Meter Reading Scam ?.

RED_KEN

Just had a phone call asking for meter readings. Caller did not know who I was or the name of the energy company I am with --- and no I did not tell her or give out my readings.
Is this a scam? and how does it work.

System

RED_KEN wrote: »

Just had a phone call asking for meter readings. Caller did not know who I was or the name of the energy company I am with --- and no I did not tell her or give out my readings.
Is this a scam? and how does it work.

The caller was, I assume, from one of the meter reading companies that suppliers use to read meters. I cannot see that telling someone that my meter reads 58021 is going to cause any data protection problems. You were probably out when they called to read your meter.

RED_KEN

Well I supply my readings on line the last reading being 2 weeks ago and I have my bill for these readings. How come the caller did not know who I was where I was and the name of my energy company. I think it goes like this. After giving my readings can you please confirm your name address and the energy company you are with. Next thing you get email from your energy company saying sorry you are leaving us, and when you say why would I want to they say well why did give your particulars and your meter reading to XYZ company over the phone.

gardner1

RED_KEN wrote: »

Well I supply my readings on line the last reading being 2 weeks ago and I have my bill for these readings. How come the caller did not know who I was where I was and the name of my energy company. I think it goes like this. After giving my readings can you please confirm your name address and the energy company you are with. Next thing you get email from your energy company saying sorry you are leaving us, and when you say why would I want to they say well why did give your particulars and your meter reading to XYZ company over the phone.

In which case you could have some fun giving them made up details

House_Martin

I used to make plenty of calls asking for meter readings or to make an appointment to see the meters, but as a meter reader I had full access to every detail of the occupiers meters, supplier, name and address, position of meter and other personal details including passwords.
Sounds like some scam. Maybe someone wanted to know if occupier is at home

footyguy

RED_KEN wrote: »

Just had a phone call asking for meter readings. Caller did not know who I was or the name of the energy company I am with --- and no I did not tell her or give out my readings.
Is this a scam? and how does it work.

Worry not, I don't think it could be a scam
Providing anyone with your meter readings only cannot be used to scam you.
My meters are outside (as are a significant number of others meters) and anyone could go to the meater and read it (especially if they have a meter cupboard key)

It's probably the meter reader appointed by your energy supplier, who was unabe to read your meter as (a) no one was in and (b) access was required to be able to read the meter.

footyguy

RED_KEN wrote: »

Well I supply my readings on line the last reading being 2 weeks ago and I have my bill for these readings. How come the caller did not know who I was where I was and the name of my energy company. ....

If it was a meter reader, your supplier would not usually give the meter reader your name (there is usually no reason for them to have it)

The meter reader probably works for a number of different suppliers in your region, so would not necessarily know who your supplier is. They don't need to know that either.

House_Martin

footyguy wrote: »

If it was a meter reader, your supplier would not usually give the meter reader your name (there is usually no reason for them to have it)

The meter reader probably works for a number of different suppliers in your region, so would not necessarily know who your supplier is. They don't need to know that either.

We meter readers always get full details of all names/addresses and many other details.
Sometimes the supplier themselves do not have the names then we just get "occupier or occupant "It could nt work any other way when we are cold calling
We certainly need the suppliers name too.Would be impossible getting the trust of anyone if we did nt have full info, including special passwords the occupant had set up.
.I work for dozens of different suppliers and we always have whatever details the supplier furnishes us with, does nt vary too much.
Some of the smaller suppliers such as Spark are not very good in furnishing types of meter or serial numbers

chiny

If in doubt, politely dismiss the call, safest. If wished, then call the energy company with readings (if they accept readings over the phone). Or just await the next legit reading request.

A few months ago, I politely refused a request from a bloke who looked like a meter reader stood at my front door, as he could not show proof that his company worked for the energy company with which I have a contract. Days after I'd entered the meter readings online, I noticed "Customer reading" got changed to "Meter read"... I'd assumed my refusal would be reported as "Customer out" but presumably that would damage someone's statistics.

RED_KEN

Many thanks for your posts. I still think it could have been somebody working on commission only cold calling to sign you up for a new energy company. With the details of self plus the name of your current provider they can do this. If just one in 30 calls is a hit at £100 in commission, not bad for a days work.
Much better than the £80 a day apparently made by the beggars sitting outside Poundland in my home town.

diane***

some callers are burglars , my policy is , do not give out any details at all to someone who you do not know nor have solicited the call...........
I tell lies, I say I rent to window sales or government grant people, i'm a visitor/house sitter. ... it's just awful isn't it, you need to be so smart to hang on to your cash these days