About meter readings for next door..

[Becca19962014]

Today an engineer called and demanded access via my bedroom into the back garden so he could get in the corridor between my property and the one next door.

He refused to show me his ID, instead rolling his eyes saying he is in uniform, has a truck and was obviously genuine, when he showed me it only had his first name, no reference and no picture. I refused access and he had a go at me, demanding he had the right to access as he saw it when putting the meter in and he had every right to use it. I said there isn't access. There is a door but only access is via my private bedroom on the ground floor at the back of the property, it's private and not for access, there are a few steps to the garden as it is sunken, and full of rubble after a lightening strike a few years ago (it didn't effect the building I live in), I cannot use the door due to disability and it certainly it is not a access route or fire exit.

The building has been checked by the fire brigade.

He than said he had every right to come in and I was unreasonably blocking him doing his job. If the door was not fire exit then he would get the building condemned as unsafe and make me homeless and made comments about me burning to death trapped in a fire. That is a phobia of mine having been trapped before, whilst he wouldn't know that, I was upset by that.

I rang the electricity company to complain and they couldn't see what the problem was they said it's the best place for meters between properties (I live in a terrace) as there is a greater chance of reading the meters. Having got someone to go and look it turns out the corridor is almost blocked by these meters on the floor so no one could get out via it anyway.

Am I unreasonable to send a complaint letter to the company and demand they do something about him, and their stupid policy of putting meters in access corridors? The building next door is to be for severely physically disabled people who move in august (I know that as I applied to live there but was too late).

[Becca19962014]

I sent the complaint and got a standard reply, thanks for complaining etc, we'll write to you in 10 days. I know my useless landlord also rang and wrote to complain about lying regarding giving permission for access at anytime. The landlord is livid. Though that's got nothing to do with me, it's because of damage inflicted on the property by the builders when they were sorting the building out.

[EthicalPickle]

PF

Becca You certainly don't have to justify why you don't want strangers coming into your house. .

It's good that you have kept all the details about what happened. I would be amazed if SwaLec don't treat it seriously.

[ParsingFlatly]

You absolutely don't have to justify yourself, Becca.

Ethical, sorry, we've probably been at cross-purposes or something.

[Becca19962014]

To clarify I would not have let him into my bedroom. Swalec know this, as do others who may require access, they know details as to why. I'm aware that likely sounds unreasonable to people here without explaining more but I won't do that in a public forum.

[EthicalPickle]

No worries, I completely agree with you. I wasn't sure what I had said that that you thought was wrong in my earlier post but it really doesn't matter.

Back to the thread....

[ParsingFlatly]

I don't understand what you're looking for here, Ethical?

At the risk of talking for the OP, it sounds like she's prepared to allow access when it's necessary (accessing her own meters and maintaining safety of her supply).

And not prepared to allow access when it's not necessary (accessing next door's meters).

She clearly has personal circumstances that make letting people in quite hard work, which explains why she's not going the extra mile for Swalec.

But actually she'd be entitled to take exactly the same position if she there were no such circumstances.

There is nothing reasonable about Swalec's behaviour installing meters with the intention of accessing them through a third party's house, unless there is literally no other way. Which is not the case here - and indeed I imagine the planning dept would have had something to say about the conversion if it were the case.

[EthicalPickle]

She certainly doesn't sound keen and I can't blame her after this incident but she hasn't actually said she wants to completely refuse access (unless I've missed it).

The fact she asked for his ID etc implies she might have let him in had he been a bit more professional about it.

[ParsingFlatly]

Well, the OP posted this:

"they know they won't get access to my bedroom without someone else being present even if they have photo ID (these are personal reasons I won't go into in a public forum so likely look unreasonable to people here)"

So I think she's probably not keen!

And, you know, why should be jumping through these hoops anyway? Next door's meters, accessible from next door, are nothing to do with her.

[EthicalPickle]

Sorry, I don't think I explained that properly. I was just trying to establish whether the OP would be happy for Swalec to access the meter if they followed the correct procedures. I hadn't commented whether Swalec should or shouldn't be able to get a warrent.

[ParsingFlatly]

EthicalPickle, I'm sorry, I don't think that's right.

I don't think the OP ever has to give access here, except in the face of a warrant. A warrant which the magistrate will not grant because there's just no reason to use the OP's house as access.

"I couldn't be arsed to call the council number" does not count as a reason.

[ParsingFlatly]

The company can ask the magistrate for a warrant. And the magistrate (unless they are the rubber-stamping type) will laugh in their face.

For all of the reasons you give.

But it won't hurt to mention in your complaint letter exactly what you have said here: that the council numbers for access, in and out of hours, are clearly displayed on the door.

