meter u readers

Dixie64

I know this has been vented before but want to add my experience - we are in a school caretakers bungalow, our meter is read regularly and we have never refused access to our meters, we have not had an estimated bill for years and pay monthly by dd and are in credit with both gas and electricity. The electricity meter is outside and always accessible but the gas meter is awkward and the reader has to use a mirror. The meter man called as I was leaving the house yesterday and was quite snotty when I explained I didn't have time to stop and would submit my readings online he very rudily stated well I'll just read that one (gesturing to the electric meter) and put a card through the door for the gas. I politely replied "thats okay I will submit my readings online" - he ignored me and continued to the house and proceeded to read the electric meter and then put a card through the door. :mad: When I returned the card advised me that he would return today during the morning or if I did not want to be disturbed I could read it myself and leave the card out for him! Why would I do that when I can submit my reading directly to British Gas? He made me feel like I was avoiding paying or hiding and I am not happy about it - his manner was appalling and I don't care if it his job good manners cost nothing - I was respectful to him and deserve to be treated in the same way. As I understand these readers are paid on commission regarding how many meters they read but that is no excuse for intimidation or bad manners!

Weirdlittleman

Meters need to be read whether people submit readings online or not.

He was simply doing his job.

Dixie64

As I explained I quite understand he has a job to do, however he did not need to be rude and treat me like I was trying to hide something!

wealdroam

Dixie64 wrote: »

The meter man called as I was leaving the house yesterday and was quite snotty when I explained I didn't have time to stop and would submit my readings online he very rudily stated well I'll just read that one (gesturing to the electric meter) and put a card through the door for the gas. I politely replied "thats okay I will submit my readings online"

Doesn't sound snotty, rude or bad manners to me.

The guy is doing his job.

Why is it whenever someone is faced with a situation they disagree with, the other person is always considered rude?

Dixie64

I can assure you I am not a person who is quick to judge nor do I take offence easily however his manner was very rude, I was not "faced with a situation" that I "disagreed with", HE was - I stand by my opinion if I am not rude, then nor should he be, if I am respectful then I expect nothing more in return.

ithinkyourcrazy

The one that comes here always seems to know my days off and catches me then. A few weeks ago we were having a new fridge delivered; I have moved all the stuff out the way (in front off where the meter is). As the man were bring the fridge in, the meter reading man followed them into the house, I had to politely them him he would have to come back later. He seemed a bit stroppy with me and hasn’t come back since!

RadoJo

Maybe he thought you were being rude by insisting on submitting your readings online as though it was a substitute for his reading. He probably encounters plenty of people who misunderstand the need to verify the readings - maybe he would have been less abrupt if you had suggested an alternative time for him to return rather than implying that his reading wasn't needed at all.

billycasper_2

Those guys are really under pressure to make the reads because thats how they get paid. This is not an excuse for his pushyness he could have handled it better but i guess its frustrating to see the meter but not be able to read it..
In some ares they are franchised and so self employed this of course means they are desperate to get reads..
i dont understand why the meter reader didnt just ask what would have been a convenient time.
meter readers who get paid a set wage would have been a little less confontational i think.