Stupidity of meter reader

spiro

Unless your supplier instructs the meter reading company to specifically not read your meter they wioll always try to read it when they are in your street. This is especially true for gas because when they get near the end of the 2 year must inpsect period they have to make several visits at different times of the day to be able to prove they have made an effort to inspect the meter. This is especially important if they then have to apply for a warrant to be able to inspect the meter.

vet8

From what Cardew says, do I assume that my meter might never be actually read by an official. They attempt to gain entry, if no-one is in then they go away and leave it. Now that is stupid. They might be complying with the regulation, but they are not actually achieving anything.

As I said earlier, what is the point?

bengal-stripe

vet8 wrote: »

Oooh. Why do posters get so stroppy?

I think it was you who set the tone, with the abusive title!

SwanJon

Cardew wrote: »

they have to attempt to read the meter every 2 years

I think it is stronger than that, especially with gas.
If they havn't got a read and it is approaching the 2 years they can go to court to get a warrant and break in, just to read the meter. They will ususally try writing or phoning for an appointment before going this far.

A big part of the check is that the meter is still safe and hasn't been tampered with, as well as checking the reads are in line.

espresso

bengal-stripe wrote: »

I think it was you who set the tone, with the abusive title!

Yes she seems to like to have a rant now and again!

vet8

bengal-stripe wrote: »

I think it was you who set the tone, with the abusive title!

Good grief!!! That was hardly abusive, I can be much more abusive than that!!

I did not mean any insult to the actual guy who is only doing his job, but the system is stupid if they ask me to read my own meter when they are supposed to be checking that I read it accurately.

And yes, I do like a rant every now and again, there is a great deal to rant about, not least the posters who seem to lack a sense of humour and take offense at every remark!!

Rob236

The system does appear stupid but it's actually quite clever. This is how British Gas work in the West Midlands

Cyclic meter readers make an attempt to read the meter on every property four times a year. They are required to achieve 75% access rate and are rewarded through bonuses. Theres no indication of when the customer last submitted a reading on their handheld so they are instucted to leave a card.

If the company fails to read the meter on all 4 occasions it gets passed to a MBR (must be read) reader. They will work upto 8pm and sometimes weekends to obtain a reading. Only around 5% of the total accounts are MBR at any one time.

Using this method means everyone gets a reading once a year but most get multiple reads per year.

Rob

bengal-stripe

vet8 wrote: »

.....but the system is stupid.....

I don’t know what the percentage of dwellings is, who have their meters outside of the front door and always available to be read.
Maybe it is 50:50, maybe there are even more dwellings who have the meters accessible.

Which of course will increas by the day, as no new development will have the meters placed inside.

Why should the meters be read in the evening when for many, maybe even the majority of the dwellings
no physical access is required to do the reading?

Let’s say 50% of the meters are accessible, in another 20% of calls someone is in,
that will leave the likes of ’vet8’ in an ever decreasing minority.

P.S. "Stupidity of meter reader" refers to the actual guy, not the system.

wr1ght

R!!!36 wrote: »

The system does appear stupid but it's actually quite clever. This is how British Gas work in the West Midlands

Cyclic meter readers make an attempt to read the meter on every property four times a year. They are required to achieve 75% access rate and are rewarded through bonuses. Theres no indication of when the customer last submitted a reading on their handheld so they are instucted to leave a card.

If the company fails to read the meter on all 4 occasions it gets passed to a MBR (must be read) reader. They will work upto 8pm and sometimes weekends to obtain a reading. Only around 5% of the total accounts are MBR at any one time.

Using this method means everyone gets a reading once a year but most get multiple reads per year.

Rob

this is also how scottish power work - i work for them and as previously said it also doubles as a safety check. we work 5 hours a day and call at properties at different times early the first couple of times as elderly people dont answer the door in the evening, then we can start calling later for people who are at work but we have no idea about who lives where until they open the door, so you might get a card at least it warns you to clear the cupboard

vet8

bengal-stripe wrote: »

I don’t know what the percentage of dwellings is, who have their meters outside of the front door and always available to be read.
Maybe it is 50:50, maybe there are even more dwellings who have the meters accessible.

Which of course will increas by the day, as no new development will have the meters placed inside.

Why should the meters be read in the evening when for many, maybe even the majority of the dwellings
no physical access is required to do the reading?

Let’s say 50% of the meters are accessible, in another 20% of calls someone is in,
that will leave the likes of ’vet8’ in an ever decreasing minority.

P.S. "Stupidity of meter reader" refers to the actual guy, not the system.

Once again!! a poster has not actually READ my post. I did not say meters should be read in the evening. I just pointed out that as my meter was read only once a year or whatever, it NEEDS to be read, so why not call at a time when there someone is likely to be in, not ask me to read it myself as I always do.

I also dispute the figure about meters on the outside of houses. I have lived in 12 houses and only one of them (a new build) had the meter outside. I think you will find that the majority of houses are not new builds and the meter reader needs access.

Just make it easier for the reader and the house owner. Why cause complications?