Gas and electricity meter reader person dodgy!

Ken68

I get the metermen to take off their boots OR take my reading.
And then diarise the next date.
And why do they all have lace up mountain type boots with cragged soles that catch the mud to be trailed everywhere.

[Deleted User]

sniggings wrote: »

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.

I originally worked for the good old Yorkshire Electricty Board,( Y. E. B.) and have just followed with whoever won the British Gas contract, Accuread, and now have the misfortune to be employed by those cowboys who messed up the Olympic security, G4S. We also read Scottish Power and EDF meters. G4S have stated to us many times that they intend being the last meter reading company standing. Judging by how many people I catch thieving energy, there will always have to have someone checking the meters, at least until smart meters get installed everywhere. Can t see how the Torys have got anything to with it tho, apart from that Maggie Thatcher followed the American model and privatised it all
I have a fixed salary, does nt matter how many meters I read but there is an incentive bonus when I get past a certain number of readings. last weeks bonus was £400 and the week before was £320 so its worth it to me to" get a move on" and get plenty done. and that doesnt include messing about trying to talk my way into houses to get meter readings. Anyone like you, who have put there own readings in lately is fine by me, i move on quickly to the next house. any suspicious refusals I pass on to Revenue Protection who do a useage check.They pay me £20 -£50 for any bypasses I find or report. and to Ken68, I always wear slip-on shoes and ALWAYS volunteer to slip my shoes off on nice looking carpets, I don t need to be told. They have ridiculous health and safety rules which forbids me from taking my shoes off, lest I tread on a drawing pin, so I take no notice of that

sniggings

Ken68 wrote: »

I get the metermen to take off their boots OR take my reading.
And then diarise the next date.
And why do they all have lace up mountain type boots with cragged soles that catch the mud to be trailed everywhere.

really! love it, had any with holes in their socks yet :rotfl:

sniggings

sacsquacco wrote: »

I originally worked for the good old Yorkshire Electricty Board,( Y. E. B.) and have just followed with whoever won the British Gas contract, Accuread, and now have the misfortune to be employed by those cowboys who messed up the Olympic security, G4S. We also read Scottish Power and EDF meters. G4S have stated to us many times that they intend being the last meter reading company standing. Judging by how many people I catch thieving energy, there will always have to have someone checking the meters, at least until smart meters get installed everywhere. Can t see how the Torys have got anything to with it tho, apart from that Maggie Thatcher followed the American model and privatised it all

as said, they do have a say in employment rights, how long you can work, min wage, meal breaks, when you can be sacked, so yes they do have something to do with it, but thanks for err quoting me and not answering my question

sniggings

a bonus of £400 a week :eek: do you reach the target often?

oh, I'm online and when they do come out for the odd check, both my meters are in the hallway so they don't even have to knock on my door, I must be a dream customer.

Wywth

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?

Be afraid, be very afraid!

Any official meter reader should be carrying appropriate identification. Any genuine meter reader will be more than happy to wait outside your (closed & locked) door whilst you check out their authenticity direct with your supplier.

If in any doubt, or especially if the authentication is not verified, you should immediately have contacted the police on the 999 service.

Most suppliers I believe will be happy to set up a password system for any official meter reader calling.

As others have confirmed, the supplier should be attempting official meter reads even if you provide meter readings of your own.

YesWillMan

When you have walked around for ages trying anyone to answer the door to let you in to read the meter and then get the "we do it online why are you are here" line you might feel the same way I do.
The pay is low they put targets on you which if you don' t reach you get a dressing down at the end of the day PROFIT is what it is that rules. The Energy Companies make these companies like G4S work to such tight margins that they in turn make their workers work to crazy percentage read rates sometimes.

Scottish Power readings were previously done via Siemens who won the contract by offering the lowest price no doubt. G4S now do it, as they do for British Gas EDF and many others the guy who put the bid together on G4S's behalf previously worked for Siemens when they won the previous bid.

I have had verbal abuse on the doorstep for having the audacity to call at the door when they are having tea. But this is the prime time we have to knock on doors as dictated by the meter reading companies. They are working on such tight margins that the equipment provided is not being updated either as the amount of readers out there has to decrease for when Smart meters eventually come into play

Is it any wonder that the meter reader looks a bit "dodgy" he probably had an area with very few outside boxes and had been walking around desperate to find someone in. He is only trying to do his job.

ollski

elvenmunky wrote: »

The worrying thing was he looked like he just come out of prison!

Did he have arrows all over his suit?

Simonsaysthis_2

If you are unsure of any doorstep caller, do not let them in under any circumstances. meter readers should have identity and since you send your meter readings in online, he has no reason to read your meters. I would report this to the police, he may have already robbed someone else and even if he hasn't, it would be good to make the Police aware of a possible scam or robber.

Barneysmom

Hmm. Wondering if meter readers need to look like James Bond or someone equally gorgeous these days. Talk about judging by appearance!
I can imagine the job advert now
'Meter readers required, ugly people need not apply'. Hehehe.