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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Telling "EON meter reader" he couldn't come in

70 replies

Wellington17 · 18/01/2022 16:45

I know I'm not really being unreasonable here, but a man in unbranded high vis just turned up on my doorstep asking to come in and take a gas meter reading, saying he was from our energy provider EON. I said that he couldn't as we'd given one earlier in the month, as we do every month. He asked to come in and take another one anyway and I refused.

Does this sound like something legit? I'd be surprised if EON did this in COVID times, when we're giving our monthly readings anyway, but I guess they may do to do spot checks on readings?

Either way, I know I wasn't being unreasonable here as he didn't have a branded high vis and I was home alone and 7 months pregnant and didn't fancy being attacked or having my home scoped out for a burglary! He did have a lanyard around his neck, but wasn't close enough to see what it said on it.

In terms of voting though:

YABU - Energy companies do sometimes send representatives around to randomly check your meter reading even though you're giving monthly readings online.

YANBU - They won't do that and this man was definitely a weirdo.

OP posts:
TheChip · 18/01/2022 16:48

I've refused entry before in the past. I just told them I'd check the numbers and tell them. It was never an issue.

If you're unsure that it really was eon, just give them a call.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 18/01/2022 16:48

NU to not let him in, but I've put YABU because they do send people to do meter readings now and then. I assume to check people aren't lying!

GemmaRuby · 18/01/2022 16:51

I think they usually tell you in advance if they’re sending someone… or at least they should!

It probably was legit but it’s never unreasonable to put your safety first if you’re not sure and you don’t feel comfortable in a situation.

TragoCardboardCopper · 18/01/2022 16:51

I used to have a key meter for the electric, and they still sent someone round to check it periodically. Presumably to check I hadn't wired us into a lamp post or something.

I don't think YWBU to say no though, for the reasons you gave. You could always ring them to arrange an appointment or maybe ask them to give a password next time?

You used to be able to ring utilities companies to check the meter reader was legit, but these days the poor bloke would have been stood there for an hour while you were told repeatedly that your call was important to them!

Sirzy · 18/01/2022 16:52

If you felt uncomfy then you where right to say no but they do send people to check the readings.

Why not phone the company and ask them?

IsDaveThere · 18/01/2022 16:53

I think that they do sometimes send someone round to check the meter readings however I would have expected them to have ID available for inspection and I would check that before letting someone into my house!

MaizeAmaze · 18/01/2022 16:54

In my old house, with the meters inside, a guy used to turn up to read them occasionally. I wouldnt know in this house, as the meters can be read from outside.
It probably was legit, but you are well within your rights to decline him entry, or check his ID.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 18/01/2022 16:56

@GemmaRuby

I think they usually tell you in advance if they’re sending someone… or at least they should!

It probably was legit but it’s never unreasonable to put your safety first if you’re not sure and you don’t feel comfortable in a situation.

My energy provider has never told me in advance that they are sending a ete reader and in the past I've had them only days after I've sent in an online reading

Clearly no one knows if the person who came to your door was legit but it is definitley a thing that happens

PatriotCanes · 18/01/2022 16:57

I started to refuse access. The man would usually demand it, instantly, when I wasn't expecting a meter reader, may or may not have had ID (how would I know?) but never knew which energy provider I was using as he "was agency and we cover them all" - Safety 101 would say not to let them in. Anyone who gets nasty about not getting let in is either dodgy or in the wrong job.

I think you are supposed to let them in every 2 years or something but with an appointment.

PuppyMonkey · 18/01/2022 16:57

We’ve started telling any meter readers to hang on and stay outside a mo, and then we go and take a photo of the meter and come back and show them. The meter readers have all been fine with this so far.

madisonbridges · 18/01/2022 16:58

You are both YABU and YANBU according to your definition.
Energy companies send people round to read the meters. They need to check you're sending in correct figures and the meter isn't being tampered with so YABU.
However, YANBU to deny him access. I always ask them to arrange a time because I have to empty the cupboard so they can access it (and tidy the house!)

randomchap · 18/01/2022 16:58

If he was 100% legit then he would have had ID.

No ID, no entry, has to be the sensible precaution.

According to

www.eonnext.com/help/metering

"We’ll send an engineer to collect a reading from your meter if you can’t take your own meter readings, or you haven't given us one in a while.

Our meter readers will be wearing branded clothing and have identification to show they’re from E.ON or Morrison Utility Services. Please ask and they’ll be happy to show you."

So this sounds dodgy.

KrisAkabusi · 18/01/2022 17:00

He did have a lanyard around his neck, but wasn't close enough to see what it said on it.

