Gas and electricity meter reader person dodgy!

elvenmunky

The other day i had the gas and electricity person come to read our meters i told him that I do them online but he seemed adamant to read them and said he still had ti do it. I took his word for it. The worrying thing was he looked like he just come out of prison! He was rough looking and had no visible forms of id...only the meter reader. And also my electricity meter is near all my expensive equipment. I'm scared that he might turn out to be dodgy and maybe hurt me and my family while trying to rob my things. I sleep in the room with all the stuff. Should I be worried?

~Chameleon~

Have you contacted your suppliers to check whether they actually sent someone out to read the meters that day? I've had a similar issue with a water meter reader insisting on reading the meter despite my telling him I do it online. I suspect they get paid for every reading they do.

DevCoder

Suppliers are legally obliged to read your meter every two years

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bis.gov.uk%2Fnmo%2Fgas-and-electricity-meters%2Fgas-meters-introduction%2FGas-meter-accuracy-and-billing-disputes&ei=5wkzUYPqBIuBhQe3qIDAAg&usg=AFQjCNGiR84vcdYkC5oT-Db0yQgTQ4Wrdg&sig2=wRLHfcFQ2-I-UXWosUw8Yw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.ZWU

sniggings

you can always send them away and check, also ask to see ID and ring up and check that too but don't use the number they give you, get the phone number yourself as it could be a fake number they give you, but as said they still have to read the meter every once in a while, and it's not like some people won't lie to keep their bills down.

If you were out when he called, he would have to call again anyway so just tell them it's not a good time, say someone is naked in the living room getting a spray tan or something and they need to call back, no point in letting them in then worrying about it later.

lemontart

Eon seem to go over board and read 2/3 times a year - not sure why

[Deleted User]

elvenmunky wrote: »

The other day i had the gas and electricity person come to read our meters i told him that I do them online but he seemed adamant to read them and said he still had ti do it. I took his word for it. The worrying thing was he looked like he just come out of prison! He was rough looking and had no visible forms of id...only the meter reader. And also my electricity meter is near all my expensive equipment. I'm scared that he might turn out to be dodgy and maybe hurt me and my family while trying to rob my things. I sleep in the room with all the stuff. Should I be worried?

I get that reaction all day, the suppliers also have contracts with companys like G4S to "visually safety inspect " meters. They dont just rely on occupiers to submit readings. If you dont want the "dodgy "looking meter reader to enter your castle, just make him wait on the doorstep and get him the reading. He l be happy at that, then complain to the supplier, dont take it out of the meter reader, hes just doing what he s been instructed to do

[Deleted User]

sacsquacco wrote: »

I get that reaction all day, the suppliers also have contracts with companys like G4S to "visually safety inspect " meters. They dont just rely on occupiers to submit readings. If you dont want the "dodgy "looking meter reader to enter your castle, just make him wait on the doorstep and get him the reading. He l be happy at that, then complain to the supplier, dont take it out of the meter reader, hes just doing what he s been instructed to do

Eon read at 6 monthly intervals, not really "going overboard" is it. Brit Gas still do it the old way with quartely visits to all non onliners. some of the smaller ones dont take much notice of any regulators and never bother at all. Its a good job we do take a look at the meters now and again, quite apart from vastly increased bypassing of meters, theres lots of the public really messing it up especially on electric dial meters

sniggings

sacsquacco wrote: »

Eon read at 6 monthly intervals, not really "going overboard" is it. Brit Gas still do it the old way with quartely visits to all non onliners. some of the smaller ones dont take much notice of any regulators and never bother at all. Its a good job we do take a look at the meters now and again, quite apart from vastly increased bypassing of meters, theres lots of the public really messing it up especially on electric dial meters

So you're a meter reader, can I ask, you're not working for one of those companies that don't pay if you don't read a meter every 30 mins or so, read something like that on a thread here and thought it was something that didn't happen in this day and age but the longer the tories are in, nothing really surprises me these days.

geoffken

The Tories get a bad press but blaming them for the meter readers is an interesting one!!!

sniggings

geoffken wrote: »

The Tories get a bad press but blaming them for the meter readers is an interesting one!!!

I didn't, I blamed them for employment regulations, which they have some control on, well them and the EU but I still hold them responsible for allowing the EU to take over, and Labour before them, with regards to the EU, so not unfair

C_Mababejive

The days of the jolly gas chap with his leather satchel,smart uniform and peaked cap with badge are long gone. The industry is in slash and burn mode to safe costs and increase profit and many jobs are outsourced to contracting companies such as G4S. Just like care for the elderly,the quality of employee may go down hill. If you are not happy with anyone coming to your door in an official capacity,dont let them in/ask to see ID. Anyone who is genuine will be happy to produce same/go away..