replaced with smart ones, but it may take some time!!

SMELLYDELLY76 · 10/05/2012 19:19

I find meter readers soooo rude,he came today to our house and when i answerd he was peering in thru the window..i asked if i could fone it in as the meters were both rite at the back of our full under stairs cupboard..he bluntly said no!!!ill come back at 3pm,leaving me just over an our to empty the cupboard,which i had explained to him..he said you will be in wont you cause i could go home if your not going to be in,yet wen i asked him if he could come back tomorrow he said no way i live in doncaster and im not coming back...feeling really pressured i emptied the cupboard..3pm on the dot he banged on the door and as i answerd he was again peering thru the window..i invited him in and said its in there...he went thru my kitchen door beads like a bull in a china shop,no respect..then just said thats it and walked out...no thankyou..no thanx for emptying the cupboard..no have a nice bleeding day..and he left..so rude my son was gobsmacked and hes a moody 15 year old..

ImperialBlether · 10/05/2012 19:26

This is an old thread, smellydelly!

Flisspaps · 10/05/2012 19:29

My female meter reader is nice. She stops for a chat, but then she is the parent of a student who used to go to the school I worked at.

Flisspaps · 10/05/2012 19:34

Oh bastard arseholing zombie thread

Youarenotthesmartest · 15/05/2019 18:12

Hello everyone,

I tell you a secret : SMART METER DON'T MAKE YOU SMART.

Youarenotthesmartest · 15/05/2019 18:17

You might be the one who save the planet.
Wake up. I bet your house have a name.
Why like that. You are not alone. Maybe you need someone to check your abilities.

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