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)

[DGRossetti]

Finally, to the people putting METRE, it's METER!

But does their spellchecker know ?

[C8H10N4O2]

Legally you have to let them in once every 2 years, it's part of the contract of having a meter.

That is for the biennial "safety check" though isn't it? Something which we haven't had in over a decade. We send in meter readings when they ask for them but nobody else has physically read the meters in many years (which covers multiple energy suppliers).

They can force entry worth a warrant and charge you for the costs

The meter reader can't do that. They would have to show they had tried to arrange an appointment and that you were blocking their efforts to read the meter (and potentially refusing to provide readings/pay). As long as customers are paying bills most energy companies show no interest in them.

[Roomba]

You do need to let them in every two years, but so they can check it is safe and also that you've not rigged it to cheat the meter. They can get a warrant to come in if you keep refusing IIRC. But if it's been read less than two years ago, then just put the readings in online and don't let them in, so if that makes you happier.

Even with ID, you don't know it's genuine. We once let a guy with ID in, and he read the meter while we watched and left, and no problem. But two weeks later a different guy came out - when I said it's just been read, a guy called X was here recently, the guy said 'Oh not again...' He then rang his boss and the police, and as they were aware of this ex employee who kept doing this (they said he was harmless but not very well). I always ring the number on the ID to confirm it after that experience!

[DonDrapersOldFashioned]

Also, I know we’re all (rightly) aware of our vulnerability to sexual attacks, as women home alone but there are also concerns around other crimes such as opportunistic theft or distraction burglaries that happen as a result of these ‘door knocker’ type scenarios. They are probably more common than sexual assaults (beginning with door knocking, not in general) but they seem to have been a bit forgotten about.

[thecapitalsunited]

The last time a meter reader came here the guy had ID but for a company I’d never heard of so I didn’t let him in. They’re probably contracted to read the meters but if my supplier don’t tell me which company to expect how am I supposed to know? Loads of people have photo work ID.

[SeeTwoTo]

This happened to me about two weeks ago and I refused to let him in, he was a bit pissed at me. He knew who my supplier was, but wasn't from them.

I spoke to my energy supplier who said they don't send anyone, but the people that own the metres do?!

Anyway, I am happy to let someone in if I have an appointment, I don't let random people into my house even with an ID card. I could make an ID card.

[RomanyRoots]

They have to use their own transport too, it really is a thankless job and the poor people who do it earn next to nothing.
I've heard reports of some being very rude, or not waiting for long at a house with disabled or vulnerable people.
You can have your name on a list if you are disabled and they will come and read your meter.
Sometimes they phone as well, it is never your supplier though but the outsourced contractor.
There aren't many companies who do this for suppliers, the one in my town covers the whole country not just one area.

[DaysOfCurlySpencer]

Ours are submitted online but they read the meters once a year, or it seems they also do if the amount used has changed or if the electric is done online and has been updated but not the gas then they will read the gas only. It seems a bit random.

They also know which company they work for and are happy to show me the account details.

[RomanyRoots]

Morrison data services, and Lowri Beck, are the companies that spring to mind.

[RomanyRoots]

Days

A contractor won't have your account details, are you sure?
A meter reader wouldn't be given these, as they have nothing to do with your supplier they are just an outside contractor.

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

I don't know how you know ID is fake or not either. I live alone and I don't let people in on the strength of ID - if it is re utilities, I tell them I'll arrange an appointment with the supplier. If it is anything else, I am very careful how I deal with them. In the last few years we had two lots of pushy "charity" collectors who did our cul-de-sac and showed some sort of ID. All of us found them more than a bit odd (hopefully no-one gave them any money as they particularly targeted older neighbours) and I looked up the charity they purported to represent later and found they don't have door-to-door collections. We also noticed that the first one (who hung around our tiny cul-de-sac for about 4 hours!) kept asking if she could come in and was very nosy about the interior. I then googled their descriptions and bogus charity collectors and found very similar (if not same) thing had been going on in several areas not too far away and they were thought to be working a scam for opportunistic theft.

