For sending meter reader away?

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 2022-09-05T14:38:50+00:00

Had new smart meter fitted in May due to problems with old one. All going well and receiving monthly bills which we confirm by checking readings match the physical meter then pay the bill. Latest bill received, and paid, last week. Today a meter reader turned up in the middle of a rain shower (think heavy enough you can’t see end of a 30ft garden from inside because cloud is so low and rain heavy). I declined him coming in to read meter as there is no need and I also don’t want my toddlers getting outside nor do I want the rain getting in and making a mess. Meter reader says he has to inspect the meter and it will be in the small print - I point out I know it’s a requirement to have them inspected at least every 2 years and, having only been installed 3 months ago, we’re well inside that timeframe so no need for an ‘inspection’ at the moment; plus bills are accurate so, again, no need to submit readings. WIBU to say no to a meter reading?

Mamamia7962 · 05/09/2022 15:40

No of course not, if you've only had it 3 months.

KangarooKenny · 05/09/2022 15:40

I don’t let them read mine either.

RedWingBoots · 05/09/2022 15:43

What's the point of a smart meter if they still have to check it every 2 years?

Testina · 05/09/2022 15:44

Bit of a dick move really.

Sure, it’s not “due” but they can’t efficiently plan all checks on the day before 2 years. Mostly likely there were other meters close to you that were coming due, and your check was grouped with those.

Even if it was completely unnecessary… he’s just doing his job, why be awkward? How on earth did that mean your toddlers were going to get out? 🤷🏻‍♀️ you have some semblance of control, no?

Also curious about the rain. Do you live in a pit with a hatch above so if you let him in, the rain comes too? Cos in normal houses, rain doesn’t shoot in horizontally and you just wipe feet on a doormat.

You seem to have been unnecessarily difficult.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 05/09/2022 15:47

I'd guess it's more efficient for the meter reading to do one area at a time rather than rigidly sticking to a 2 year interval and driving here there and every where to individual houses

I don't have the Mumsnet kniptions
At the very thought of a person entering my house so it wouldn't bother me in the slightest, total non issue for me but clearly you are a different person and it's a big deal for you

Burnt0utMum · 05/09/2022 15:47

I once refused a meter reading entry. He got very aggressive when I said no. It was only after that I realised he'd said he was from a company I wasn't even with. I genuinely think he was looking to rob us and wasn't from an energy company at all. Now I'd never allow entry without prior warning. DH works long hours and I'm often alone or with the kids so wouldn't make myself vulnerable by allowing a stranger in my home without notice.

Getoff · 05/09/2022 15:48

You've imposed the unnecessary cost of an extra visit on the energy company that will come out of everyone's standing charge.

It wouldn't have been that difficult to let him do this job.

You seem to have zero regard for anyone's interest other than your own.

SwelegantParty · 05/09/2022 15:48

I've had my smart meters for over five years and no one's ever tried to read them...

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 05/09/2022 15:51

Burnt0utMum · 05/09/2022 15:47

I once refused a meter reading entry. He got very aggressive when I said no. It was only after that I realised he'd said he was from a company I wasn't even with. I genuinely think he was looking to rob us and wasn't from an energy company at all. Now I'd never allow entry without prior warning. DH works long hours and I'm often alone or with the kids so wouldn't make myself vulnerable by allowing a stranger in my home without notice.

Meter readers are employed by meter reading companies in the main so would be lying if they said that they were from your specific supplier

I hope you checked your walls for chalk mark signals to the criminal underground too once he'd gone.

Best to be under paranoid.

Dinodigger · 05/09/2022 15:52

Getoff · 05/09/2022 15:48

You've imposed the unnecessary cost of an extra visit on the energy company that will come out of everyone's standing charge.

It wouldn't have been that difficult to let him do this job.

You seem to have zero regard for anyone's interest other than your own.

Overreaction of the day omg.

Original poster

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 05/09/2022 16:55

Getoff · 05/09/2022 15:48

You've imposed the unnecessary cost of an extra visit on the energy company that will come out of everyone's standing charge.

It wouldn't have been that difficult to let him do this job.

You seem to have zero regard for anyone's interest other than your own.

How?

If I was out (which I would have been if he came at the same time most days this week) he couldn’t have read my meter so would still have had a wasted visit!!

OP posts:

Castleheights · 05/09/2022 17:01

Yanbu. I never readers in. I say wait there and I will read for you.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 05/09/2022 17:07

Except you weren't out, you were in, and could just have let him read the meter.

