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Original poster

To wish meter readers would make an appointment!

27 replies

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 30/04/2014 19:16

Our gas and electricity meters are in the only cupboard in the house. I've just had to haul the entire contents of said cupboard out from under the stairs. All the while the poor guy had to stand in the kitchen looking at the unwashed dinner dishes, half sorted washing and overflowing recycling bin.

If they just made an appointment I could have arranged to clear the space in advance. Much quicker for all concerned surely?

Also, it is bugging me that "metre reader" just looked wrong in the title so I changed it to "meter reader" and now I don't know which is right. We spell it "metre" don't we?

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 30/04/2014 19:18

Metre as a unit of length; meter under the stairs.

And I send in my readings online. A lot less trouble.

Original poster
PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 30/04/2014 19:23

Thanks Grin

I send my readings online too every three months, but I thought they still need (or maybe just like) to send someone out every now and then to check you aren't lying or fiddling with the meters.

OP posts:
SatansFurryJamHats · 30/04/2014 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Andrewofgg · 30/04/2014 19:25

And if you do give them access and have not made an appointment they'll have to wait and if they don't like it, well, what goes with Gomorrah?

0blio · 30/04/2014 19:26

I send mine online too as the meter readers always call when I'm out at work.

I do feel a bit guilty though as a meter reader once told me they get paid per reading.

I agree they should make an appointment.

PicandMinx · 30/04/2014 19:51

They should make an appointment.

I once had a very shouty meter reader bollock me for not letting him in to read the meter, threatening me with a court order and bailiffs. I calmly pointed out to him that my meter was in a box attached at the side of my house.

youbethemummylion · 30/04/2014 19:56

Only once every 2 yrs is required and thats for gas as they do a visual check your meter is safe for Elec they dont need to read it at all. They do get paid per read so he wouldnt mind waiting.

Unexpected · 30/04/2014 20:54

If they had to make an appointment, they'd never get to do their job! I can just imagine in our small close, they would end up making about 20 phone calls to our 8 houses to get an appointment and we'd all want them at different times on different days so they would spend far too long driving back and forwards and criss-crossing the same town unnecessarily.

GobbolinoCat · 30/04/2014 20:58

I would never let them in unless someone else here with me, we have lots of crime round here, people being marched to cash points and so on, anyone could don a jacket and shove some crumpled laminated card in your face..I am not going to put mysef and my family at risk.

threepiecesuite · 30/04/2014 21:09

A meter reader called at my house tonight at 6.15pm and said while he was reading the meter, "your tea smells nice". Hope he wasn't expecting an invite.
He worked for G4S which I'd not seen before. Normally they work for Scottish Power directly.

BackforGood · 30/04/2014 21:22

They'd never get any actual meter reading done if they had to make appts with people - the idea is they go up then down one street, not make appts that are convenient for individuals and then have to spend hours travelling about between appts, even before you take into account the time spent ringing people - esp all the MNers who never answer their phones.

writtenguarantee · 30/04/2014 21:25

they probably don't make an appointment because they go from one house to the next.

Am i the only one who fails to see what the big deal is? let him in, read the meter. job done in 30 seconds.

GoldenGytha · 30/04/2014 21:27

My gas meter is outside, my electric in its own cupboard just inside the door.

I never mind letting them in, they're in and out in about 20 seconds.

I would hate to have to make appointments for that.

fuckthefuckofff · 30/04/2014 22:00

We've just put up a big fence and gate for the dog, doorbell and postbox on fence as can only be opened from inside. The gas meter reader turned up the other day and shouted at me asking how he is meant to open the gate. DONT FUCKING OPEN IT. I'd think that was obvious, but no, I'm an idiot obviously. I don't even know what I'm trying to link this to but I just need to rage Angry.

ForalltheSaints · 30/04/2014 22:07

For those services that are genuine necessities (gas, electric, water, servicing heating), it should be the law that two hour appointment windows are given. If people believed politicians would enact a law and not give in to pleading from those industries, it would be a vote winner.

