Siemans and Scottish Power

tanith

I had a card put through the door the other day marked from Siemans telling me they'd tried to read my meters. I'm actually with Scottish Power who read my meters a few months ago even though I put my readings in every time they ask me too online.. then today I get a letter from Siemans asking me for my Gas meter only reading telling me that it doesn't matter if I have put my readings in online to SP they need a record of my readings..

Does anyone know why Siemans are asking for my readings? thanks

keystone

The big boys don't have their own meter reading teams these days - they contract it out. Guess which company your supplier uses. It would be Siemens. Its also a legal requirement for your meter to be physically read once a year whether or not you put readings up online only the day before.

There ios nothing underhand or suspicious about this. Make sure that the Siemens person shows you the proper ID - otherwise don't let him in.

Cheers

victor2

Siemens are probably contracted by Scottish Power to take meter readings.
You could always phone SP and ask them if that's the case.

tanith

Thanks guys I was a bit confused as they'd only read the meters a couple of months ago.. I'll just do it online to Siemans as they suggest...

Inspectorman

You'll be even more confused when G4S knock on your door next time, as I do believe they have taken on the contract now (I'm sure Sasc will confirm)

[Deleted User]

Yes, we l (G4S ) be doing the same thing in September, you put it in yourself online and then we come round and check it also, prob every six months. British Gas have been doing exactly the same thing now for over a year,begging customers for online/text/phone readings then sending us around knocking. Its as if they don t trust your readings

Terrylw1

The only visit they really need to get in for is the 2 years mandatory safety check. For gas, its every 2 years. For elec, its every 2 years from the current supplier registration date (your switch date).

sacsquacco - just bad management in not altering their contracts...so perhaps its a short term thing to determine what % they retrieve and then maybe they will knock the meter reader contract down. They obviously care very little about the customer or they would agree with the meter readers that they shouldn't go out if they send them a COR in the reading window.

tanith

It is a bit crazy, I've been doing meter readings every couple of months , the meter reader (SP) read them 2 months ago , Siemans have been round to take readings and failed to catch me in and now they are writing to me for the readings, talk about overkill...

[Deleted User]

Yes tanith, i think terrys got it right in thats its prob something to do with previous contracts with meter reading companys like ours which were in place for a number of years. New management methods are now in place to gather meter readings by other cheaper methods and the two are running together. thankfully our contract with B.Gas is due for renewal in a few weeks time ( if we get it ) and I will only be visiting customers who are nt supplying their own regular readings. The onliners etc will prob just get a two year meter inspection