[EthicalPickle]

If the guy had booked an appointment, been polite, had proper ID, had the password and had been happy for you to check his details with Swalec would you have minded him coming through the house?

If so, then you are not refusing access and they would not need a warrent anyhow.

[Becca19962014]

I'm a bit confused now, so can they get a warrant against me for access or not?

[Becca19962014]

Droitwichmummy

I'm concerned about you mentioning warrants, can they get a warrant to go through my bedroom to get to a property that can be accessed via a third party until it is occupied and after then via third party and tenants and carers living there. Why is it my responsibility? Shouldn't there be a warrant against the council or the people who live there, not me? There are numbers clearly displayed on the door itself for access (both office and out of hours numbers). How could they legally get a warrant under that circumstance? If there are people available to let them in 24 hours a day, and when they move in tenants and 24 hour carer in an office so why would they be given a warrant to access via my bedroom?

I'm asking as I'm worried by what you have said (I'm not blaming you or anything it's just worried me). Maybe this is why they said I was being unreasonable and unfair. Can you provide a link about this please? I want to be sure before sending my complaint and I'm worried about it, it'll help put my mind at rest.

Thankyou!

[ParsingFlatly]

Exactly, droitwich. And in these circumstances, the court would be very unlikely to issue that warrant.

This is one of the major reasons the electricity company is required to apply to the magistrate's court in the first place: to put a stop to nonsense like Swalec have tried to pull here, purely for their own convenience.

[Icelollycraving]

Outrageous behaviour,report report report.

[specialsubject]

no legit meter reader would object to showing their ID. And it would show their name and proper contact details that worked.

sounds like a crook and you did just the right thing in refusing access!

[droitwichmummy]

Parsing under the Gas and Electricity Acts the utility companies have the right to go through a 3rd party's property to read someone else's meter and if you don't let them do that they can ask the court for a warrant.
It doesn't excuse the attitude of the meter reader here though.

[ParsingFlatly]

Make sure you mention in your email that he claimes he installed the meter in that position specifically with the plan of using your house as access to it. That's utterly outrageous (among all the other outrageous things he's done).

for all the crap you're getting at the moment.

[Becca19962014]

Thanks for all your help I'll definitely use the email you have given. I have a draft copy with details of when he came round, van registration and when I rang them who I spoke to. I did try phoning the number printed on the van but was told it has been disconnected and wasn't given an alternative.

He refused to show his ID to begin with and when he did it was a simple card with just his first name on, I couldn't see a photo and he knew nothing about the password. I won't repeat the language he gave when I said I was going to phone, he kept going on about his uniform and having a van so he was legit, my understanding and I might be wrong is I have the right to question anyone wanting access and checking their ID and anyone who is legit won't mind me doing this even if it does hold them up. I admit I was upset by his demands I give him access to meters next door now so may not have looked properly at the card, it is possible I am wrong on that point, certainly I couldn't see the back of it only the front and he wouldn't give it to me to look at (along with the password they are meant to allow me to look at the card and not just wave it at me).

Yes he got access via the council to install them in the first place so he knows how to contact them their number is in the front window.

The key for the alleyway is on the inside of the door on a ring to let people out, my landlord has one as does the council for access. The people who live there will have their own keys to get in/out via the door, although it can be accessed via my bedroom like I said it isn't a fire exit or anything like that and isn't accessible for me personally due to steps so I don't have a key. The council have a key (it's a council property) and it has their details in the windows in case of emergency etc. It doesn't say go next door for access!!

Yes the man who came is the man who installed the meters, hence me knowing the reasons for them being put there as he obviously felt sharing that with me would mean I'd let him in and was very clear his sole reason for doing so was because he could also access via the door he saw from over the fence into the back garden where I live. They are aware who will be living in the property next door and possible difficulties getting to the door, well I have those as well, and those are documented with the company anyway.

Yes this is on top of the other problem I'm having with the buggy, and other stuff going on. I am really getting it from all sides at the moment

Thanks again for all your help and support I really appreciate it

[flyingtrue]

He sounds like a complete dick OP, and saying those things about a fire risk, definitely use the email you've been given and email them. Email is better than a letter. Put on 'read and delivery receipt' if you have outlook. They can refuse to give a 'read' receipt but you'l have a delivery one.

[UriGeller]

Crikey Becca, is this on top of your trouble with the neighbours buggy blocking the communal hallway? You're really getting it at the moment aren't you?

[EthicalPickle]

If they have seemingly legitimate photo ID that you wish to double check you should check the phone number given is a proper number. Ie cross check it online or with your bill.