to not let the metre reader in?

[worryingunnecessarily]

Bathing DS's (5 and 2) about 7.30pm, bang bang bang on door. I ignored, again, then again. Got kids out of bath, peered down stairs and could see uniformed man through window and thought it might be a PSCO (due to insistent nature) Answered and it was the metre reader, I said not now, not convenient (had youngest in my arms in a bath towel so was obvious why), he was most put out, almost arsey as to why not etc. WIBU to not let him in?

We are told by local police NOT to let meter readers in, esp at this time of year you get all sorts of funny business going on. I had the same the other day, was up to my eyes in it and he got very nasty. He flashed some badge at me, could have been The I am Jesus for all I knew.

They need to tell us when they are doing readings and make appts.

I've had exactly the same thing with a meter reader. The arsier they get the less inclined I am to let them in.

Yanbu. You don't have any obligation to let them in.

I had a charity guy this bath time. I was so annoyed, charity or no. I think it is such an imposition at that time of the evening.

He sounded a bit dodgy especially with his anger I think you did the right thing.

Not at all! I don't ever let them in unless DH is here too.

Just noticed meter not metre, didn't think it looked right.

He made me feel uneasy and I am normally a bolshy cow.

Well he tells me he is coming back tomorrow. Actually thinking about it he asked where I was yesterday as he came then and I ended telling him I work in the day. If I come home tomorrow to a burgled house it will be my own fault! Stupid woman.

I had an email from eon the other week saying the meter man will be paying a visit in the near future. It didn't give any indication as to when he might show up, just that I should expect a call. I read the meters myself and filled it in online.
I don't answer the door, especially the front door, after a certain time because it's just inconvenient. I do check who it is (peephole) but unless it's the police (never has been yet!) I don't even say anything to them.
Is there any way you can call the meter reading company and complain about the person who came to your house? Tell them that, just because he knocks at your door, he isn't entitled to come in if it's an inconvenient time.

I very rarely let them in. DH does but I don't unless he's home. We mostly submit our own readings anyway. They do seem to always come at 7ish! :(

Don't think I will let him in tomorrow either, arsey man. Although DH will be here then and most likely will.

AIBU to be so angry, upset and fed up with my DH for not even TRYING to give up smoking? We are sleeping in separate rooms now, because he coughs very loudly all the time and he snores really loudly. He did stop for a couple of months several years ago and he stopped snoring, but he started smoking again.

I feel so lonely sleeping on my own and it makes me really upset that he might stop snoring if he stopped smoking and we could sleep together again, but he doesn't even at least try to quit. He doesn't get that I just would like to see him try, we are hardly talking at the moment...

Yanbu. I didn't let the meter reader in either as I was on my own and I felt a bit wary, even after he showed me his ID (how am I supposed to know what a genuine ID looks like?!)

In the end I got him to wait outside while I read it myself. And apparently that was ok.

Did you mean to start your own thread warrior?

Sorry, my previous message was meant to be a new thread!!

In response to your thread, I had a meter man knock around 7pm the other night and I felt uncomfortable. It was the first time I have asked to see a badge, but like you say, it could just be made up. I will not answer the door next time unless I am expecting someone.

I've refused one before because I was alone. told him to come back another time when DH is here. he was quite miffed.

I don't let them in either,I phone in my reading.

I never let them in.

I phone up with the meter readings.

We've had some weirdos round here lately; man saying he's from Wessex Water and needs to know my name (er, you know my name - you send me bills) who hammered on my door for ages after I said no, a bloke who turned up at 8pm on a Sunday wanting to check my loft insulation (didn't even have a ladder), a bloke in a tracksuit holding a single floppy leaflet asking to look around the house at my windows and numerous other oddballs.

Anyone can buy a black fleece and print out a fake ID (frequently for a different provider than the one you're with). It's just not safe now to let people in.

My meter reader guy has let himself in twice! ( only got into v front door, not right into house, but I gave him an earful both times.) Now he just leaves a card.

I don't often let them in. It's always inconvenient.

You're all crazy! How do you think single people manage without big, strong husbands to protect them?! And how will you cope when/if he dies/leaves?

Buck up, women.

We had to make an appointment for someone to come read the water meter. Apparently OffWat insists water company staff read the meter themselves every couple of years. I'm dubious but given that they now refuse to accept our readings, we have no choice.

Oh yes, fancy being wary and keeping safe

I refused to let one in once, was busy breastfeeding newborn herding my toddler about the place and really didn't need the extra hassle. Like yours, he got very arsey.

He said that by law they need to visually inspect the meter in person at least once a year. I have no idea if that is true or not, but I told him, law or not, he was not coming into my house and no meter reader had been in to read the meter in the last 3 years I'd lived here so it couldn't be all that crucial to come today.

He went off muttering to himself but never came back, that was years ago now.

There's been burglaries round our way where someone distracts you at the front door ( sales/charity etc) and someone else breaks in the back.

I keep the house locked 95% of the time and just wave and mouth no thanks through the glass of the door if I don't recognise them.

I never let them in. If they are lucky enough to get me at the door (rare as I screen via the window) I say leave a card. Usually they say, we'll call tomorrow so I say "fine, leave a card tomorrow then"

The reason I'm so aresy? I have pre payment meters. They never need reading but it is now done by a central company who charge per successful reading. They have no interest in you, your comfort or even your need for the service they are peddling. No one comes into my house unless I specifically invite them in advance. It's a business like any other so every time we let them in when it's not convenient or they are pushy it's giving them permission to do it again.

The thing to remember is this isn't a service to you it's a service for the supplier.