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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Bloody Meter Readers!

16 replies

RedBlueRed · 21/04/2010 12:25

The Crime?
1)Turning up without an appointment.
2)Hammering on my door and ratting the letterbox instead of ringing the doorbell like any other fucker.
3)Being pushy and pointing out the electric meter for me. Would I really not know where my own electric meter was?
4)Demanding access to my kitchen to get the gas reading.

AIBU to tell him to fuck right off as I submit my readings online?

Actually, I wasn't rude to him but I wanted to be.

OP posts:

cumbria81 · 21/04/2010 12:27

I think YABU.

Poor guy was just trying to do his job and probably trying to get round as many people as he could.

aconfusedmum · 21/04/2010 12:38

theyneed to do their readings as well in case you are putting htem in wrong so they need to confirm these.

Original poster

RedBlueRed · 21/04/2010 12:41

'Poor guy' my arse. As I said, I wasn't rude to him. I just thought rude thoughts.

OP posts:

Original poster

RedBlueRed · 21/04/2010 12:42

What is the point of online reading submmissions then? Its a complete waste of time doing both.

OP posts:

BetsyBoop · 21/04/2010 14:23

YANBU

Our meters are in the understairs cupboard, with lots of stuff piled up in front of them (including about 6 boxes of wine bottles, so not light stuff). I always get DH to shift his the wine & read the meters & I submit online, so I know our bills are right.

After numerous "bad timing" vists from the meter reader (they were coming every 6-8 weeks at one point...) when I was heavily pregnant with SPD/ just had a c/s/just about to leave the house to collect/take DD from/to school where I either couldn't or didn't have time to lift everything out the way - so I refused entry.

As a result of this I ended up with a long chat with their customer service manager. He confirmed that they are legally obliged to check the meter once a year for "safety reasons" & read the meter while they are there. So now they are "allowed" in once a year & I tell then at all other visits that is was read in x month, I submit my readings online, so I don't want it reading thanks fery much . (I think I must be marked on the system as "trouble" as they never push me now!)

They are being so pushy as they normally get paid per meter read

Oh & one time the meter reader entered the reading in wrong & I had to ring up & get it corrected....there is nothing difficult about reading a meter...

TheFantasticFixit · 21/04/2010 14:35

OP - YANBU - extreme I know but the meter reader in our area is so pushy it makes me so angry. Our meter is in a junk cupboard which I know I really should get round to emptying but never do and the hassle of having him in and having to move everything drives me insane. He acts as if he has a legal right of entry every time he turns up but thank BB has phoned and checked with them - I do it online as well so there is no need for him to do it more than once a year!

I can't wait for him to call again and ask to read it.. once he insisted in the middle of a dinner party!

Mwhahaha

BetsyBoop · 21/04/2010 18:31

Would you believe it, the bloody meter reader turned up today just as I was dishing out tea (perfect timing as ever...) - his ears must have been burning after my earlier post. By the time I had put down the vegetables I was strainng & got to the front door, he had rung the bell 3 times & had opened the porch door to hammer on the front door

He was told "meter was read in October, so don't need it reading thanks ever so" - he didn't even bother to argue (and also no point in him reading it anyway, as we had a bill about 2 weeks ago - based on the reading I had submitted a few days prior to this being calculated of course )

Original poster

RedBlueRed · 22/04/2010 00:34

"By the time I had put down the vegetables I was strainng & got to the front door, he had rung the bell 3 times & had opened the porch door to hammer on the front door"

Cheeky bugger!

I'm considering contacting BG myself to expain that as I live alone with ds I am paranoid cautious of letting anyone I don't know in my house.

My back boiler etc were serviced in Jan so I'm not concerned about safety right now.

OP posts:

TwatInTheHat · 22/04/2010 23:04

Just to give another perspective - as I was a meter reader for a very short time, it's a thankless job and no-one is ever pleased to see you, and you only get paid for the number of readings you get, not the amount of houses you visit.

Also you are given a set number of properties to visit, and your rate of pay is determined by the percentage of readings (80% = top rate, 50 % = lowest rate)

This doesn't excuse rudeness, but people are often rude and aggressive to meter readers. I know they often come at inconvenient times, but if they come in the day, many people aren't at home.

Anyway, as you were...

Original poster

RedBlueRed · 22/04/2010 23:21

TITH thanks for the alternative perspective, I suppose I can't blame them their pushyness in light of that information.

Still, I am going to call to make sure I don't get them coming round regularly, I really am a bit about unsolicited callers. Even the plumber makes me nervous and I loathe the window cleaner too. If I see him coming I will draw the curtains.

I do have a problem don't I?

OP posts:

issysmilkbottle · 22/04/2010 23:32

just out of interest, does anyone know if it costs to have the meters moved outside like on newer houses? This would save a huge hassle, i don't like strange people (apart from dh) in house either!

TimothyTigerTuppennyTail · 22/04/2010 23:39

Yes it does cost to have meters moved, but I don't know how much. I also know that meter readers need to actually see your meter (every year I think) in case of faults developing. If you have a faulty meter your house could blow up...

BetsyBoop · 23/04/2010 10:53

TITH - I've never been rude to the meter readers apart from one who was positively rude himself. He came 2wks post c/s, in the middle of my trying to b/f DD. I explained politely that it wasn't convenient & in any case I couldn't lift all the stuff out of the way. He kept pushing & pushing to come in, wouldn't take no for an answer, he had a right to come in NOW etc. By this point DD was screaming because of her interrupted feed, so I just shouted "look you are not coming in" and shut the door. That is how I ended up getting a call from the customer service manager because I had "refused entry" to the meter reader (see earlier post) - he'd had the damn cheek to "report" me as well! Obviously the customer service manager was slightly more sympathetic when he heard the circumstances, which was when I found out about the "once a year" rule.

issysmb - we looked at this a couple of years ago, if memory serves me right it's something like £400 per meter - so obviously we didn't pursue it further. They are starting to introduce new "smart" meters that are read remotely, but that will take a number of years/decades to be rolled out everywhere....

TheSmallClanger · 23/04/2010 10:58

Try getting one to come when you actually need one (electric bill dispute) - they will never commit to a time and insist on coming during work hours, so you have to take a half-day off work if your neighbour can't let them in, or if the reader/company policy is too much of a jobsworth to go next door as per instructions, and ask to be let in.

Nymphadora · 23/04/2010 11:22

V expensive to move meters. I did that at my old house £500ish to move a meter (and it was already falling off the wall but that wasnt their problem)

clothhanky · 23/04/2010 12:34

I have had a problem with meter readers, called on us the other week while we were getting ready for the school run, ie me stil in dressing gown, kids figting, lunches not packed,,,you get the picture. The meter is in the garage which needs a key to open it, i couldn't find the key, had only 5 mins to get them to school etc, so asked him to call back later, he looked at me like I was the anti- christ and went out slamming the door and shaking his head....cheeky git. When I phoned customer services I was told nothing could be done as "customers often tell lies about the meter readers" excellent customer service then

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