To not let 'meter reader' in ...

[RandomLetters]

Just had a man come round to read the meter, he had ID but no idea if thats legit though

He was contracted out by EDF, British Gas etc so didn't know who my supplier was and his van was parked 'round the corner' and he walked down.

I'm sure it was fine but with alone with a baby in the house, I just wasn't comfortable letting him in!! Highly unlikely that he was dodgy I know

AIBU or should I have let him in?! (I have let others in before but always feel vulnerable)

I don’t let them in.

I’ll submit them myself or make an appointment. I can’t stand that they are random people who just turn up with no warning.

Don’t worry about it.

Thanks, just feel a bit silly - I have an online account somewhere so will look at submitting them myself!

I suggest you get a smart meter. YANBU not to let him in.

I always let them in I’m clearly too trusting but I live in a tiny town in the highlands. Also my FH was there too.

I don’t think they’ll mind if you said no I’m sure you’re not the only one and they’ll be trained to know some people will say no.

That sounds dodgy. They should always have photo ID, for definite. I would also expect them to know which supplier they are doing the reading for but I may be wrong about that.

Couldn't you have asked him to wait outside while you called your energy supplier to confirm? If he was legit he wouldn't have minded.

You're fine to not let them in, but ask your supplier to fit a smart meter and they will have no reason to come again.

I wouldn't of let him in x

@Mitzimaybe. She said he did have ID. They never know which supplier, the supplier doesn't send them out.

It would probably have been fine but you're not silly to have let him in. You're alone with your baby and having a stranger in made you feel uncomfortable. Nothing wrong with that at all

To have not let him in*

No ID piss off. ID presented let them in. Works for me.

If in doubt don't let anyone in. It seems odd his van wasn't out front.

Meter readers (data collectors) can have multiple contracts, so Siemens/G4S etc might be appointed by multiple suppliers, If he did some digging they would be able to confirm the supplier, but at a glance they just get a meter number & address.

I don't think I've ever let a meter reader into the house. There really is no need even if you don't have a smart meter it is often much more convenient to take the reading and submit it yourself online than stop what you are doing and have the meter reader take it for you.

I think this is one of those jobs which will be obsolete in a few years, they are not really needed any more.

Yes if he had ID of course I would of let him in, poor guy this job must be the absolute pits! A man with ID wanting to read a meter, hardly suspicious

They rarely know who the supplier is as most work on behalf of a few companies.

Submit a reading online or bills will not be a accurate now his been sent away

I would let someone in if I could, we don't have that option anymore, I'm supposed to provide the meter readings 'for my convenience' as it said in the letter. It's higher than I can see in a lean to garage so I have to get a step ladder. I don't find it particularly convenient!

I thought I'd FINALLY got my head around all the abbreviations. What is a FH?

If he had ID I'd have let him in, yes.

Good heavens, I’ve always let them in. Had no idea that I was opening myself and my infants up to unmentionable activity.

strawberrisc presumably a typo and she meant DH :)

unless she meant "Fucking husband"

FYI - It appears there may be issues with smart meters and (some) suppliers selling on your personal data, including any generated via these meters, to third parties without your permission.

If in doubt don't let anyone in. It seems odd his van wasn't out front.

So if doing a whole street, they should move their van to the front of each house?

Those of you who say it's OK if they have ID, how do you check the ID is genuine?

I once had to meet a couple of police officers to give an identification on something. It was all arranged by phone ( they rang me) and it related to a historic incident - so came out of the blue. They came to meet me at work but when they arrived they were in plain clothes. They flashed warrant cards at me but having never seen a warrant card before I had no idea if it was genuine or not. They had travelled from out of area so difficult to call their office by obtaining an independent number. I was 6 months pregnant at the time. As I left the office with the 2 men I told a colleague to dial 999 if I wasn't back in 30 mins.

A bit easier to ring your energy company to check if anyone is reading meters in your area but I suspect you would hang on for a long time being passed from pillar to post and might not get a definitive answers even then!