to not let the meter reader in?

[midastouch]

my electric meter is in my cellar/playroom, so they have to trapse through my house to get to the meter. I had a screaming baby so i told him it wasnt convenient I got quite a lecture about checking it for safety so i asked him to come back in a couple of hours (to give me a chance to sort lunch out and clear the playroom floor so he doesnt break his neck!) he was not impressed and knocked again half an hour later. I ignored it he knocked 3 times! It was only read 2 months ago and I dont really like strangers demanding entry to my home! Anyway i now have a note to say ive refused entry twice!

[LaurieFairyCake]

Please confirm that saxonlad is lying when he says that meter readings have to be taken by a meter reader every 12 weeks as 'it's the law'.

It's not the law unless they've changed it. And we would have all heard about it if it was changed.

It's every 2 years.

[TequilaMockingbirdy]

Thankyou very much for your response and looking into this Tom, it's quite scary such aggressive people could show up at people's doors.

Sorry about my language btw - I'm not usually so bad!

[slithytove]

I find it quite upsetting that someone could be so vindictive and vicious at being asked to come back when it's convenient, that they would essentially play knock down ginger to try and wake a sleeping newborn.

[WillGardnersNose]

We would be more than happy if a meter reader came round to read our meters. We have been here three years and not had them read once as they insist on coming during the day when no-one is here. We submit ours online and afaik no-one has ever felt the need to force entry to the house to read them....

Surely it would make sense when a huge proportion of families now have two working adults for meter readers to have pre-booking facilities or be able to request evening and weekend visits

[Catsize]

Wow! Thanks Tom. Whole new world out there. Good move Cortana.
The power of Mumsnet!

[NadiaWadia]

Goodness what a nasty little man. Very high opinion of his own importance, too. It would be quite funny if he wasn't so unpleasant. Hopefully he will learn he has made a big mistake.

[500smiles]

Not been back then Saxon?

[MarysDressSways1]

Well he was a charmer! What an angry little man. It almost makes me feel sorry for him.

[MakeMineaMartina]

his post has been deleted! hmm. wonder why eh?

[FryOneFatManic]

That post was definitely nasty. I know we probably won't hear if there's any outcome from Tom, but I'd like to think he gets identified and thus his just desserts.

[MakeMineaMartina]

surprised his post was up for so long. troll alert to me.

[CarbeDiem]

LaurieFairyCake
It's every 2 years legally that entry needs to be granted.
Customer responsibilty to provide quarterly reads to keep bill correct.

Elderly or disabled can request the meter reader more often if they wish but he certainly doesn't need access every 12 weeks.

What people don't realise (why should they unless they work for an energy company) is that a lot of reads won't be logged on the individual energy providers systems. Sometimes if a bill is in the process of being made the systems won't allow the read to be entered (it must be X amount of days before to X amount of days after) That said - the meter company will have a record of him attending so the 'once every 2 years' couldn't be disputed.

[LeftyLoony]

YANBU given that as you said it was only done two months ago.
Did other posters not read that bit?

[LeftyLoony]

Oh. Resurrected zombie. As you were.

[TomNG]

If I am able to report back I will. Depends on the process.

[Catsize]

Tom, I have visions of you in a superhero cape and baseball cap. Do you have big sparkly teeth?

[listsandbudgets]

Not had time to read the thread but YABU. Meter readers don't give a damn what your house looks like or if they baby is screaming they're only interested in the meters.

I always ask mine if he'd like to use the toilet and he quite often does. He always has a friendly word for DS and DD as well. In fact last time he came DS was wailing but it didn't seem to pertrub him one bit. They're just people doing their job. Very inconsiderate to make him come back later just for the sake of a few toys and a bit of mess

[Petrasmumma]

YANBU. Your home, your decision. This is a matter of privacy.

Whether it's a concern over mess, PJs, unwelcome interruption or being alone with a child, your privacy trumps everything, irrespective of which company outside your home employs whom to do what. Call in the readings and arrange a convenient appointment for the 2 yearly meter inspection.

I'd like to be more positive about this but we've had two chancers posing as meter readers, with official looking ID, matching polo shirts and handheld gizmos in the last 12 months. Both times I was held in a queue for longer than ten minutes to verify the ID and charged for the call. We felt it was simpler to stop answering the door, period.

I appreciate that meter readers have a job to do and quotas to meet, but that's between them and their employer.

[Edenprime]

You are not being unreasonable.

The first time some one came to read our meter I couldn't find my keys (or I didn't have any, we'd just moved in) so I had to tell the man this while he was behind the door. He could hear me and then started trying to open the door himself. I wasn't aware that you had have meter readings done like this at the time (our old house had the meter readings outside) and it was scary.

Also, it annoys me how they turn up unannounced. I find this so rude and I wish they could just send cards out saying "we will be in your area on this week/day". Normally we ring back up when they've left a card and let them know when they can come, at a time that's fine for me and my husband as we both work. I know they have a job to do, but so do we (hence why we are not in) and we have other commitments too.

Sorry that sounds so harsh. I have a problem with people knocking on my door unannounced in general so I'm probably just a miserable person :P