Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

to not let the metre reader in?

62 replies

worryingunnecessarily · 26/11/2013 21:22

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?

OP posts:

FunkyBoldRibena · 26/11/2013 22:54

I never let them in, they get arsey, I say tough shit. You want an appointment, make an appointment.

ThenSheSaid · 26/11/2013 23:08

I always let themin. I have never had one be the least bit rude and I don't worry in the slightest if I am home alone. It takes the meter about thirty seconds to check my meter as it's close to the front door. It is not an imposition.

However, YANBU as you were in the middle of bathing your DCs. (Although, if it had only taken a moment then perhaps you could have let him check the meter quickly)

If you are nervous of people who come to your door then you should have a proper chain on the door and if you are unsure of a meter readers identity then call your energy supplier using the number on your bill. They will be happy to confirm their identity. There are no safety concerns if you do these things.

ThenSheSaid · 26/11/2013 23:09

Typo.. I meant to say meter reader

onedev · 26/11/2013 23:15

If it's a gas meter, there is a legal requirement for them to visually check the meter due to safety reasons (not sure if there's a legal requirement if its an electricity meter).

They shouldn't be arsey with you though & I'd complain to your supplier.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 26/11/2013 23:20

I always let them in. They're polite and efficient and gone in about thirty seconds. But then I've never had one call at that time before.

ThenSheSaid · 26/11/2013 23:21

I forgot to mention that many utility companies HAVE to provide services for vulnerable, disabled, elderly or chronically sick people who prefer appointments. Some (all?) operate a password system so that you can be sure the meter reader is who he says he is.

INFO on the PRIORITY SERVICES REGISTER

KringleCandleLover · 26/11/2013 23:29

There are requirements to check both mtrs.

Used to be every 2 yrs but things may have changed since I stopped working for a utility company.

Safety. Pfft. They are checking to see if gas and electric are being extracted illegally.

Meter readers are no more gas-lecy safety engineers than a binman.

HectorVector · 26/11/2013 23:33

'Buck up women' - seriously.

The meter reader can be a man or a woman and neither would get to come in. I don't make a habit of allowing people I don't know into my home. It is my home and I feel safe in it and territorial of it. If I don't know you, if I haven't invited you then you're not coming in, simple as that really. And no it's not because I'm expecting the meter reader to attack me.

NoComet · 26/11/2013 23:41

Never worried about letting the meter reader in, but I always check the gate to see who's parked before opening the door-no one walks to my house.

Npower had jazzy cars and jazzy prices

montysma1 · 26/11/2013 23:48

Just let the people do their job for god sake. Its a crap job with big targets for meters to be read (if they don't hit a certain percentage they get sent back, can lose their job). Traipsing about in all weathers, dealing with petticoat clutching neurotics that assume everyone who knocks the door is a rapist/burglar or is grossly inconveniencing them for the 15 seconds that it takes. The utilities own the meters, you don't. If you don't want them to check on their own stuff, get a coal fire and some candles and get off the grid.

Snowbility · 26/11/2013 23:50

Yanbu, do call the utility company and complain - they will have a contract with the meter reading company and that doesn't include harassing customers. It's perfectly fine to phone in a reading.

onedev · 26/11/2013 23:56

Kringle it's most definitely for safety for a gas meter to be visually inspected at least once every 2 year. If there's a problem, the meter reader calls National Grid to report it & one of their engineers then need to attend within an hour to make safe.

D0oinMeCleanin · 27/11/2013 00:02

I rarely let them. My gas meter is in the cupboard under the stairs. To get to it involves walking all the way through my house, emptying the cupboard and attempting to restrain the dogs/cat.

If they made an appointment like all other companies I deal with, I would happily prepare for the visit in advance and let them in.

MiaowTheCat · 27/11/2013 07:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

insancerre · 27/11/2013 07:59

I always let them in and have never had any problems. it only takes a few seconds and then they are off.
I don't get the problem- not all men are predatory sex attackers.
It is a bit daft to always live in such fear.

valiumredhead · 27/11/2013 08:08

People seem to have a very narrow view of why someone might not like letting strangers into their homes and that includes women too.

