Scottish Power are investigating me over allegations of meter tampering, anyone had experience of this? (or anyone who works for an electricity company be able to explain, please)

[ElizabethWakefield]

Received a letter this morning from Scottish Power Revenue protection services saying they tried to access my property on 21st July and I wasn't home, and basically if I didn't arrange an appointment for someone to come out within a week, they would force entry etc and I would be liable for costs, change of locks etc.

Obviously it is a Saturday so the office is closed (why do letters like this always come on a Saturday!!)

So I phoned the normal Scottish Power number and they confirm that I am being investigated for meter tampering, but they can give no further information.

I have my meter read regularly, pay monthly by DD and been in the same property (with the same meter) for 9 years. I wouldn't even begin to know how to tamper with a meter.

Ideally I would like to know how they came to the meter tampering conclusion or what will actually be checked when someone comes out. I am feeling worried even although I know I have done nothing?!

Has anyone ever had this before? Or anyone who works with Scottish power (or any electricity company) be able to explain more, please?

They are probably looking at your usage and noticed it is outside the normal statistical range (above or below) for your type of property. The person who read your meter last may also have noticed something and reported it.

They may be seeking access to make sure you have not bridged the meter which is what squatters do to get the power back on in a property. Alternativley, people sometimes put a magnet on the meter to slow it down if it one of the old type with a spinning disk. Not suggesting you have done that of course.

Alternativley, the meter itself may have been wrongly calibrated so it is not reading the units of power correctly. That would not be your fault obviously and you would be totally unaware.

The old style meters should have a thin wire ith a special lead security seal on top that should be intact. If it is not then the meter may have been opened by your previous occupant.

I do not work for an electric company but you obvioulsy need to ring again on Monday to find more out about what the problem is.

Thanks for replying, yes i have the old type with a spinning disk, I have actually just gone to check that DD hasn't stuck a magnet to it or anything stupid like that (I had no idea that magnets could cause problems) but it is all fine. It also had the wires with the seal still in tact too.

Not sure what it can be, I guess i will just need to wait and see what they say when they come. The person I spoke to today arranged for someone to come out in 2 weeks time, as I am away some of next week, but i will phone next week just to be sure that the Revenue Protection branch have been notified.