Can a meter reader insist on entering a property when only minors are home?

mandalea98

I don't disagree Chris1973 but that wasn't what I was asking. The child in this scenario did make a mistake and we know that. The question was did the adult have the right to do what he did?

undaunted

Mandalea98 wrote: »

He didn't force his way in but he did tell him he couldn't stop him entering. I feel this is an abuse of power. He was not unpleasant to them at all but it upset them as they know they shouldn't let a stranger in. He told the they had no choice.

You're absolutely right to complain to your supplier. Even if you had been in and said he couldn't enter for some reason he wouldn't be entitled to insist otherwise. In spite of what may be written in some contracts ultimately it's your home not the suppliers!

If they want to insist on entry they need to get a court warrant & this employee ought to be disciplined in my opinion

Ich_2

DNO & supplier staff (which includes meter readers) have a statutory right of entry to premises. A warrant is only relevant if access is not given upon request.

From the back of a DNO ID card

The holder of this card is hereby authorised by ********************** to enter land and premises in pursuance of our legal obligations required under the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002.
Legal rights of access are afforded in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended)

From The Electricity Act 1989

1)Any officer or other person authorised by an electricity distributor may at all reasonable times enter any premises to which the distributor is maintaining a connection, for the purpose of inspecting any electric line or electrical plant provided by him.(2)Any officer or other person authorised by an electricity supplier may at all reasonable times enter any premises to which electricity is being supplied by him for the purpose of—(a)ascertaining the register of any electricity meter and, in the case of a pre-payment meter, removing any money or tokens belonging to the supplier;(b)removing, inspecting or re-installing any electricity meter or installing any substitute meter.

These rights, if you check, first came into being in the Gas & Electricity Rights of Entry Act 1954

Was he right to "bully" the 14 year old, possibly not. was he legally correct, yes!

JimmyTheWig

Ich wrote: »

was he legally correct, yes!

I disagree.
Your quote says they may only enter "at all reasonable times". I wuold argue that when no adult was present was not a reasonable time.

Ich_2

I would argue that when no adult was present was not a reasonable time.

I doubt I would disagree with you and that is the only point of complaint the OP could use.

P.S there is, as far as I know, no legal definition of "Reasonable Time" as it can vary between premises

However

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12380329

undaunted

Ich wrote: »

Was he right to "bully" the 14 year old, possibly not. was he legally correct, yes!

Nonsense! As you yourself quote "at all reasonable times". It is not reasonable to demand entry of a 14 year old child at all let alone when told their parents will be back in 30 mins.

Furthermore if they could in reality impose entry without warrant there would be no warrant procedure

zoominatorone

How many brothers is the 14 year old babysitting exactly? And if he can't be trusted not to just let someone waltz in because they SAID they were there to read the meters, is he really trustworthy enough to be looking after himself let alone others?

Ich_2

It is not reasonable to demand entry of a 14 year old child at all let alone when told their parents will be back in 30 mins.

Ah is that your view or that of a Court of Law? As I have already stated I wouldn't disagree that it was unreasonable.

Furthermore if they could in reality impose entry without warrant there would be no warrant procedure

the warrant procedure is used in cases where the normal means fail so is in addition to it.

Another nice bit of reading

http://www.yourrights.org.uk/yourrights/privacy/power-of-officials-to-enter-your-home/gas-and-electricity-boards.html

mandalea98

He was babysitting his 12 and 9 yr old brother and as I said before he is a very responsible young man but is still a child. I agree he made a mistake and also that I made a bigger one for not considering that this could have happened and/or teaching him what he should do if it did. He knew not to let someone in and was polite and courteous to the man. Where the problem arose was when the man told him he had no choice. He should have rung me if he wasnt sure but he didn't. He made a mistake of this there is no doubt. He is however responsible enough to mind his brothers once a week for an hour despite the fact he didn't know what to do on this occasion. Now he does know what to do.

As I already knew he had made a mistake, I asked a question that I didn't know the answer to. Did the meter reader have any right to do what he did? The fact that there seems to be a difference of opinion here would suggest my son's dilemma was not due purely to his age but that the answer is not clear cut. I still believe that the meter reader was wrong. I am a professional working with children and can't believe that EDF doesn't have a duty of care to their customers safety with regards to their employees. I also can't believe they would allow their employees to put themselves in such a vulnerable position.

Thank you for all your comments. I appreciated the copied legal paragraphs too. I wrote to the company yesterday and will let you know how they respond. It is interesting that there isn't a clear answer and no consensus was reached. EDF themselves tell me (on the phone) the meter reader was wrong and should have walked away. We'll see what they say in writing.

mrcow

I've shut the door in their faces before when they've knocked at 8.30am just as I'm leaving to get everyone to school.

It's an important lesson for your children to learn - no one, ever, gets to enter their house without their permission. Next time, hopefully they'll have the courage to shut the door and call for help if any harrassment continues.