NIE Meter readings compulsory?

modelreject

Hi,

Quick question. Are NIE Meter readings compulsory?

The reason I ask is that every month, or so, the meter reader calls round. I am at work. They leave a blue card. Sometimes I just forget I have to fill out the card. They leave a yellow card. Now I have to submit meter reading online. (Which would be my first choice anyway). Just getting sick of this happening all the time.

I am with SSE Airtricity and I leave a meter reading on their website in my account area any way.

What is the deal with this? Can I stop NIE bothering me every month? If I have to submit a reading, can I not do it online by default? (Dark ages)

Many thanks,
C

2gorgeousgirls

I moved from NIE to Budget (now with SSE) about 4 years ago.

I am on a keypad which I top up online.

However I was told, both by NIE and Budget, that the equipment remains NIE property and that they would be calling to check it. I was told that since I am on a keypad they would only be calling once a year.

I was here once when they checked it (box is outside) but I assume they have checked it every year.

If you're not on a keypad, I assume they have to call to get the meter reading in order to ensure the reading you are giving online is correct but monthly seems excessive.

Or possibly to check that the equipment hasn't been tampered with (not suggesting you would do that).

modelreject

Just on pay monthly and box is inside. I suppose the only real reason they should come in person is to check tampering because everything else can be done online.

Thanks!

Old_Git

modelreject wrote: »

Just on pay monthly and box is inside. I suppose the only real reason they should come in person is to check tampering because everything else can be done online.

Thanks!

they also want to check your reading are accurate .Lets pretend you used 1000 units but told then it was 500 .How would they know.

JulieElizabeth

My meter was read only once by the NIE meter reading man in 12 years of living in my previous house

He always called when I was at work so I filled the number in the card and stuck it in my front window

Golden_Anemone

modelreject wrote: »

Hi,

Quick question. Are NIE Meter readings compulsory?

The reason I ask is that every month, or so, the meter reader calls round. I am at work. They leave a blue card. Sometimes I just forget I have to fill out the card. They leave a yellow card. Now I have to submit meter reading online. (Which would be my first choice anyway). Just getting sick of this happening all the time.

I am with SSE Airtricity and I leave a meter reading on their website in my account area any way.

What is the deal with this? Can I stop NIE bothering me every month? If I have to submit a reading, can I not do it online by default? (Dark ages)

Many thanks,
C

Meter reading should be quarterly, not monthly. If you are getting monthly calls I would ask NIE for an explanation - that's too often.

warmhands.coldheart

modelreject wrote: »

Hi,

Quick question. Are NIE Meter readings compulsory?

The reason I ask is that every month, or so, the meter reader calls round. I am at work. They leave a blue card. Sometimes I just forget I have to fill out the card. They leave a yellow card. Now I have to submit meter reading online. (Which would be my first choice anyway). Just getting sick of this happening all the time.

I am with SSE Airtricity and I leave a meter reading on their website in my account area any way.

What is the deal with this? Can I stop NIE bothering me every month? If I have to submit a reading, can I not do it online by default? (Dark ages)

Many thanks,
C

You don't live in Derry/Londonderry do you?? From what I'm led to believe, there are so many tampered meters in that city, the rest of Northern Ireland are essentially subsidising the place.... :mad: There has been talk of entire streets in certain areas where not a house is paying a bill.....

Mistral001

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

You don't live in Derry/Londonderry do you?? From what I'm led to believe, there are so many tampered meters in that city, the rest of Northern Ireland are essentially subsidising the place.... :mad: There has been talk of entire streets in certain areas where not a house is paying a bill.....

That reminds me, a few years ago I was speaking to someone from the South who had recently moved to Derry. He said that he had been advised by a local that you did not have to pay the TV licence if you lived in Derry. It probably is different now though.


PS. The funny thing was that he actually thought it was an official exemption.

warmhands.coldheart

Mistral001 wrote: »

That reminds me, a few years ago I was speaking to someone from the South who had recently moved to Derry. He said that he had been advised by a local that you did not have to pay the TV licence if you lived in Derry. It probably is different now though.


PS. The funny thing was that he actually thought it was an official exemption.

Funny, that same scheme runs in areas of Strabane too.... :rotfl:

steveymp

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

You don't live in Derry/Londonderry do you?? From what I'm led to believe, there are so many tampered meters in that city, the rest of Northern Ireland are essentially subsidising the place.... :mad: There has been talk of entire streets in certain areas where not a house is paying a bill.....

Must of missed that bit on Spotlight They only seemed to show little chavs in Belshaft "fixing" the meters in old houses with internal meter boxes ?

But hey, if the shoe fits

CEON44

I live in Limavady and have used a keypad for a few years now. I originally had it with NIE but then couple of years ago I changed to airtricity. I get callers every month to read the meter. I asked why they did that as I was basically paying in advance. The guy said To be honest its to keep checking all households are not tampering. The reading he takes is meaningless, they just want to check I'm not fixing. I suggested that after a few years of doing things legally I 'm hardly going to start fixing it. The guy agreed but hes just doing his job in checking