Energy meter reader trespass??

uk1

Thanks, ..... I think you're right.

I outlined the current issue ie the damage and door and gate trying in my post but the longer term one is even more bizarre.

Because we aren't here as often as we was .... I changed to an online only account where it was made clear I was receiving a discount for doing my readings and conducting the statements etc all online. On my last old fashioned paper invoice contract they came around once a year. Now with the monthly online readings contract they come every month just after I've given the readings and each time they try the garage doors and my garden gates ... as captured on my cameras. It was only because they were trying for a few weeks this time that it's around 6 weeks - normally it is every month. I've been here for 25 years and the meters are obviously regularly inspected. I asked them repeatedly to reduce the visits and they said it "wasn't anything to do with them".

I think the meter reader posting here has given the impression that he thinks that he is a pseudo investigator with wide powers against customers that are predominently dishonest. He also seems to think they can do things they cannot.

That isn't the impression I think his employer would want him to convey.

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

uk1, I don't blame you for being mad, I would be .... and more. Most people end up here :

- because they have a problem
- because believe they are right [ish]
- they read the law
- they check processes and the law
- some might write to the Prime Minister or the Pope

However at the end of the day you need a working solution to an irritating problem, and whilst most people defend their corner believing they are right - that's really not a solution, even if you were 100% right - that's not a solution. All suppliers have a right to inspection and all suppliers will compromise with and liaise with those doing the inspections on your behalf providing they get to do the inspection. All sorts of pre-arranged prior permissions are available to you, speak to your supplier, the motivation to find a solution is yours - only you can effect it - no one else but you can stop this happening to you. You will still get the inspection, you can however avoid the actual monthly meter reader.

Terrylw1

uk1 wrote: »

I said CLEARLY in my post it was read six weeks ago.

You said it was read 6 weeks ago but you did not specifically state it was by a meter reader so it could have been a reading you gave given you don't think they need to read the meter via an agent.

So, now I will take it that you mean a meter reader, so there would be no need to make a further inspection providing all the relevant databases have been updated.

[Deleted User]

sorry inspectorman, I was referring to the fact that onliners dont realise they still get their meters accessed occasionally, not uk1s, who has nt ever refused access by the sound of it. Uk1, do the sensible thing,as I and Richie said, create a little stink with EON and like many thousands of others and you will be taken of the visit list.They prefer that anyway as it saves them money. Just remember theres over 200 separate bodies who have automatic access to your ( and everybody elses ) property without their consent.An englishmans home is nt his castle. I can guarantee you that if a G4S meter reader tried a garage door he will be disciplined. you only have to make a complaint and a manager will be out to see you. As I said in my post, that is illegal, trying or entering a garage without permission is technically breaking and entering. I will be out tomorrow "banging " as you say, on peoples doors on instructions of British Gas and EDF who in turn are licenced by OFGEM to do just that. Have a moan at OFGEM like I do if you want the rules changing so no one sets foot down your drive.
If uk1 is getting too frequent meter readers thats obviously an EON mess up, not the meter readers fault. The last thing I want is any aggro at work. I was nt at all inferring you were dishonest but I am working this week in a rough area and have found two bypassed meters in outside boxes, if I had any powers of entry it would ve been 22. I never find any meter problems in the affluent areas anyway.

Inspectorman

No problem Sacs - I've done the job myself and know that some "onliners" can be ball aches to say the least. Something I never got, as surely if the customer is savvy enough to enter reads online they can read too. As when a read is entered most from my experience say something along the lines of "if a worker calls to read your meter, please let them in".

I can't believe they are visiting UK1 so frequently - I worked on six monthly routes, most people were happy with that except a lot of older people who were annoyed it wasn't quarterly anymore :rotfl:

uk1

Please don't use words like "I can't believe ..... '. :j

It seems to me that the monthly reading I enter triggers the visit. It is every month within 7 to 10 days of the reading.

Inspectorman wrote: »

No problem Sacs - I've done the job myself and know that some "onliners" can be ball aches to say the least. Something I never got, as surely if the customer is savvy enough to enter reads online they can read too. As when a read is entered most from my experience say something along the lines of "if a worker calls to read your meter, please let them in".

I can't believe they are visiting UK1 so frequently - I worked on six monthly routes, most people were happy with that except a lot of older people who were annoyed it wasn't quarterly anymore :rotfl:

Terrylw1

uk1 wrote: »

Please don't use words like "I can't believe ..... '. :j

It seems to me that the monthly reading I enter triggers the visit. It is every month within 7 to 10 days of the reading.

It shouldn't as the meter reader cycle is assigned when you switch. The meter readers just follow it from there.

They can change the cycle via sending the same data flow they did at the switch.

So, perhaps they have put you on a monthly reading cycle and the dates are not long after when you give your readings.

Another possibility is that the suppliers system is triggering a visit but this would only be needed if they had an internal rejection (if your reading as outside of tolerance) but they would normally not waste money on a visit when they can call you and sort it out.

