Meterman Trespass

ambar123

I made an appointment during the week for my gas and electric meters to be read as there has been some confusion about meter readings due to the height and accesssibility of the electric meter. So I patiently waited inside listening for the doorbell. I had unlocked the cupboard housing the meter (in the porch) as well as the porch door to save time, in preparation for the visit.

Nobody rang the doorbell and towards the end of the day I heard a noise that sounded like the cupboard closing, and I ran downstairs to see who was there and saw a silver car driving off. I then checked the meters in the porch cupboard and it looks like someone has been and the equipment has been changed. Everything looks very clean and cobweb free and a label off the old electric meter has been unpeeled and replaced. There are also new L and N labels stuck on the wiring and it looks like it has been lowered by a few inches. I can't work out if the meters have been inspected and cleaned, or if new equipment has been added.

Are metermen allowed to enter a property and do this without ringing the doorbell to alert the property owner (especially when an appointment had been made) or leaving a note to say what has happened? Are they allowed to make changes to the equipment without informing the property owner? I also have a password set up on my account so that I can verify who it is at the door.


I contacted the supplier the following day and was told that the meter man had visited, knocked on the door and then left (without ringing the doorbell!) despite the fact that I had arranged the specific appointment time and date for the meters to be read, and was waiting for him to arrive. They also confirmed a meter reading was not taken.

Why didn't he ring the doorbell? If he arrived at the property for a pre-schedued visit and left why didn't he at least leave a calling card?

They also said that although it takes 24 hrs for their records to be updated, they have no knowledge of any changes to the meter. However, I can see that changes definitely have been made, some of the equipment looks new (it was in a very dusty condition with cobwebs) and it may have been moved down a few inches.

This is very strange and I am very suspicious. What if my electrics have been tampered with? What are the repercussions? Grateful for any advice.

davehsug

I suppose it's poor but I'm not surprised he didn't knock if he had access without it. If it was just a meter read visit, the meter won't have been changed & even if it had, if you were at home you would have noticed the electricity going off surely? You can't fit a new meter without swithching the supply off.

spiro

If the meter had been changed (dont believe it has) there would have been an exchange card attached to the meter stating date of exchange and final meter reading from old meter and initial reading from new meter.

The person may just have wiped the meter over to get a better look and to allow him to check for damage/tampering.

Swipe

They will not swap a meter unless anyone is present at the premises. I tried to get them to change mine (in a wall box outside) while I was at work so I wouldn't have to take time off but they refused.

Catherine_Johnson_2

ambar123 wrote: »

I made an appointment during the week for my gas and electric meters to be read as there has been some confusion about meter readings due to the height and accesssibility of the electric meter. So I patiently waited inside listening for the doorbell. I had unlocked the cupboard housing the meter (in the porch) as well as the porch door to save time, in preparation for the visit.

Nobody rang the doorbell and towards the end of the day I heard a noise that sounded like the cupboard closing, and I ran downstairs to see who was there and saw a silver car driving off. I then checked the meters in the porch cupboard and it looks like someone has been and the equipment has been changed. Everything looks very clean and cobweb free and a label off the old electric meter has been unpeeled and replaced. There are also new L and N labels stuck on the wiring and it looks like it has been lowered by a few inches. I can't work out if the meters have been inspected and cleaned, or if new equipment has been added.

Are metermen allowed to enter a property and do this without ringing the doorbell to alert the property owner (especially when an appointment had been made) or leaving a note to say what has happened? Are they allowed to make changes to the equipment without informing the property owner? I also have a password set up on my account so that I can verify who it is at the door.


I contacted the supplier the following day and was told that the meter man had visited, knocked on the door and then left (without ringing the doorbell!) despite the fact that I had arranged the specific appointment time and date for the meters to be read, and was waiting for him to arrive. They also confirmed a meter reading was not taken.

Why didn't he ring the doorbell? If he arrived at the property for a pre-schedued visit and left why didn't he at least leave a calling card?

They also said that although it takes 24 hrs for their records to be updated, they have no knowledge of any changes to the meter. However, I can see that changes definitely have been made, some of the equipment looks new (it was in a very dusty condition with cobwebs) and it may have been moved down a few inches.

This is very strange and I am very suspicious. What if my electrics have been tampered with? What are the repercussions? Grateful for any advice.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your post does come across as being a little paranoid.

If someone had really been changing the meter I think you would have heard a lot more noise than simply that of the meter cupboard door closing. Also, he would have had to have been there some time and, as has been said, the electricity supply would have had to have been turned off (which I assume it hasn't or you would have mentioned having to reset clocks, timers etc).

I doubt very much if they go round switching off people's electricity without telling them (just think of the consequences if someone is relying on electricity for a medical reason).

What exactly are you 'suspicious' of?

moonrakerz

Catherine_Johnson wrote: »

What exactly are you 'suspicious' of?

Ah - the truth is out there !

chanz4

The only way to change a meter is by removing the fuse, which is before the meter or if an isolator is fitted before the tails which they dont do. Even with a meter read appointment if they can see it without knocking nothing stopping them for reading and going.