TeacupDrama · 27/11/2013 08:27

I believe they have a legal right to insist on an actual meter reading every 2 years it maybe less, as of course people may not give accurate readings online etc

the gas people if they suspect a fault or leak have a right to break in if necessary

hyenafunk · 27/11/2013 10:01

I always let ours in because he comes around the time I expect the postie so I open it assuming it's packages as I order a lot of shit online. Once I've opened it I feel too awkward to say "No actually, you can't come in." Also I feel really awkward ignoring the door when it's obvious I'm in by the toddlers I seem to have acquired stood at the window . It only takes a minute and he's a nice enough guy, always the same one. I never get a letter informing me they'll be coming, he just turns up.

What I don't understand, however, is why he has to come so often... It seems to be averaging every month. I'm really socially awkward but keep meaning to ask. It doesn't make sense why it's so often tbh.

I think they have to come by law once a year if I'm not mistaken but yanbu, they should give you a time when they're coming.

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 27/11/2013 10:06

If you feel anyone coming to the door is rather dogdy call 101....they will probably like to check them out....

That is what our local police tell us all the time. If you feel something is dogy call 101 and they can check them out.

Also about people that come to sell tat at door, as apparenlty usually they also check out the property and pass details onto bigger crime gangs, for instance was anyone in, old people? Vulnerable, signs of wealth, pets, dogs....

Macdog · 27/11/2013 10:17

I had aggro from a meter reader once, phoned the company and complained about him.

Dogsmom · 27/11/2013 12:12

I used to be a meter reader and it was a shit job purely because of the publics horrible attitude, I had daily abuse and out of about 120 calls a day well over half of the people were either downright rude or simply offhand.

When I did it we had to read at least 75% of our daily calls to get paid a basic wage then could earn bonus on every 1% over that which still wasn't great, they ask you to work up to 8pm as that's when most people are in but that caused even more abuse especially in winter, I've been shouted at for knocking a door at 4.30pm because it was dark.
I've also had a woman literally screaming at me because her bills were too high and insisting they were her meters and private, I had a guy who snatched my handheld machine off me because he thought I had personal info on there about him and I had a lechy old guy who grabbed me from behind when I bent into the cupboard.

As for needing to see the meters, yes it's best if they do, we were given training on spotting faults and I've seen a few that did need urgent replacement as they were unsafe, that goes for the prepaid meters too, we also had to check for meters that had been tampered with, not everyone is honest and people do sometimes fiddle with them to alter their bills, it's theft and we all have to pay higher bills to cover the costs.

So even if it's not convenient to let them in at least read the numbers yourself and pass them on, the reader can mark it on the device that it was your own reading but at least they'll get paid then let them have a quick look next time.

yoshipoppet · 27/11/2013 12:36

Our electricity meter is in a box on the wall outside the kitchen. Our water meter is in a box by the side of the main road about half a mile across some fields. It's much better than the meter we had in our old place as no-one needs to get into the house and they can be read while we're out.

DirtyDancing · 28/11/2013 00:21

I must be naive because I always let the meter reader in, and did so last week when I was on my own. He read the meter and left. I've not been attacked to date, although you've all just scared the wits out of me!

StarSwirl92 · 28/11/2013 05:26

I must be out of my mind. I used to let the meter reader in when was just 16 and home alone. It's their job and they'd probably rather be at home, but they're out reading meters which is a legal requirement. On balance in this instance no, YANBU, you were in the middle of bath time. But to never let them do it is VU, the meter isn't ours.

SomethingkindaOod · 28/11/2013 08:22

I always let our reader in, they have cars brighter than some carnival floats, uniforms and badges that they actually hand over rather than just wave under your nose. Never had an issue with rudeness or aggro, sounds like I've been pretty lucky!
The meter at our old house was in the cellar and I would always let them know first and warn them that it was down some stone steps (for H&S reasons). Our dryer was down there as well, one very nice chap brought up a basket full of washing for me when I was pg!

Flip

1 2 3