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)

[RomanyRoots]

TheCat

This is quite true and I was just coming back to report that besides worrying about rape their are bogus meter readers who have robbed people.
My friend had about 2 weeks of people telling her when she called them. For the whole 2 week period not one agent missed their targets as understandably people didn't want a visit.

I'd advise asking which company they work for and call them/ email them.

[ownitfixit]

I let them in out of some bizarre politeness. Last one arrived when I was 3 weeks into being a mum for the first time! How silly!

[Suzyloo]

YANBU. You had no idea who he was and the ID could have been printed off the internet. Women are socialised to be "nice" and obliging, but that is easily taken advantage of. Always trust your instincts. I'm not saying that meter readers are rapists, but it would be an excellent job to pretend to have if you were a rapist.

[VanGoghsDog]

No idea what BG have to do with it, I've not used BG in my life.

Also bewildered that people think the meter reader is a random caller. We've always had meter readers, like we've always had posties.
You can ask them to make an appointment but it seems a bit daft for a two minute job.

And yes, you can also set up a password biayouf supplier.

[Dizzywizz]

To the pp who said the meter reader won’t know your password if you set one up - yes they will, well it is certainly said it will be passed to them.

Another pp who said they submit their reads online but it always says estimated - make sure you check the actual read is the same, I used to work for a utility company and the system would do this if the computer didn’t think the read fitted in with the history, however often this hid the fact that there was a problem with the meter, or that something in the customer home was gobbling electricity!

[TristanDaCunha]

Women are socialised to be "nice" and obliging

Sadly that is true.

We've always had meter readers, like we've always had posties

Postman doesn't want access to my house.

You can ask them to make an appointment but it seems a bit daft for a two minute job

Oh those daft women being concerned about their safety. Aren't they silly girls.

[TheCatWhisperer]

Also bewildered that people think the meter reader is a random caller.

Bewildered? A bloke you don't know who works for a company you've never heard of turns up unnanounced at your door, often at night around once a year is the very definition of a random caller surely? My postie is female and has been delivering my mail for 7 years and she doesn't ask to come in my home so not quite the same thing.

[VanGoghsDog]

My point is that there have always been meter readers - people on here are acting like they are bloody aliens and that they are shocked to find them turning up to their houses. I can remember them coming to our house when I was a kid.

I didn't say posties go in your house - the comparison was merely to point out how they have pretty much always existed, as people seem so surprised they do. Not all meter readers are men anyway, a PP said their mum did it.

And the meter reader isn't from a company I've never heard of, I have heard of the companies they work for. The OP mentioned EDF - have people really not heard of EDF?
Mine works for Siemens.

[willsa]

I was sexually assaulted by a legitimate meter reading guy with an ID. Have a smart meter now..

[willsa]

Just to name - the company was E.ON
And they did not handle it well when I reported it to them. Tried to make it into a "my word against his" thing.

I was so shocked when he turned out to be legitimate ( company actually had a log entry of him being in my house). I was sure I'd let in some fake-id branding rapist.

[willsa]

I'm beating myself up to this day about not going to the police. I was in a middle of a separation and move to a different city and just couldn't handle everything going on at that time...
Any worker/builder needs to be in my house - I always make sure my husband can be there on the day.
We just don't know who these people are! ID or not.

[TooManyPaws]

My meter is by the front door and I have a pack of nosy and noisy dogs who are friendly but tend to make people mind their Ps & Qs. I do submit my own readings but I had an email from Scottish Power a month or so ago saying that they didn't believe them - I tend to run the domestic machines during daylight hours mainly at the weekend when the solar panels are charging.

[Bugjune]

I'd rather take my chances with a meter reader than a so called 'smart' meter.

[Larazamara]

I don't let strangers in without an appointment.

[HeronLanyon]

I once made the meter reader show me his ID through the letterbox (always do) but for some reason this guy couldn’t take it off from around his neck. He had to get on his knees on my doorstep and somehow manage to put it through the letterbox with his face squished against my door. I thanked him but I then said as I couldn’t see him (bobbly glass) I didn’t know if he was the same as on the card so I wasn’t going to let him in. I was completely in the right but I do think ‘poor man’ it’s a hard job !

[willsa]

I'm not saying that meter readers are rapists, but it would be an excellent job to pretend to have if you were a rapist.

Yes.
AND and excellent job to really have if you are a rapist. As from experience.

[willsa]

But ID doesn't protect anyone??!!
Do you all know how an ID from each of the energy companies is supposed to look like? Is it possible to check them against falsification? Do they have numbers/watermarks/ anything else that confirms it is not just a random laminated card?
How about when when a man with the legit ID still turns out dodgy? They are both not mutually exclusive, you know..

[LoniceraJaponica]

What is your issue with smart meters Bugjune?

[dontalltalkatonce]

We don't have a smart meter and won't get one. Still wouldn't let some random into my house. I make an appointment. If I haven't made an appointment or invited them they don't come in my house.

[HeronLanyon]

willsa* sorry that happened. My view changed after a burglary where a guy was in my room when I was asleep. Since then it has become really shocking to me that anyone would just open their door and invite in a complete stranger almost always male with no appointment and mentioning a company you have never heard of !! Mine always call quite late at night also. Can’t ever remember one calling during the day.

[dontalltalkatonce]

Oh, Heron on MN you're also supposed to bend over backwards to accommodate these strangers, too, 'a bit of kindness' and 'kindess' and blah blah blah.

[Villanelle123]

I didn’t let the last one in because he annoyed me by knocking on my door too loudly and too repeatedly. He wasn’t impressed.

[HeronLanyon]

also willsa is exactly right id proves absolutely nothing.

[willsa]

I think Heron those kinds of experiences don't make life easier but safer for sure. There is a false sense of security and naivety in not having experienced adverse events.
I take precautions ( husband at home/ me leaving house to go go shopping while builders work/ checking reviews of tradespeople, trusting gut instinct/ mentioning imaginary friends that will turn up soon.). with safety when strangers have to be in my home. It doesn't adversely impact my or other peoples' lives, so what to lose?

[safariboot]

YANBU.

I think burglars and conmen have been claiming to be "here to read the meter" since the day gas meters were invented.

If in doubt, don't let in!