Utility Meter Readers, do you have to let them in?

[reduk054]

HI there, just a quick question.
I am currently going through a spate of meter readers who keep knocking and asking to read my gas meter (the electricity one is outside). I check their ID, and although they are not from my supplier as such, I still let them in. To be quite frank though, I am getting a little peeved with this now, as I have had about four in as many months.
At least my gas bill is not estimated though! LOL
Where do I stand about letting them in? Do I have to? Any help appreciated, thanks
Its not as though word has got out that they all get offered a cup of tea when they come to read the meter (because I am mean!!) LOL
RED

[mree]

You don't have to let them in every time, but by law they do have to read the meter at least every 2 years, mainly to check it's still safe and secure. Why not call your supplier and ask if they run a self-read scheme? EDF do, and you can ask them to instruct the meter reading company to only call once a year (they need to send a 'dataflow' to do this, it's a D05 something, can't remember off the top of my head, will check when I get to work tomorrow night). You get a discount on your bill for doing this too.

Meter readers will rarely/never actually work directly for your supplier, since deregulation it's just not practical. Instead, companies such as ECS will read all the meters in a particular area then divvy up the readings between the companies aupplying the properties.

[reduk054]

mree, thank you for your advice and input, I will check with my supplier, and see if they run a self-read scheme.
All I see the Meter readers do is to simply read the number, so i think that I should have satisified my criteria of visits!
Thanks again
Red

[compman]

Originally Posted by mree

Meter readers will rarely/never actually work directly for your supplier, since deregulation it's just not practical. Instead, companies such as ECS will read all the meters in a particular area then divvy up the readings between the companies aupplying the properties.

Error

[compman]

Originally Posted by mree

Meter readers will rarely/never actually work directly for your supplier, since deregulation it's just not practical. Instead, companies such as ECS will read all the meters in a particular area then divvy up the readings between the companies aupplying the properties.

I work for an Electric Company and we ONLY use our own meter readers.

You will probably find that the people who want to read the meter out of sync, are the salesmen from competiting companies out to win contracts through stealth. We see it all the time.
The usual meter readers will always carry a hand held device, whereas the contract hunters have paperwork.

[Clare_L]

Originally Posted by compman

I work for an Electric Company and we ONLY use our own meter readers.

You will probably find that the people who want to read the meter out of sync, are the salesmen from competiting companies out to win contracts through stealth. We see it all the time.
The usual meter readers will always carry a hand held device, whereas the contract hunters have paperwork.

Not entirely true. I also work for a gas/electric utility company and we DONT use our own readers, but the likes of Siemens and Accuread.

If you use an online tarriff with your supplier, you may find you will get a bigger discount if you pay by the dreaded FDD. By doing this you get to supply your own reading quarterly and bills emailed to you. That wont necessarily stop the meter readers coming to pay you a visit though as they still have to check your meter at least once in 12 months now.

Clare

[compman]

Originally Posted by Clare_L

Not entirely true. I also work for a gas/electric utility company and we DONT use our own readers, but the likes of Siemens and Accuread.

If you use an online tarriff with your supplier, you may find you will get a bigger discount if you pay by the dreaded FDD. By doing this you get to supply your own reading quarterly and bills emailed to you. That wont necessarily stop the meter readers coming to pay you a visit though as they still have to check your meter at least once in 12 months now.

Clare

This is why we have a lot of satisfied customers, because the face that reads their meter, actually works for the company and can readily answer any questions.

[Clare_L]

Originally Posted by compman

This is why we have a lot of satisfied customers, because the face that reads their meter, actually works for the company and can readily answer any questions.

Which is the best way to go. Siemens and Accuread cause us so many problems, I name them as they are probably the worst, which is why the company I work for have now started recruiting for their own DC's.

[patrickq1]

report to your gas and electricity company that you must receive written notification before any home visit you have the right to refuse entry without it

[mree]

Originally Posted by patrickq1

report to your gas and electricity company that you must receive written notification before any home visit you have the right to refuse entry without it

Most of the time, this is correct, however the meter MUST be seen by an operative at least every 2 years, I have known energy companies actually get a warrant to come in and inspect the meter where there's been no access for longer than this.

[compman]

Originally Posted by patrickq1

report to your gas and electricity company that you must receive written notification before any home visit you have the right to refuse entry without it

Most people know when their utility bills are due.
NO utility company will inform their customers when a routine meter reader will call, unless it is a non-routine call. This is when a customer calls their supplier and asks for a special appointment to read their meter at a date and time were the customer can provide access at a time to suit.

Everybody has the right to refuse entry to their home.

Continuous refusals could lead to a warrant being issued under The Electricity Act 1989 which states that under your contract of supply,The meter must be inspected at least once a year.

[reduk054]

Thank you for the advice above, I know have to understand why my bills are so high even though my meter readings are up to date, and accurate.
I am paying about £150 p/m in gas and elex with the same company for a 3 bed link detatched house!

Red

[newton]

Hi

How old is your meter and when was it last calibrated, there is a facility available to have your meter independently checked for inaccuracies and if it is found to be inaccurate then any corresponding overpayment is reclaimable including the cost of calibration.

If it is not inaccurate then you will be liable for the costs incurred in calibrating i believe they are in the region of £60-70 but you are better of having this cost checked and verified.

Most new meters are inherently accurate but even still temperature variations can have an impact on their calibratings

Most older meters are inaccurate (in the utility companies favour though) and can mean you have been overpaying your bills

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Originally Posted by compman

I work for an Electric Company and we ONLY use our own meter readers.

You will probably find that the people who want to read the meter out of sync, are the salesmen from competiting companies out to win contracts through stealth. We see it all the time.
The usual meter readers will always carry a hand held device, whereas the contract hunters have paperwork.

Actually, EON salesmen use a pc device called a pen tablet and no paperwork.

Also, the meter readings of a property are of no interest to a salesman. A property simply being supplied with energy is all that is required to be known by a salesman to try and get your business.

And as most homes have gas, electric or both anyway then nothing really needs to be researched.

[lookinforinfo]

I am not sure that you can refuse entry to a meter reader.
The suspicion if you did refuse access could be that you had tampered with the meter.

[mattlamb]

With respect, what is the problem with letting a meter-reader in to read the gas. It probably takes less than two minutes!Have you got skeletons lurking in your cupboard!!