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

[Deleted User]

The Regulator sets the time which is considered to be "reasonable " 8.0am to 8pm are the times, although we would only be knocking from 5..30 to 8pm on two year"must reads ".
My boss expects me to start at 8 am, not my idea, thats too early for me, so I always look for external meter boxes at that hour so as not to disturb grumpy joe public who appears to have got more demanding and grumpy. The old meter readers I speak to from the 1950 s and 60s era s tell me they never got a refusal, nowadays its commonplace to have the door ignorantly slammed in my face.

mrcow

If you're regularly getting the door "slammed in your face" at particular hours, perhaps there is something that you/your boss should learn from that experience?

[Deleted User]

mrcow wrote: »

If you're regularly getting the door "slammed in your face" at particular hours, perhaps there is something that you/your boss should learn from that experience?

see what I mean about "grumpy " joe public, this is the attitude we are up against in 2012. The particular hours I am referring to are normal and reasonable 8.30 to 4.30, all meter readers going about their lawful occupations are faced with this standard behaviour, we are all used to it and have thick skins

VisionMan

sacsquacco wrote: »

see what I mean about "grumpy " joe public, this is the attitude we are up against in 2012. The particular hours I am referring to are normal and reasonable 8.30 to 4.30, all meter readers going about their lawful occupations are faced with this standard behaviour, we are all used to it and have thick skins

And as for knocking in the Winter, after 4pm, when it's going/gone dark, a lot of people won't even answer the door, never mind slam it in your face!

mandalea98

sacsquacco wrote: »

At least make the meter readers xmas merry by giving him the reading, he l be happy at that. From my first jobs as meter reader (lowri beck,Y.E.B Meter Plus,. Accuread and now G4S ) each company has made it plain from the outset not to attempt to enter properties with only minors in. In the last few years its got even stricter, to include anyone regardless of age, if they dont want you in, we ve got to leave without any arguements or pushiness. They dont want us upsetting the suppliers or customers. That meter reader who came to the OPs house would definitetly get a warning ( or even the sack if hed reached his three warnings in a year limit ) I would like to add, we at G4S are strictly vetted

I dont want the man to lose his job! I'm not unreasonable. I just want him not to do it again and i want the company to apologise.

mandalea98

emslovesmickey wrote: »

I'm very wary of letting people in in the evening anyway, especially given that around my way someone was trying to get into people's houses to rob them, and wearing an EDF jacket.

As for the child in question, yes he made a mistake but some 15 year olds do a lot worse. He is responsible enough to look after his brothers but was blind sided by an adult in authority.

Thank you! He has also learned from this experience as have I and hopefully the meter reader will too. Many of my friends and family have spoken to their children about it all too... who can and can't enter the house and when the kids should and shouldn't answer the door etc. As no one was hurt I feel it has been a good learning experience all round

[Deleted User]

Dont worry OP, you will definitely get an apology, and its usual for our managers to make a personal visit in these cases.
To some of the others responding, try and remember its not the meter reader personally trying to upset you, knocking too early,or late, or when the dark descends, its YOUR supplier. who ask us to call. We are just under orders ( from our managers) to do our job, we start at 8 ish and finish at 5 ish, with some calling very late to fulfill 2 year inspections for the workers who are never in until late

mandalea98

sacsquacco wrote: »

Dont worry OP, you will definitely get an apology, and its usual for our managers to make a personal visit in these cases.
To some of the others responding, try and remember its not the meter reader personally trying to upset you, knocking too early,or late, or when the dark descends, its YOUR supplier. who ask us to call. We are just under orders ( from our managers) to do our job, we start at 8 ish and finish at 5 ish, with some calling very late to fulfill 2 year inspections for the workers who are never in until late

Sorry, I'm new to these things, what does OP stand for? As for the antisocial hrs thing, Im a nurse so tell me about it

poet123

Mandalea98 wrote: »

Sorry, I'm new to these things, what does OP stand for? As for the antisocial hrs thing, Im a nurse so tell me about it

Original poster.= OP

[Deleted User]

It means "original poster " yes we are just nine to five compared to your hours, I have been in A and E a lot recently with my old mum on a Saturday night and witnessed some real aggro which you nurses cope with brilliantly. We never get that to deal with