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

undaunted

Ich wrote: »

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.


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

Obviously my view - though I strongly suspect that like yuourself no Judge would disagree.

As you want to play that game I would also have to turn the question back around did any Court say he was legally correct to act as he did under the circumstances or was that just your view?

I have absolutely no idea what you think the above link is proving as if you read it logically it is clear that they cant enter if you don't let them, they haven't got a warrant & there is no emergency

mrcow

sacsquacco wrote: »

see what I mean about "grumpy " joe public, this is the attitude we are up against in 2012.

No, I still have no clue what you're talking about. It sounds like you're just being quite rude about gaining access to someone else's property.

We're talking about companies thinking it "reasonable" to be granted access to people's homes up to 8pm at night.

Do you not understand that to many, the prospect of someone asking to gain entry to their home after the hours of darkness is extremely stressful?

You may think it's because they are "grumpy", but perhaps it would help if you took off your blinkers and realised that there is often more than just the one side to any situation.



P.S. If you're getting the door slammed in your face between 9-5pm, perhaps you need to have a second look at the impression you are creating to warrant that reaction?

Ich_2

it is clear that they cant enter if you don't let them, they haven't got a warrant & there is no emergency

Quite correct we have no right to force entry! (but we can try to talk our way in by pointing out the relevant law, even in an emergency we cannot force entry)
But if a customer (or someone on a forum) says we have no right to enter we can show that we do. If they continue to refuse entry, even after written notice, we can then go to a court and show that the customer has not complied with the law so a warrant should be issued. Note that in extreme cases the offence does carry a fine of up to £1000 - I've never known one be imposed

This stuff has been on the statute books since 1956 so do you not think the industry might actually know how to act legally or do you think that we are a load of cowboys with no idea about the laws governing our operations?

I have been involved with these issues and work with folk that do them regularly, we get trained to ensure that we don't exceed our rights or leave ourselves open to criticism (something the meter reader either wasn't or forgot), as face it if we do exceed them we open ourselves up to legal action, something large companies don't like to do.

But more and more folk can fall into legal traps by not knowing the law and being wrongly advised by friends or internet forums!

Ich_2

We're talking about companies thinking it "reasonable" to be granted access to people's homes up to 8pm at night.

We are talking about government appointed bodies (The Regulatory System) thinking it!
Of course folk would like to do it 9-5 but it would eventually reach the stage that folk would be asked to be in during the day, perhaps when they would rather be at work so using these times is (which the regulator believes) in the customer's interest

mrcow

Ich wrote: »

We are talking about government appointed bodies (The Regulatory System) thinking it!

Doesn't mean it's the right way of thinking though does it. If the experience on the doorstep is that it's not what customers want, then that needs to be fed back to the regulator.

If particular houses aren't being seen and would prefer later appointments, then let them book them. Surely that's more efficient than inspectors just randomly knocking hoping someone will be in at a set time? (or worse, turning up unexpectedly when an adult isn't home and shoe-horning themselves through the front door despite protestation from the occupier?)

[Deleted User]

Mrcow, its the Regulator who deems it reasonable hours 8 am to 8pm, not suppliers or meter readers. I personally dont get many doorstep refusals at any hours throughout the year. my colleagues in general do and of course I understand that some would be nervous about someone knocking on the door at night. I am not keen myself at having to work at night but have little option as I cant stop work at 3.45 pm. Just do as I do when someone knocks on my door at night, ignore it and carry on watching telly

Ich_2

If the experience on the doorstep is that it's not what customers want, then that needs to be fed back to the regulator.

Preferably by the customer who the Regulator is there for, here's the website

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/About%20us/Pages/AboutUsPage.aspx

mandalea98

Just an update for those who might be interested. G4S, the company that EDF contract to read their meters, telephoned and apologised today. The complaints manager assured me that it is one of the first things their training covers that they should not enter a home with unaccompanied minors in EVEN if invited to do so. The meter man in question actually worked till 8 and there was no reason at 1630 that he could not have called back in half an hr or left a card and come back another day. He also told me that they are told to NEVER attempt to enter a property if refused access and that this goes against the OFGEM code of practice (which i had already read and i guess it does in a loose sense). The meter reader in question has left the company for an unrelated reason. The complaints manager was lovely and asked that any such incidents be reported as it is totally unacceptable to put both the children and their employee in such a vulnerable position.

I'm happy with that. The whole point in my complaining was that i didn't want it to happen to anyone else and seemingly it oughtn't. Thank you for all your comments and Merry Christmas

:rotfl:

Ich_2

Good result, thanks for letting us know

Doc_P_2

G4S? In customer relations win result? Bloody hell.

If only they treated their employees the same way. This coming from myself who was 'laid off' by telephone this morning. Thumbs up HR department.

Anyways to the subject at hand, if someone answered to the door to me and I suspected they were under 21 I'd always leave them a card and ask them to give it to parents/carer. Kids these days look way older than they actually are so I always kept myself safe with the under 21 rule.

On a separate note, those thinking of a career meter reading for G4S, don't bother, it's slave labor, and only 'rewarding' in July/August.