Surprise unannounced change of water meter

George_Bray

I had a knock on the door this morning and it was two guys who said they'd come from the water authority to test/check the meter. I questioned whether it was a result of my success at getting my water bill right down for the most recent half year. They denied it and said that checks/meter replacements are routine after about 15 years. What do you think?

Just like scams I've heard of, they asked me to turn on the cold water, so they could 'test' the meter. I made sure I locked the door behind me. They must have been genuine though because I definitely have a new meter now; not that they knocked the door again to say they'd finished.

I have two concerns: First, they never let me check the reading on the old meter before taking it away so how do I know the number is logged properly? Second, they didn't let me check the new meter. I'm sure it wasn't quite zero but was something like 0.15 when it was installed. It seems very unprofessional. I doubt if there was anything wrong with the old meter and I hope to get the usage down even lower.

Cardew

Didn't they produce an identity badge?

macman

Can't envisage any scams involving changing water meters though...
Why don't you speak to your supplier and get the readings confirmed?
Unless the meter is on your property, they don't need your permission to access it or change it. It's normally beyond the boundary where the layout permits.

George_Bray

Yes, they produced an ID badge and, after I saw the new meter, I know they were genuine.

They may be able to change the meter without my permission but, surely, they have a responsibility to ensure there's no chance of anyone altering the readings to my detriment. I should have been allowed to see the readings before they left. I can't confirm the readings because I don't know what they were.

Has anyone else had a meter changed like this?

spuunge

I came home one day to find a note from my water company telling me they had been and changed my meter, so be thankful they let you know! They did however inform me of the last meter reading and the current reading of the new meter, which were replicated on my next bill. Did they not leave any paperwork with you.? Also could you not have just gone out and looked at the meter after they had left?

Gothicfairy

Why would anyone change the meter reading ? what would be the point ?

Profit is already fixed so there is no benefit at all

lapat

its a pretty standard practice, as meters no matter how good they are do become tired, especially when the parts are spinning away.
electrcity and gas now change theres every ten yeasr

Anonym

Agreed. This is fairly normal practice. They should feed back the final water meter reading to their billing team when they give them the new meter number. They will secure the new meter to ensure that you cannot tamper with it, just like all water meters.

As lapit said, the meters do wear out over time and it is better for the company to replace them before they break rather than after you phone them up without any water coming out of your tap.

It might be worth looking back through your bills and working out what you would expect the final reading to have been (use the meter readings and dates to work out the daily use and add this onto the last reading). If you are really worried, give them a few weeks to get their paperwork in order then call their house in order then call their billing enquiry number and ask them to tell you what the final meter reading was so that you can compare it with yours.

George_Bray

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Why would anyone change the meter reading ? what would be the point ? Profit is already fixed so there is no benefit at all

You appear to be very trusting.

Any change to the meter reading could be malicious, which I agree is unlikely, or due to a simple mistake, like if the reading was 5034 and it was written down as 5043 in error. Either way, I should have been allowed to see the readings for myself.

Why would anyone launch a nuclear missile by mistake? Why have various people involved, with loads of controls, checks and balances?

Why bother checking your change or the prices you've been charged at a supermarket till point?

etc, etc

Gothicfairy

George_Bray wrote: »

You appear to be very trusting. not at all, I just understand the profit process of the water companies

Any change to the meter reading could be malicious, which I agree is unlikely, or due to a simple mistake mistake is not malicious is it ? It is an error and would be changed once the error was pointed out, like if the reading was 5034 and it was written down as 5043 in error. Either way, I should have been allowed to see the readings for myself.

Why would anyone launch a nuclear missile by mistake? Why have various people involved, with loads of controls, checks and balances?

Why bother checking your change or the prices you've been charged at a supermarket till point?

etc, etc

I think you are taking it a little to heart if you are seriously going to bring up nuclear missiles and a water meter in the same argument.
You seemed to suggest in your second post that someone would alter the reading in the water companies favour and I stated..why would they bother..............I stand by that.

DVardysShadow

George, did you actually ask to see the old meter? Did they actually refuse you?