Could you not have asked to see his ID?

gogohm · 18/01/2022 17:00

They do read the meters periodically even if you send in readings because not everyone reads them correctly (then complain to the company about their huge bill)

Justleaveitblankthen · 18/01/2022 17:03

It's completely normal where I live for meter readers to pop by every few weeks or months. Usually in the morning.
I have never been notified in advance.

I wouldn't say you are being unreasonable at all though.
I would have done the same if I had any misgivings.

I think it's unreasonable that they don't notify in advance actually, but I just let them get on with it ( one less thing to wait in for ) Smile

Original poster
Wellington17 · 18/01/2022 17:04

Great thanks all. I'm not a worrier at all, but something just seemed weird. Will give EON a call to double check, as he definitely didn't have EON branded clothing on. Like the idea of taking a pic and showing it to them.. will do that in the future!

OP posts:
Happychristmas2021 · 18/01/2022 17:04

We had someone take our reading once, it was wrong, and our ‘bill’ ended up being £900!
I checked it and gave them the right reading over the phone, it ended up with us actually owing £10. But it took weeks for them to sort!
I haven’t let anyone take a reading since, and we’ve changed providers a few times, not that they’ve knocked to ask.

Jinglemychristmasbells · 18/01/2022 17:05

Luckily our meters are outside someone was out today doing reading them even though u send readings to them they still come and read themselves

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 18/01/2022 17:06

YANBU not to let him in, but they do send meter readers round. We had one turn up last week, in fact.

His uniform wasn't branded but he had ID with him.

Original poster
Wellington17 · 18/01/2022 17:07

And yes, I could have asked to see his ID, but I imagine it's not all that difficult to forge one.

From the website it looks like they'll only send someone out if you haven't given a reading in a long time:

"We’ll send you an email every month to remind you to send us a meter reading, but if we don’t receive a reading for a long time - and we mean a very long time - we'll send a meter reader to take one. We need at the very least, one actual meter reading every year."

OP posts:
Poshjock · 18/01/2022 17:08

YANBU to refuse entry - it's your house after all.

By the poll YABU as the meter still requires to be read by an independent meter reader. About once per year usually. These people are agency/contractors and read meters for many companies and vehicles/clothing will not be branded per your utility company. Whilst your sending readings in does help with bill accuracy - it is usually a requirement of your contract to allow meter readers to access your property within a certain period of time - check your T&Cs for this. Unless, of course, you have a SMART meter and your readings are taken remotely via Internet just before a billing cycle.

In my area the meter reading agency of choice is Morrison Data (part of M Group - a supplier of many utility maintenance in installation services).

MaverickSnoopy · 18/01/2022 17:08

In the past it was standard practice for the gas man to turn up unexpected to do a meter reading. I always remember my mum saying the gas man's here when we were growing up. This carried on as I left home and so on over the years but the frequency has become less. I always ask ID for anyone who wants to come in.

YANBU to refuse entry if you didn't feel comfortable. YABU to answer your question. Give them a call to validate and say that you're happy for them to come but would like pre warning.

HopefulProcrastinator · 18/01/2022 17:12

The meter readers are rarely directly employed by the supplier, it's normally a contractor like Morrison's so the chances of someone rocking up in Eon/British Gas/EDF uniform are pretty small. Also the chances that the call centre have on record that someone was out reading meters is really low too. It's just not something the billing call centre would be told about, unless there's a warrant.

They can be quite motivated to read the meter purely because their pay is often directly linked to how many meters have been successfully read, if you've read the meter in the last day they'll happily take your word on what the reading was and enter it on their device. However they have no legal right to enter your property except once you're outside the 2 year window.

From a legal perspective, your supplier must have someone visually check the meter at least every 2 years. If you refuse access beyond this they can apply for a warrant to force access to the property - you would definitely be informed if they were taking this step so until that point you can refuse access.

Alaimo · 18/01/2022 17:15

Until 2016 energy companies were obliged to read your meter every 2 years. That has changed, but it's not unusual for them to send someone around to check the readings you provide are accurate. Just ask to see the guy's ID next time.

FortunaMajor · 18/01/2022 17:18

I had this but before the pandemic. Someone had been in company uniform/van, ID shown etc. A few weeks later a scruffy bloke in a hi-vis knocked very aggressively trying to get in. Had no ID and pulled out a 'we missed you' card from British Gas and when I said that wasn't my company, he claimed he did them all. He could get a warrant etc. He was really stroppy with me, put his foot in the door when I tried to close it. I called the company and they couldn't confirm if it was someone from them because they do contract out to G4S. They thought it was unusual because someone had been very recently and advised I call the police.

Local police thanked me for calling as they can build up a picture if there are more of the same reports in one area and usually very few people bother letting them know. I wasn't that bothered for myself because I had a very large German Shepherd in residence, but I know my elderly mum round the corner would have let him in.