[MrsJayy]

Meter readers are usually employed by different companies and send information via their readers you are within your rights to not let them in though

[Nithead]

10 years ago I had this. I said I'm not letting you in, I know nothing about it, the landlord will let me know when there's an appointment, YOU COULD BE ANYONE.

He was outraged and acted like I was a psycho. He said what if I come back Monday? I explained how that would make no difference. He still could be ANYONE and I'll do it through the proper channels. He stormed off saying he'd never heard of anything like it. His reaction made me very suspicious.

Called the letting agency who said yeah maybe it is legit but we're not sure and we're really casual about it

[slashlover]

I have an online account somewhere so will look at submitting them myself!

If your bills are estimated then you're either in for a shock or a windfall. I enter my readings on the first of the month to track my usage. in case my boyfriend plugs an extension cord in.

[GrapesAreMyJam]

My mum used to do this for a job. Over 20 years she worked for British Gas directly, and then two companies called Face2Face and Richburns Ltd who got given a load of accounts/addresses to go and read and check the meters.

I used to go with her so when she was attempting contact on an address I'd be inputting the next one in her sat nav. They don't get given company cars/vans. She had to use her own. The amount of abuse she got was unreal though. I feel sorry for the poor buggers that have to do the job

[TristanDaCunha]

It's a shame they're on a poor deal - don't they get minimum wage? - but they should have the common sense to know that a woman might not want to let a man into her home even if he has some laminated ID round his neck.

[NRPDad]

I wouldn't let a random one in without any prior warning.

[VanGoghsDog]

@RomanyRoots

The one who comes to me has a company van. He's very pleasant. My meter is in an annoying place and we both roll our eyes at him having to do it.
I always offer him tea.
Last time I happened to have read it the day before and had taken a photo and he was happy to just use that as the reading. I think he's as annoyed as me about the stupid location of the meter.

He has no idea who my supplier is and most of the time they don't seem to get the reading anyway as it still shows as estimated.

[TroysMammy]

I'm never going to give them my meter readings again. One dull sod reversed the numbers causing the gas company to contact me. They must have thought I was growing cannabis.

Another dull sod read my reading in the window as I was out the day they called and jotted down the electricity reading as gas and vice versa. Thereby my summer bill was electricity 3p. My gas £400. It took ages and speaking to other dullards at EON to finally get it right.

[RomanyRoots]

VanGogh

I think BG have their own readers iirc, they certainly weren't using the company I know.
I'm glad you have a good experience of meter readers.
I know some are bad or at least not too helpful, but the majority just want to get the reading and be out.
My friend works on the phone now, she gets a lot of abuse, people just don't want to do it if it's dark, cold, has a "Y" in the day
They get paid min hours and I don't know how they do it. The majority are students as they can fit it in with college, but there are those close to retirement age too, so a good mix.

Once again, please be nice even if you are firm and say no, they'll appreciate that rather than be sworn at or worse.

[MrsJayy]

Im sure they are self employed now my friends husband enquired about it I let them in I don't mind means we get it done and no estimated bills

[DiscontinuedModelHusband]

we've submitted ours online with 2 suppliers now, for the last 10 years.

we've never had someone come and ask to read.

one of the online submissions included a photo though, and the other we've only been with a few months.

[RomanyRoots]

MrsJayy

They shouldn't be self employed, but some companies make them, I don't think it's legal as they are pay roll.
The companies the meter readers work for are contracted by the suppliers. That's why they might not know who the supplier is for a particular visit. They do not have details of the customers account or any other correspondence between customer and provider.
My friend works on 3 or 4 different providers a night.
She has to get 36 readings to make her targets. (4 hour shift)

[TheCatWhisperer]

I'm surprised anyone would let a random caller into their homes. I submit my readings monthly, if they don't believe me I'll happily email a photo of the readings. Safety checks are different and in that case I'd expect a pre arranged appointment. Incidentally 2 women were attacked in their home near me a while back by bogus gas men so always better to be safe than sorry imo.

[MrsJayy]

Ah right Romanyroots it isn't right making people self employed I agree with you.