Can I refuse access to meter reader?

Wail

What is the name of this firm?

chanz4

ValHaller wrote: »

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/45/section/2/enacted

There is no 2b. Can you identify the section in question? Because I tend to think that on a matter of fact relating to physical arrangement of OP's property and installation, there might not be a legal basis to grant access into OP's house. Which is what is strongly implied here.

Gas Act 1986 Schedule 2B (supplies of gas stolen illegally and interference with metering equipment)

ValHaller

chanz4 wrote: »

Gas Act 1986 Schedule 2B (supplies of gas stolen illegally and interference with metering equipment)

Now you have cited it correctly .....

It would be unnecessary to take this to court. The meter box is accessible and provided OP allows authorised people to have access, there should be no need for the supplier to take this to court. They do not need access to the house to exercise their schedule 2B rights.

Supplier or meter reader are either not seeing the meter box or being unduly heavy handed. While OP's reaction is somewhat OTT, he more than has a point.

Forestchook

I was not sure if I should actually name them but okay. The company inquestion is Face2Face contact. My energy provider is British Gas. My last billstates the meter was read on 10 Jan 2013 so they cannot claim it has not beenseen in the last 2 years.

torbrex, if British Gas sub out to G4S but G4S do not use sub contractorsthen who are these people and why do they want to read my meter?

Chanz4, If they suspect a second meter thats fine but I would have to askwhy they haven't they mentioned this in either letter? It could have beenmentioned when I called them about the first letter they sent too. If that hadbeen the case I would have welcomed them in to inspect the house (with someamusement I might add).

I should probably mention at this point the gas has been capped off for overa year now to allow for (achingly slow) renovations. BG are fully aware ofthis.

The comment during that telephone conversation was 'now we know the meter isoutside we'll send someone out to take a reading'. I take that to mean that hadnot even tried before sending out the 1st letter.

To quote from the hand delivered letter

"YOU NEED TO URGENTLY CONTACT US ABOUT YOUR GAS METER" ...

"we called today I]date[/I at I]time[/I but were unable toaccess the property. Previous attempts have also been made withoutsuccess" ...

It goes on to threaten to apply to a Magistrate for a warrant of entry ifthey don't hear from me.

The letter finishes:

'To keep your meter please call [phone number] confirming the meter detailsas above; meter read, meter serial number, property status with ownershipdetails and the date of the read/info'

Once again, they had to be standing next to the meter box to deliver thisletter. How on earth can they claim they were unable to access the meter notjust on that day but previous occasion too? Answers on a post card please.

Surely I'm not being unreasonable them to explain?

It's if they don't bother, or try to fob me off I'll become unreasonable,hence the refusing access query.

chanz4

ValHaller wrote: »

Now you have cited it correctly .....

It would be unnecessary to take this to court. The meter box is accessible and provided OP allows authorised people to have access, there should be no need for the supplier to take this to court. They do not need access to the house to exercise their schedule 2B rights.

Supplier or meter reader are either not seeing the meter box or being unduly heavy handed. While OP's reaction is somewhat OTT, he more than has a point.

Technically they do, if they went out and found a tamper in situ or other and the landowner said to leave without the warrant they would have no choice

chanz4

Okay , they now suspect a change of occupier without registering known as a void visit.

chanz4

Forestchook wrote: »

I was not sure if I should actually name them but okay. The company inquestion is Face2Face contact. My energy provider is British Gas. My last billstates the meter was read on 10 Jan 2013 so they cannot claim it has not beenseen in the last 2 years.

torbrex, if British Gas sub out to G4S but G4S do not use sub contractorsthen who are these people and why do they want to read my meter?

Chanz4, If they suspect a second meter thats fine but I would have to askwhy they haven't they mentioned this in either letter? It could have beenmentioned when I called them about the first letter they sent too. If that hadbeen the case I would have welcomed them in to inspect the house (with someamusement I might add).

I should probably mention at this point the gas has been capped off for overa year now to allow for (achingly slow) renovations. BG are fully aware ofthis.

The comment during that telephone conversation was 'now we know the meter isoutside we'll send someone out to take a reading'. I take that to mean that hadnot even tried before sending out the 1st letter.

To quote from the hand delivered letter

"YOU NEED TO URGENTLY CONTACT US ABOUT YOUR GAS METER" ...

"we called today I]date[/I at I]time[/I but were unable toaccess the property. Previous attempts have also been made withoutsuccess" ...

It goes on to threaten to apply to a Magistrate for a warrant of entry ifthey don't hear from me.

The letter finishes:

'To keep your meter please call [phone number] confirming the meter detailsas above; meter read, meter serial number, property status with ownershipdetails and the date of the read/info'

Once again, they had to be standing next to the meter box to deliver thisletter. How on earth can they claim they were unable to access the meter notjust on that day but previous occasion too? Answers on a post card please.

Surely I'm not being unreasonable them to explain?

It's if they don't bother, or try to fob me off I'll become unreasonable,hence the refusing access query.

Inregards to the second meter, they dont tip off to preserve evidence. Its the same as banks dont with money laundering

Blackpool_Saver

Op and the company need their heads banging together

harp07

Face2Face are a debt collection agency

ValHaller

chanz4 wrote: »

Technically they do, if they went out and found a tamper in situ or other and the landowner said to leave without the warrant they would have no choice

It has to get to the point that OP sends them away. So far all that has happened is that they have walked past an accessible meter cabinet and got heavy handed.

If you read what I suggested OP send, the meter box is accessible. I cannot see that the supplier would have any justification to apply for a warrant until and unless OP had impeded access. In the situation as we have it at present, there is no evidence of a tamper and no action at this point to impede access. A warrant application at this point would be wrong and it would be very wrong of Magistrates to grant one.