Energy meter reader trespass??

Jamie_Carter

uk1 wrote: »

Jamie you really are wasting your time here. i've stupidly tried to explain to him about the various acts, but the wax is too thick. I actually do know a bit about this but sadly I'm not as knowledgeabe about these things as the meter readers alegedly! Unfair contract terms act and the human rights stuff outranks turd behaviour. I now think there are two groups of people in the world. Meter readers and the rest.:)

I've printed and put the sign I previously suggested on the side window. This means it is now safer to presume that anyone I find behind a door or a gate isn't a meter reader and i can more safely presume they mean my family harm and i will take whatever action I feel approriate at that moment. We'll see what "great pleasure" as previously described by our friends they take next time they attempt to gain access without permission.

Unfortunatly there will always be people who try to twist things around, and interpret them in a completly different way to they way that they were originally intended. This is why Al Qaeda exists.

Many businesses will try to twist the wording of the law to suit themselves. But in this case they forget that they are entering the customer's property. So they have to comply with the customer's wishes, and not try and nide behind legislation that has been twisted around.

Jamie_Carter

Terrylw1 wrote: »

If you are aiming this comment at me, I'm not a meter reader and have interest in defending them. However, I do feel it is important to understand how the t&c's would apply since Ofgem are OK with them.

T&C's are not, and never have been above the law.

OFGEM do not write the law. They are the ombudsman service, who are financed by the industry.

What you have to remember (as I have said previously), is that it is private property. And the only people allowed to enter private property if the householder refuses permission, without a warrant are the police and fire service.

Jamie_Carter

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Already have.

I'm just wondering why you continue to use insulting comments rather than engage in a debate?

If the contracts of all the energy suppliers are unfair, why do they exist? Why have Ofgem taken no action to have the offending terms removed?

There will be individuals who will break the rules in search of a commission and senior managers who will turn their heads until they are challenged. Is it different in any sector?

Because OFGEM are financed by the power industries. It's as simple as that.

Jamie_Carter

uk1 wrote: »

and one final point to you my friend.

You lost all credibility on this thread - and i paraphrase - that you believe that meter readers can do what they want to gain access to read the meters, and if they upset you that you clearly imply that you will spitefully falsely state that without any other reasonable evidence (other than they prevented you from seeing the meter on that day) that you suspoect meter tampering and that your colleagues would take great pleasure in breaking into private home with no notice in order to punish them for upsetting you. You have basically said "i'll abuse the trust placed in me to teach you a lesson and to get my own back". That is what i took from your posts.

You also imply that you believe that making a statement to a court clerk to obtain a warrant is somehow less significant than making the statement to a magistrate and doing so wont cause you problems.

Finally you have stated that you believe that meter readers who cause damage to private property in the view of cctv cameras needn't worry because the cctv can't be used in evidence to convict unless there are signs.

I do believe you are who you say you are. But from your own attitudes and your own words you are dangerously dumb on both how you and your friends should behave and you really aren't a nice person to have doing this type of work.

Well said!!

NeverEnough

uk1 wrote: »

And one final point to you my friend.

You lost all credibility on this thread - and I paraphrase - that you believe that meter readers can do what they want to gain access to read the meters, and if they upset you that you clearly imply that you will spitefully falsely state that without any other reasonable evidence (other than they prevented you from seeing the meter on that day) that you suspoect meter tampering and that your colleagues would take great pleasure in breaking into private home with no notice in order to punish them for upsetting you. You have basically said "I'll abuse the trust placed in me to teach you a lesson and to get my own back". That is what I took from your posts.

You also imply that you believe that making a statement to a court clerk to obtain a warrant is somehow less significant than making the statement to a magistrate and doing so wont cause you problems.

Finally you have stated that you believe that meter readers who cause damage to private property in the view of CCTV cameras needn't worry because the CCTV can't be used in evidence to convict unless there are signs.

I do believe you are who you say you are. But from your own attitudes and your own words you are dangerously dumb on both how you and your friends should behave and you really aren't a nice person to have doing this type of work.

Superbly put, uk1. In a nutshell, this seems to be exactly what meter readers generally think and do. There may be some decent ones out there, but they are definitely in the minority and I have yet to meet one in our town.

Inspectorman

uk1 wrote: »

Out of curiosity - as someone who clearly cares about the job and reputation - what comments and observations do you have on the posters here purporting to be meter readers?

As far as I'm aware the only reader on the board is Sasc, who from other threads appears to be a stand up character who cares a great deal about his job and putting an end to some of the practices that occur both on the customer side of things and the company side of things. Terry and chanz work elsewhere in metering and know a great deal about the business.

I don't think I've read anywhere in the thread about people thinking meter readers should have carte blanche at a property when it comes to meter access (then again it's pretty big thread with some long posts). As mentioned before, if a gate was just latched I would go through it if the meter was visibly the other side or if I knew from previous visits it was there (if it was the first time at a site or the customer was new I would always knock). I certainly wouldn't go clambering over gates or un-doing locks - I didn't get paid enough :rotfl:

If the few of you who are suffering from these continual rogue readers, I do feel sorry for you - I worked in a regional team of 20 people and each one of them acted professionally in their job. Maybe it's a G4S thing? Although they do take on a few that get the full benefits (car, decent wage, etc...) most of the job adverts for them state pretty low pay and you must provide own vehicle - which in turn can lead to pretty desperate measures to top up your pay.

My advice to help avoid this is to go with a company that reads it's own meters in your supply area.

Thankfully I fit meters these days so when I turn up I'm at least expected!

uk1

Great post.

Can you tell me where I can find a list of those that read their own meters - or can you simply say?

Thanks.

Inspectorman

Not sure about a list - I know in the midlands area Eon, Npower and SSE all read there own meters. SSE has a national metering business so read all there meters and I thought the same of Eon until this thread

I'd reckon this is something Terry might know the answer to.

uk1

Inspectorman wrote: »

Not sure about a list - I know in the midlands area Eon, Npower and SSE all read there own meters. SSE has a national metering business so read all there meters and I thought the same of Eon until this thread

I'd reckon this is something Terry might know the answer to.

Thanks again for participating in the thread. Most customers are sensible and understand that the majority of people employed to do the job are probably decent people trying their best. The input here from some however have shown a side that is very unsettling - and those people cause harm to the industry and the reputation of their innocent colleagues. In any event the job will see major workforce reductions in the next few years and hopefully the cream will rise to the top.

If you are interested watch out for Nick Buckles appearance tommorow in front of the Home Affairs Select Committe.

Keith Vaz and the committee are probably going to focus on the quality of staff recruitment, supervision and in particular the (lack of) leadership provided by Nick Buckles and whether he continues to be a fit person to run a large corporation. He will ask whether his continued tenure is in the best interests of G4S staff and shareholders .... and customers. There will alos be a question about the charitable contribution to the army. It would be a great suprise if he lasts much longer than Tuesday althoug he has displayed a large covering of Teflon.

NeverEnough

Inspectorman wrote: »

Not sure about a list - I know in the midlands area Eon, Npower and SSE all read there own meters. SSE has a national metering business so read all there meters and I thought the same of Eon until this thread

I'd reckon this is something Terry might know the answer to.

Npower are specifically the problem in our(Midlands) situation - on discussion with their hopeless CS, they constantly state that the meter readers are NOT employed by Npower and that the service is contracted out to a nebulous, nameless company and that they "simply pass messages on to them" neatly bypassing any responsibility, even though the regulator has indicated that they remain responsible for services they contract out.

Perhaps someone has some inside knowledge as to which companies use their own in house meter reading teams?