Anyone heard of Meter-U?

Millionaire

Hi, I had a while you were out card from a company called METER-U who claim they need to take a meter reading for my electric on behalf of British Gas. Plain Black and white card

Never heard of the company before and previously meter reading cards always were colour. Anyone know if they are genuine?

JennyR68

google - simples

http://www.meter-u.co.uk/about/about.asp

Haarlem

JennyR68 wrote: »

google - simples

http://www.meter-u.co.uk/about/about.asp

Interesting that it operates as a franchise, with each meter reader operating their own business.

This should be great for productivity and cost reduction.

However what if you have a problem with the meter reader for whatever reason. I wonder how effectively this gets resolved?

Will the individual meter reader have time to sort things out, or want to get on with reading meters and keep the income levels up.

Premier_2

Haarlem wrote: »

Interesting that it operates as a franchise, with each meter reader operating their own business.

This should be great for productivity and cost reduction.

However what if you have a problem with the meter reader for whatever reason. I wonder how effectively this gets resolved?

Will the individual meter reader have time to sort things out, or want to get on with reading meters and keep the income levels up.

What sort of problem can you have with a meter reader?

The only thing I can think of is a dispute over the actual meter reading. Most suppliers will, if it seems reasonably feasible and there is no reason to otherwise suspect the authenticity of a customer reading, take the word of a customer regarding a latest meter reading knowing that even if it's wrong, it'll be corrected at next meter reading.

In cases where the customer reading is not accepted, the supplier will usually arrange for a new meter reading to be collected ... for which presumably the meter reader will be paid.
I suppose if the new meter reading proves the initial one was incorrect, the supplier may have grounds to question the payment for the collection of the initial reading (but that would be down to the terms of the agreement between supplier and meter reader)
It could simply be that the meter reader has targets for accuracy to achieve. e.g. 99% correct.

Haarlem

Premier wrote: »

What sort of problem can you have with a meter reader?

The only thing I can think of is a dispute over the actual meter reading. Most suppliers will, if it seems reasonably feasible and there is no reason to otherwise suspect the authenticity of a customer reading, take the word of a customer regarding a latest meter reading knowing that even if it's wrong, it'll be corrected at next meter reading.

In cases where the customer reading is not accepted, the supplier will usually arrange for a new meter reading to be collected ... for which presumably the meter reader will be paid.
I suppose if the new meter reading proves the initial one was incorrect, the supplier may have grounds to question the payment for the collection of the initial reading (but that would be down to the terms of the agreement between supplier and meter reader)
It could simply be that the meter reader has targets for accuracy to achieve. e.g. 99% correct.

Having managed meter reading teams, customers raised all sorts of problems about meter readers to me. These have included damaging property (especially foot prints on carpets), making improper advances, only coming when you know I have only just got up and not dressed, scratched my car on the drive, not ringing the bell, ringing the bell more than once, telling my husband that I had a feller in the house and so on.

Additionally any instructions a customer has given, or information noted by meter readers to gain reads appears on the hand held computer. These can include where keys can be obtained from (often a neighbour), often information that garages are either locked or unlocked if meter if meter located there, days customers are usually at home, what to look for if history of tampering and so on.

An important one would be an agreed password to confirm that it is a genuine meter reader.

I feel a little uncomfortable that this information is available to a one man band, rather than a managed organisation that has to think about its customer base up and down the line. There are many examples where franchises go wrong, and no-one picks up the pieces.

lemontart

if you have any doubt call your gas supplier and ask if they have requested a meter reading and with what company as there are several meter reading operators now a days

andrewh

Haarlem wrote: »

Having managed meter reading teams, customers raised all sorts of problems about meter readers to me. These have included damaging property (especially foot prints on carpets), making improper advances, only coming when you know I have only just got up and not dressed, scratched my car on the drive, not ringing the bell, ringing the bell more than once, telling my husband that I had a feller in the house and so on.

Additionally any instructions a customer has given, or information noted by meter readers to gain reads appears on the hand held computer. These can include where keys can be obtained from (often a neighbour), often information that garages are either locked or unlocked if meter if meter located there, days customers are usually at home, what to look for if history of tampering and so on.

An important one would be an agreed password to confirm that it is a genuine meter reader.

I feel a little uncomfortable that this information is available to a one man band, rather than a managed organisation that has to think about its customer base up and down the line. There are many examples where franchises go wrong, and no-one picks up the pieces.

Totally understand where you are coming from.

Regards the franchises, it is technically just a word in this instance. The readers will all be part of one company or another who will then take up any problems with the meter, or the meter readers.

Regards