Yani · 30/04/2014 22:17

As others have said. Meter readers only get paid for the actual readings they are able to take.
My stepbrother has this job. He suffered a head trauma as a small child which has left him somewhat cognitively impaired.
However, he is kind, happy and a little fearful.
I could well imagine him making comments about dinner smelling good, this would be his way of apologising for his presence. Likewise he's told me he sometimes compliments a hall carpet to try and soften his intrusion in the home.
He has always worked in very low paid jobs, but he does many hours each week to try and earn a reasonable salary.
I agree, it is a pita when they call, but please, don't show your annoyance. Imagine that response at every house, every day. So demoralising.
Thank you.

militantmango · 30/04/2014 23:36

Love this thread. Wondering who you're with?
Im with scottish power and I actually have the rudest man known to earth.

When I was having my little boy last year, my waters went at 36 weeks and I was standing outside my house waiting for my mum to pick me up any second and the man came and demanded I let him in, When I said I was on my way to the hospital he got really snotty and rude with me and tried to talk his way in still, my mum arrived and gave him a stern talking to too, but even as I was getting in the car he kept asking me if he could come tomorrow. I was like seriously? Heavily pregnant and on my way to the hospital!!!

BackforGood · 30/04/2014 23:50

With you maybe ForAlltheSaints but not everyone. I'd FAR rather they just come in and read the meter if I'm home when they are doing my street, than have to faff around arranging to be home and waiting in for them.

MikeLitoris · 01/05/2014 00:00

The cost of booking in two hour appointmentsfor reads would be astronomical.

An energy supplier would usually spend a few £ to get a reader out on a normal reading route (paid per read) but a scheduled appointment to read can cost £40+. Imagine the costs if they did it.for everyone. Do you really want that added to customers bills?

HemlockStarglimmer · 01/05/2014 09:58

A heads up as to which day they are coming would be useful. I store a large amount of Lego in the cupboard under the stairs which takes a few minutes to move.

Having an outside meter would be even more useful. When our house was built both gas and electric meters were going to be outside but then the regulations changed. So they are back to back with the leccy in the most inaccessible place.

jammypuddingmonkey · 01/05/2014 10:56

Last meter reader we had turned up when we were out- but he decided to peer through all our downstairs windows (not just by the front door, he had to get under scaffolding to get to the living room windows)- our teenage daughter was in though, she looked out upstairs and saw him staring in, then standing on the front- we came home a couple of minutes later and he'd gone. He turned up the next day and tried to get in past the builders- I asked him to explain himself and he denied it, got very defensive and shifty- then ran when I turned to get my husband.

They're not coming in again without an appointment. My dh can't get to where the meters are, so if he's alone in the house, they can't come in anyway.

hardbeingme · 01/05/2014 11:06

mine usually have to suffer me in my pjs pulling out the contents of the cupboard, it would be easier if i knew they were coming as i'd have a tidy and have the cupboard ready but then i would also feel obliged to cancel plans and wait in for them which is more of a PITA.

one last year my then 3yo son followed about asking him if he was the easter bunny Grin then told dp that 'mummy had a man in' as soon as he walked through the door!

fuckthefuckofff · 01/05/2014 11:29

Last time the electric reader came I just took a photo of the meter and showed him that. His face when I opened the door and seen a big excited german shepherd told me he wasn't keen on coming in and think I'll try and just do that in future, so much easier.

Mrsjayy · 01/05/2014 11:35

yeah they should or gas meter is outside so thats not a problem when they do come it is just yearly I have to haul everything out shoes bags and other crap I said oh im sorry meter reader said it was fine happens to everybody

500smiles · 01/05/2014 11:59

I get that it would cost a lot to make appointments but then they shouldn't get shitty about not being let in.

We have had a lot of distraction burglaries round here and I don't open the door to anyone without an appointment