Siemans "Warrant of Entry" in first communication!

chanz4

The could always suspect you of tamper, thats the reason you wont allow them access

Inspectorman

undaunted wrote: »

It's a joke - they are meter readers not engineers & hence would have little idea whether the meter was truly safe or not. You may as well be looking at it yourself from a safety point of view

For your information, your meter reader will more than likely will have had training on gas meter safety and what to look out for (I know i did when i worked in reading - i spotted many faults the customer had been oblivious to). I install them now - so the chap with the dogs, on a warrant they would have appropriate people there to deal with them

Fair play, the letter probably sounds harsh - but it's not exactly easy to have various templates for different customers is it! My advice would be make your complaint known but also update your mothers account so the supplier knows there is elderly person on site

Also LOL - some of the people in this thread thinking they are doing the world a favor by reading their meter, so there is no need for some poor chap or chap-ess to come and do their job so they can pay the bills. Your meter will always need reading - it's a HSE requirement, not everyone reads the meter correctly (or the reader from time to time ), some companies like to have a customer facing presence and finally - you might be on the fiddle...... And for the not convenient crew - just let your meter reader know a good time to come back, chances are they'll be happy to

scheming_gypsy

Plushchris wrote: »

Dogs wouldnt put them off, they would just turn up with a dog warden/RCPCA officer or someone, they would still get in.

Dog warden's and especially the RSPCA don't have right of entry. The only people who can enter are the people on the warrant.

Plushchris

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Dog warden's and especially the RSPCA don't have right of entry. The only people who can enter are the people on the warrant.

Who will open the door, let the dogs out so the warden can handle them while they go in to get at the meter, its not rocket science, dogs would not put them off going in.

scheming_gypsy

Plushchris wrote: »

Who will open the door, let the dogs out so the warden can handle them while they go in to get at the meter, its not rocket science, dogs would not put them off going in.

Yes, because it works like that. A stranger forces the door open and asks the dogs to leave which they do with a friendly wag of the tail right into the dog wardens hands.
The dog warden would have to enter the property to get the dogs and if they're not on the warrant then they're trespassing.


It might not be rocket science, which is pretty handy because you're not Einstein.

Dogs may not put them off but it doesn't happen as easy as you seem to think; plus a meter fitter from the utility board isn't going to risk injury just to fit a meter. They'd have to go about it the right way so the dogs are removed (legally) before they enter.

undaunted

There is a job in the Job centre for a dog handler to deal with such situations from one company but I don't believe they will routinely turn up on first visit or necessarily always succeed & have seen meter men (without dog handler) deterred by the presence of a noisy dog.

The Police are there to keep the peace not to force entry or send out dog handlers. The RSPCA & Dog Wardens have nothing to do with it, it's a Civil dispute between a customer & an energy company not an animal welfare or Council enforcement matter.

undaunted

Inspectorman wrote: »

For your information, your meter reader will more than likely will have had training on gas meter safety and what to look out for (I know i did when i worked in reading - i spotted many faults the customer had been oblivious to). I install them now - so the chap with the dogs, on a warrant they would have appropriate people there to deal with them

Fair play, the letter probably sounds harsh - but it's not exactly easy to have various templates for different customers is it! My advice would be make your complaint known but also update your mothers account so the supplier knows there is elderly person on site

Also LOL - some of the people in this thread thinking they are doing the world a favor by reading their meter, so there is no need for some poor chap or chap-ess to come and do their job so they can pay the bills. Your meter will always need reading - it's a HSE requirement, not everyone reads the meter correctly (or the reader from time to time ), some companies like to have a customer facing presence and finally - you might be on the fiddle...... And for the not convenient crew - just let your meter reader know a good time to come back, chances are they'll be happy to

He'd have to look out for a gas supply first

Actually it is fairly easy to have template letters politely asking for an appointment, wonderful things these new fangled word processors!

I've never yet known my meter reader offer to come back at a convenient time.

Inspectorman

undaunted wrote: »

He'd have to look out for a gas supply first

Actually it is fairly easy to have template letters politely asking for an appointment, wonderful things these new fangled word processors!

I've never yet known my meter reader offer to come back at a convenient time.

Really? Wouldn't have thought to look for a gas supply - then again, if people are letting them in........

I'm guessing the template letter in question probably is polite - it's just taken the wrong way. It probably goes along the lines of we've tried to access your property on xx amount of times, we are required to do safety inspections at least every two years, please contact us on xxxx to arrange a suitable time or to change the time marked on the letter, failure to allow access will result in a warrant being actioned for access, regards mr blogs area manager. Hardly requires the use of these "new fangled word processors" for individual letters does it??

You've got a poor meter reader then - i would always go back if the customer explained they arewere busy / meter needs un-earthing / inconvenient time / etc...

rhum

I have a company do a yearly check on my boiler which includes a check of the meter not just a visual. This is done by an engineer and have informed Siemens who take no notice have also informed British Gas of the same information and waiting response. The last time Siemens meter reader arrived he looked at the meter or I should state glanced at it as he was leaving and said "the meter is ok" could have told him that.
There is no need for the warrant threat as all that does is get peoples backs up or gets people worried, as already posted a polite request is all that is needed.
Yes of course a gas safety check is a good thing but when it is done by an engineer already there is no need for Siemens attitude, and it annoys me they just turn up and expect someone to be at home.
If they just want to read the meter why not just state that.