LollingAround · 05/09/2022 17:12

YABU and petty. It have taken him a moment. I don't get why you wouldn't let him in. You can't seriously have thought that your kids might escape because someone comes in the house?

Itsthelookitsthelook · 05/09/2022 17:14

I once had one get really arsey with me when he knocked just as I was leaving the house so declined to let him in. He said it would only take 2 mins and I explained actually it wouldn't as we don't use the cellar at all except to read the meter so we have furniture in front of the door (all the time gathering bags, locking door, shoving child out of door). He argued with me that that was a bad idea and I just walked off as I didn't want to be late. I've wished ever since that I'd got some kind of ID so I could complain about him. He was really intimidating.

drpet49 · 05/09/2022 17:15

You sound like a jobsworth. Utterly pointless.

Sandwichmytoes · 05/09/2022 17:18

For fucks sake it is a safety issue, they have to visually check the meters. The meter does not belong to you it belongs to the geographic meter company for your area but your supply can be billed from any other company. This is why if you don't pay your bill (non-smart meter) they can gain a warrant to break into your property to change it to a prepayment one.

I used to work for a utility company. Meter reading has become much easier now with smart meters but the visual check still needs to be done.

SoupDragon · 05/09/2022 17:18

I would have just let him in. Given you'd had problems with a previous meter they might want to check this one is OK.

Why would your toddlers get out? I've never lost a toddler (or a cocker spaniel who has less sense than a toddler) when letting a meter reader in.

SplendidUtterly · 05/09/2022 17:19

I never answer the door to them. Some of them look well dodgy.

Manekinek0 · 05/09/2022 17:23

I refused the last one who turned up because it was my day off, I was in my PJs and I was eating poached eggs on toast that would have gotten cold.

swimlyn · 05/09/2022 17:35

This should go into Classics as the two ridiculous extremes of Mumsnet posters within just one page...

melj1213 · 05/09/2022 17:55

The weather is totally irrelevant, unless your front door is actually a skylight in the ceiling. Would you have let him in if it was 40°C and blazing sunshine? What about if it was only drizzling?

Also, considering the fact you say you got new meters because you were having issues with the previous ones why wouldn't you want them to do a confirmation check to ensure they're working correctly?

When I first had smart meters fitted they said that they usually do a physical check every 18months to 2 years but would pop back within the first 12 weeks just to ensure everything was working correctly, the system was synched correctly and there were no connectivity issues. They will often not flag up in the first few weeks as the computer systems sometimes take a little while to connect the specific readings from the meters to your individual account so it can skew your bills/readings until it is all synched up.

Octomore · 05/09/2022 17:56

Testina · 05/09/2022 15:44

Bit of a dick move really.

Sure, it’s not “due” but they can’t efficiently plan all checks on the day before 2 years. Mostly likely there were other meters close to you that were coming due, and your check was grouped with those.

Even if it was completely unnecessary… he’s just doing his job, why be awkward? How on earth did that mean your toddlers were going to get out? 🤷🏻‍♀️ you have some semblance of control, no?

Also curious about the rain. Do you live in a pit with a hatch above so if you let him in, the rain comes too? Cos in normal houses, rain doesn’t shoot in horizontally and you just wipe feet on a doormat.

You seem to have been unnecessarily difficult.

This. It was a dick move.

Chouetted · 05/09/2022 17:57

I usually send mine away because the meter is deep in the bowels of a cupboard that takes ages to clear out. Sometimes I do ask them to return at an agreed time or day so I can arrange to have an empty cupboard.

They're always nice about it. After all, it's them who'd be standing around waiting. I suppose if they really wanted to, I'd let them see the cupboard, but they've never asked.

Cost of an extra visit has to be fairly minimal because they'll be visiting other people they missed the first time around too.

YellowTreeHouse · 05/09/2022 17:59

Testina · 05/09/2022 15:44

Bit of a dick move really.

Sure, it’s not “due” but they can’t efficiently plan all checks on the day before 2 years. Mostly likely there were other meters close to you that were coming due, and your check was grouped with those.

Even if it was completely unnecessary… he’s just doing his job, why be awkward? How on earth did that mean your toddlers were going to get out? 🤷🏻‍♀️ you have some semblance of control, no?

Also curious about the rain. Do you live in a pit with a hatch above so if you let him in, the rain comes too? Cos in normal houses, rain doesn’t shoot in horizontally and you just wipe feet on a doormat.

You seem to have been unnecessarily difficult.

This.