I live in a top floor flat and my gas prepayment meter is in the back yard of the flat downstairs, which is run as a hairdressers' business. They are very nice and always let me through their salon to top up my meter, and I have always been careful not to abuse the privilege and top up "too often".
However the downside to this is that I can only get access during normal working hours, and not at all on a Sunday or Monday. It also means I have to be very alert as to the gas usage and plan my top-ups ahead, as I have no way of getting a reading without accessing the meter. A couple of times I have been down to my last few pennies without realising, and once I actually ran out. It's actually very easy to forget when you last topped up.
Anyway with winter approaching I thought it might be an idea to ask the gas company if I could have a different arrangement, perhaps they could move the meter or give me a "pay monthly" meter as I have had at previous properties.
Tried to phone but was number 17 in their queue. Decided to email instead and was told that changing the meter would be chargeable and the costs would normally be met by the landlord, so I should contact my landlord.
Don't particularly want to contact the landlord in case he serves a S21, so I've emailed them back asking what sort of costs they were talking about here, but I was a bit disappointed by the response, particularly as they already know I am living alone with some health issues.
So, AIBU to expect 24x7 access to my gas prepayment meter?