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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:
Bummocks123 · 18/01/2022 17:26

I've put YABU as energy companies (or meter operators) do still do routine meter readings. Even if you send in regular meter readings, they do a visual inspection of the meter for safety/tampering.

You should never let anyone in your home if you don't feel comfortable tho, so YANBU on that point. It's not urgent that the inspection is done immediately and if they need to, they'll write to you and book an appointment for it.

PattyPan · 18/01/2022 17:29

I voted YABU not because I think YABU to not let a stranger in but he probably was there legitimately, they do do that. I'm with a different provider but I gave meter readings regularly and they still sent someone periodically. They actually still sent someone a couple of months after I had my smart meter installed.

musicviking1 · 18/01/2022 17:29

I always say no unless I've/they've made an appointment.

thickthighs73 · 18/01/2022 17:30

@PuppyMonkey

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.
That’s such a simple but bloody good idea!
GoodnightGrandma · 18/01/2022 17:32

I don’t let them in. I shut the door on them while I go and read it for them.

GoodnightGrandma · 18/01/2022 17:33

I had one say he HAD to read it, so I told him to put me down as refusing. He seemed happy with that. I then went online and gave a reading on there.

2Rebecca · 18/01/2022 17:35

Why would he have "branded" hi vis2? I've never seen that as a requirement. He should carry ID and you could have asked him to pass it to you if you were scared of getting close enough to read it.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 18/01/2022 17:35

@musicviking1

I always say no unless I've/they've made an appointment.
That's a bit ridiculous, meter reading is a bulk job, one person does the whole area on one day. How would they ever get anything done if they had top make appointments? That would be a nonsense

The suggestion of showing them a photo is a very sensible one

Lochroy · 18/01/2022 17:38

So have you had someone out to read the meter within the past year (rather than you just submitting them)?

You're right to be cautious, but it IS normal to have them read even if you are submitting them and I wouldn't read anything into high vis being unbranded. You should have checked his ID though to verify the name.

godmum56 · 18/01/2022 17:38

my experience with other energy companies is that they are in some kind of uniform, even if its only a branded jacket or fleece and that they OFFER ID. I have had them turn up without warning but the odd time it hasn't been possible for me to let them in I have sent them away and they have been ok about it. Definitely no ID no entry or even if I haven't felt comfortable about letting them in.

Oldieandgoldie · 18/01/2022 17:40

Ring them up and get a password of your choice put on your account. Any legit meter reader will know the password. Or be able to ring the office to get it. We’ve done this for years, and never had a problem.

MaggieFS · 18/01/2022 17:40

@godmum56

my experience with other energy companies is that they are in some kind of uniform, even if its only a branded jacket or fleece and that they OFFER ID. I have had them turn up without warning but the odd time it hasn't been possible for me to let them in I have sent them away and they have been ok about it. Definitely no ID no entry or even if I haven't felt comfortable about letting them in.

I think a lot are outsourced now? So not dodgy, but perhaps not as well turned out?

TheGoldenWolfFleece · 18/01/2022 17:44

I once had someone from "morrison data services" knock on my door for a meter reading. I was on my own in the house with my twin newborn babies. I didn't let him in. He made out like i was being ridiculous but i wasnt comfortable as a woman who recently had a c section and therefore vulnerable, alone in a house with a strange man. You're not obliged to let anyone in.

CornishTiger · 18/01/2022 17:47

The Morrison’s data service vehicles are signwritten too.

All the company’s give ID or have uniform and sign written vans that I’ve dealt with.

They’ve always given ID.

eagerlywaitingfor · 18/01/2022 17:50

Yes, energy companies do still send people out periodically to check meter readings.

Why didn't you look at his ID?

Blossom64265 · 18/01/2022 17:54

Even with branded clothing and ID, if a random person shows up at your door and you don’t feel safe, don’t let that person inside. You can just let them know you need to contact the company to confirm the visit and they are going to need to come back. Don’t use a number the person provides. Find the contact info independently.
Yes, the visit is probably legitimate, but you are never wrong to be cautious. Companies have the option to provide advance notice to avoid this problem so keep that in mind when you worry that you are being rude.

Blossomtoes · 18/01/2022 17:56

I think you’re unreasonable because you don’t appear to have even asked for ID before refusing him entry.

FindMeInTheSunshine · 18/01/2022 18:01

I refused a meter reader in similar circumstances. My husband dealt with it after that, but like a PP he set up a password and they came back shortly after and we could verify them.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 18/01/2022 18:10

YANBU

I don’t let them in. My meter is upstairs in a cupboard you have to crawl into. I have to pull things out to get inside and it’s not convenient.

On occasion I did let them in, the man looked terrified when I showed him the cupboard door. Think he genuinely thought I was taking him prisoner.

I’ve asked for the meter to be in a more convenient place but apparently it’s too complicated and expensive.

If it was by the back door like my old house it wouldn’t bother me. They could read it from the doorstep.

In this house they have to walk all the way through and upstairs and it feels intrusive if I’m alone.

RobotValkyrie · 18/01/2022 18:13

YANBU, they should tell you in advance, not just turn up at the door unannounced.

Kshhuxnxk · 18/01/2022 18:14

Legally I believe they need to physically read your meter at least once a year to ensure it's correct. Most meter readers are employed indirectly rather than directly. You're not unreasonable to have given entry if you couldn't check his ID.

KiloWhat · 18/01/2022 18:17

They have to give your meter a safety check every so often too

Jaxhog · 18/01/2022 18:17

It was probably ok, but you should NEVER let anyone into your home if you aren't sure who they are. Better to be safe than sorry.

Jaxhog · 18/01/2022 18:19

@Oldieandgoldie

Ring them up and get a password of your choice put on your account. Any legit meter reader will know the password. Or be able to ring the office to get it. We’ve done this for years, and never had a problem.
This sounds very sensible. We have a smart meter now, or I would do this too.
JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 18/01/2022 18:21

This happened to us recently. My husband, gullible mark that he is, let him in when I was out even though we have a smart meter. I was adamant it was a scam so checked with the company and they confirmed it was legitimate.