I've attached a link to the accepted reading cycles. There would have to be a contract covering it so if they assigned a cycle outside of the contract, it would be rejected so the supplier could correct it. On the same data flow used to send this there is also a date sent for the first read to start the cycle which could be the reason why your timing issue is occurring.

http://dtc.mrasco.com/DataItem.aspx?ItemCounter=0277

chris1973

Have you also considered the other side of this debate?. What if your house was, (god forbid) on fire and the emergency services or neighbours needed to gain access to the back of the building to rescue you. Sure they could force the gate, but seconds count in this situation, and every obstacle creates more delays.

Personally, i'd be weighing up the benefits of a CCTV system, monitored alarm with panic buttons and better internal security (door locks, window locks etc) before essentially barricading myself into my property with external gates

I know that this debate is about meter reader access, but unfortunately there are stories where people have been trapped in their homes by their own security devices, so I believe it to be an equally valid consideration.

uk1

I have absolutely no idea what this has got to do with my post and so therefore cannot be "the other side of the debate.

The only doors in question are up and over doors that many garages have and the only lockable gates in question are fairly light wooden gates to the side of my house -that could easily be pushed open by a fireman sneezing heavily - that simply prevents anyone wishing to wander around my back garden without lightly "forcing an entry". Sensible people do not leave gates to the rear of their house open or unlocked.

There is no possiblity that my garage door or my garden gate will prevent us being rescued.

Thank you for your concern.

chris1973 wrote: »

Have you also considered the other side of this debate?. What if your house was, (god forbid) on fire and the emergency services or neighbours needed to gain access to the back of the building to rescue you. Sure they could force the gate, but seconds count in this situation, and every obstacle creates more delays.

Personally, i'd be weighing up the benefits of a CCTV system, monitored alarm with panic buttons and better internal security (door locks, window locks etc) before essentially barricading myself into my property with external gates

I know that this debate is about meter reader access, but unfortunately there are stories where people have been trapped in their homes by their own security devices, so I believe it to be an equally valid consideration.

uk1

G4S have now sent me a cheque for the cost of the damage but it doesn't cover it all by any means and they say that they have taken appropriate action with respect to the meter reader. I asked them why they pay their employees only for successful readings and first they said they didn't and then in contradiction said a significant part of earnings is bonuses and bonuses are paid for successfully taking readings. Pathetic. I asked them whether the practise of trying doors and gates was an approved practise they said it wasn't. There was no explanation given when I told them that I knew it was common and that their staff seemed to genuinely believe when questioned that they had authourity to try and enter premises for regular and entirely routine meter readings. It was a pointless discussion.

I wrote to the ceo of eon and we received a promise from his full time personal complaints department to resolve this and come back to us. They didn't bother. Their total response to this has been pathetic. There was no apology from eon or from G4S.

I know they are all as bad as each other but my contract ends in a month and I'll take my very hard earned cash to a company that hopefully doesn't regularly try to burgle my house and treats me with a degree of care and at least deals with a reasonable complaint.

Anyway .... at least customers are now able to pool and share both the goods and bads of these companies and people can choose to either ignore these experiences or avoid the companies with the worst CS.

[Deleted User]

uk1 wrote: »

G4S have now sent me a cheque for the cost of the damage but it doesn't cover it all by any means and they say that they have taken appropriate action with respect to the meter reader. I asked them why they pay their employees only for successful readings and first they said they didn't and then in contradiction said a significant part of earnings is bonuses and bonuses are paid for successfully taking readings. Pathetic. I asked them whether the practise of trying doors and gates was an approved practise they said it wasn't. There was no explanation given when I told them that I knew it was common and that their staff seemed to genuinely believe when questioned that they had authourity to try and enter premises for regular and entirely routine meter readings. It was a pointless discussion.

I wrote to the ceo of eon and we received a promise from his full time personal complaints department to resolve this and come back to us. They didn't bother. Their total response to this has been pathetic. There was no apology from eon or from G4S.

{I know they are all as bad as each other but my contract ends in a month and I'll take my very hard earned cash to a company that hopefully doesn't regularly try to burgle my house and treats me with a degree of care and at least deals with a reasonable complaint.}

Anyway .... at least customers are now able to pool and share both the goods and bads of these companies and people can choose to either ignore these experiences or avoid the companies with the worst CS.

Well done for obtaining a bit of cash for your accidently damaged ornament, I ve got to take exception from your emotive comment about meter readers trying to "burgle", implying he was going to steal from you, , thats not far short of libelous. just to clear a couple of points up, the vast majority of our earnings is a fixed salary with a small incentive bonus after a certain level of readings are obtained for the week. most of us dont usually get much in the way of incentive bonus nowadays. Trying garage doors only, is definitely not approved by any company or utility, however trying a side gate to access the exterior meters is approved, and expected by 99% of people. I knock on the door to let people know I am there and to find out about any dogs etc when getting to meters at side and rear. Thats the standard practice