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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Gas/Electric meter people

26 replies

CodWalloper · 04/12/2013 01:26

Is it unreasonable to think that gas/electric companies should send a letter first to confirm a date for reading a meter within your home?

Since I've had my daughter I'm (probably unreasonably) wary of allowing people in the house. I feel that it's probably very easy to fabricate a badge that says you're who you are. I've denied access twice now to the same person because I was not comfortable with them entering - the first time I said to return when my dh was home - the second time unfortunately he was not home due to working late. This person took extreme offence and seemed to think the card he showed me allowed him access to anywhere! I told him otherwise. I guess what I'm asking is am I being precious and unreasonable or do I have a right to expect them to be more considerate of my wishes? Sorry for the late post but this is the first chance I've had as my daughter's being a tinker with her sleep habits!

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 04/12/2013 01:53

a) It's probably easier to manufacture a letter than a card.

b) Imagine how much it would cost to send a letter to every house in the country every time they read a meter. Guess who would be paying for it...

KeatsiePie · 04/12/2013 01:56

I don't think YABU to want to exercise caution. Sometimes I feel like I'm having to choose between being kind of OTT about safety and doing something I'm not comfortable with, and that just sucks.

The chances of the guy being a crazed killer posing as a meter reader are low, but it's still fine for you to want to keep yourself and your daughter safe. But I can also see why he was annoyed the second time; it must have been pretty tiresome for him to come back at a time you specified and then still not be let in. In the future if you have someone at the door could you not ask him to wait and call the company to verify?

Original poster
CodWalloper · 04/12/2013 02:16

I'm by no means suggesting I thought the guy was a maniac. I just felt he was heavy handed in his approach the second time. I told him to come back at a time that I assumed my dh would have been home (which unfortunately he wasn't due to work constraints) and the man pretty much flashed his badge as if it were the law. He told me he was entitled to enter my property as the meter belonged to the company Hmm to which I told him he wasn't entering without my dh present. Sorry to drip feed. I just felt overwhelmed.

OP posts:
KeatsiePie · 04/12/2013 02:54

Doesn't seem like a drip feed to me. And I didn't mean you necessarily thought he was a crazed killer. I meant, even though the chances of that are low, it's still okay not to want to let someone into your home.

And if they're going to use the system of just showing up then they have to realize that at X% of the houses they show up to, it won't be a good time, for any number of reasons -- you're eating a meal, you're on a conference call, you're sick, etc. If you're home alone and not comfortable letting them in, that's another perfectly good reason.

fishybits · 04/12/2013 03:34

YANBU not to let a stranger into your home. Take a photo of the readings and show him.

He has no automatic right to enter your home without a court order.

Misspixietrix · 04/12/2013 05:46

He's wrong. He's not entitled to enter your property at all. A certain big named company is trying to say the same about my DM. Funnily enough I'm yet to see the warrant we've asked for... Hmm. (They said they could get one to enter the property so I told them to knock themselves out and come back when they had one Grin. It's the same with TV License too. They don't have an automatic right to your property neither regardless of what they say. OP go through complaints department and say you don't believe that to be their policy and its intimidating. Refuse to let him in now without DH present purely for his attitude and also a simple tweet sometimes gets them sitting up to attention they don't like the bad publicity .

MikeLitoris · 04/12/2013 06:21

Ring your supplier and put a password on your account. The meter reader will have to tell you the password when he knocks the door.

Alternatively you can just go and read the meter for him. As long as someone from the company looks at your meter every 2 years all the other reads can come from you.

cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 07:40

I think one of the reasons they turn up unannounced is to catch anything suspicious like people trying to fiddle the meters etc.

Musicaltheatremum · 04/12/2013 12:20

I really don't understand all this angst at meter readers. Ask for ID and let them do their job. Our gas meter is outside so it's no problem and the electric meter is in the hall cupboard so I let him in and he reads it.
My kids are grown up now but if they came at tea time I just got up and let them in. My husband was never home in time and as he frequently didn't get home until 8pm I couldn't ask them to come back. I am now alone and still let them in

Am I missing something or should I have been terrified for years? They are ony doing their job.

FryOneFatManic · 04/12/2013 12:41

We used to have a very creepy meter reader. He was the reason I switched to providing online meter readings. Luckily, by the time it came round to the 2 yr point, it was a new guy anyway.

There are times it's not convenient to allow someone access to my house, especially given the location of one of the meters. Being in the house alone having a shower when creepy guy came round is a prime example. I simply didn't answer the door.

chemenger · 04/12/2013 12:44

I see why he was annoyed when you had specified a time for him to come, he complied with your request, and you still refused to let him in. I don't think it is unreasonable to not make appointments with literally every household in the country, I don't want to pay the extra this will cost, personally. Just phone the company to confirm his identity (as my elderly neighbour does) or set up a password.

FeisMom · 04/12/2013 12:45

I don't open the door unless I am expecting someone.

There have been lots of distraction burglaries round here, people posing as charity collectors; meter readers; delivery drivers etc, I'm not putting my home and DC at risk and I'm too lazy to get up off the sofa

specialsubject · 04/12/2013 12:57

simple way to check - look up the phone number you will need at a convenient moment, your fuel companies will be able to advise how you can check meter reader ID.

then when he calls, get his badge number and call the company to confirm that he is who he says he is.

he should not have got difficult with you, but then he is trying to do a job. If he is a mad axe-man, how is having your husband at home going to help?

cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 17:08

I expect the people saying they wont let them in will be the first ones whinging when they get a high estimated bill.... Hmm

amazingness · 04/12/2013 17:11

Just submit your own meter readings from now on - it's very easy - just write down the numbers on the black dial thingy & text them or fill in online?

Meter man came today & I just said I've already submitted it

(Hate having strangers in my home to do work/read meter also)

perlona · 04/12/2013 18:04

yanbu, I am paranoid about giving strangers access to my home without dp there, probably due to watching way to many crime showsGrin I don't think that caution and a bit of paranoia are bad things tbh, better safe than sorry.

moldingsunbeams · 04/12/2013 19:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

youbethemummylion · 04/12/2013 19:10

Submit your own metet readings if worried but your gas/elec company cant tell you when meter reader coming as they dont know unless its a specially requested read when they will tell you at the time of booking it is separate company that reads the meter and for routine reads the gas/elec company dobt know they are coming.

cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 19:12

Jesus, its a 5 minute job. Get a grip!

MrsRogerSterling · 04/12/2013 19:13

I am really annoyed about meter readings at the moment. I always let them I and have had at least 2 this year. British gas asked me to provide reading a few weeks ago, I did, they massively increased my bill, apparently my meter hasn't been read for 18 months and I was underpaying, no one seems to be able to explain who the men were that 'read' my meter. I will be cross examining them next time they knock on my door!

cantheyseeme · 04/12/2013 19:17

what company you with mrs?

harriet247 · 04/12/2013 19:20

Yanbu!!I had a very creepy man come to read the meter once and I wont lwt them in any more. They have nooo legal right to unless they have a warrant and police officer with them. That only if they are disconnecting your supply too as for as I know x

gamerchick · 04/12/2013 19:24

They aren't there to just check the reading.. they're there to check the equipment... which doesn't belong to you.

They have the right to check their equipment.

MrsRogerSterling · 04/12/2013 19:26

cantheyseeme I am with British Gas.

youbethemummylion · 04/12/2013 19:47

It very rarely comes to the warrant stage with gas safety inspections which is the bit which is compulsory (for your safety) but technically it can there will be an application to the court for this which you are invited to attend and if a warrant is granted the police will be in attendance when they come.