Meter reader with no ID

[Peachpie]

I have just had a meter reader call at my house in Underhill Road. I let him in out of the rain, he was carrying some handheld device. Then noticing he did not have one single item with any sort of work logo on or any ID, I asked to see his ID, he said he had none and left. He seemed a nice enough man and left immediately but it seems totally strange, I can't imagine that anyone actually working would not have ID. Beware, perhaps ask for ID sooner than I did, I am a bit shocked that I was so stupid!

[Ruskin]

He needs reporting to the police soon. You might have been an elderly person falling for him charms - and potentially robbed of their savings.

[Siduhe]

Agreed re reporting. Most meter readers these days work for G4S or one of the other big meter reading services - they carry ID and they should be able to tell you which energy provider they are working for when they come round and details of your meter/account.

[Peachpie]

Thank you. I have reported it on the Met website as I cannot get through on the phone.

[Blah Blah]

And most readers wear jackets with the company logo on as well.

[ianr]

Peachpie, could you perhaps check whether his meter reading has been registered or not, and let us know.

[worldwiser]

Bona fide readers all proactively show ID these days before entering your home. You should never have to ask.

[Peachpie]

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[SebsC]

I feel a bit sick reading this post as I had a meter reader come to my house on the same day, sounds very much like the same guy and I just let him in. Normally I?m at work but I?ve been unwell so happened to be at home. I showed him down to the cellar where the meter is and then he asked if he could use the toilet - which again I allowed him. Reading this now I?m kicking myself that I didn?t ask for any ID at all, especially being a woman at home on my own.

[lavender27]

I never let meter readers in even if they are true. I always read my own meters and send the company an email with the correct units.

No one gets past me without id, and even then if I don't like them they can bog off.

[JohnL]

SebC - check the company webpage and see who they use for reading meters (just google it), ring the company and check and if it's not them report even if nothings missing.

A lot of people I thought dodgy are genuine mind. I had a call from "my bank" the other day and was sure they were fake - they even got the location wrong (in my opinion anyway - maybe not in theirs) - but on ringing back on a different phone - they were good and were offering me something I'd find useful :)

[Peachpie]

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[Angharad_L]

I?m always astounded at the people who arrive on my doorstep and demand to be let in without even so much as an introduction of their name.

Manners have gone out the window for most these days.

A man from the council got the royal hump when I told him in no uncertain terms he was denied access to my shared flat entrance as I?d had no letter and he was carrying a bucket of drills!!

[dimples]

I had a meter reader come on Friday the 8th at about 5 pm . I?m on Belvoir road and because I had other people there I stupidly let him in without I?d too !

[Fwomble]

I posted on 22/11 to warn that a meter reader had just broken into my property to read meter. Since then have been in contact with police, my energy supplier and the firm that employs the readers. In short, they have no sensible answer to why read meter when you submit readings, and why the all black ?uniform? makes them look like pantomime burglars. I got a promise that they would review how they train their staff

[Sue]

I had a meter reader turn up this morning.

He had a company name on his jacket, and knew my name and which power company I am with, so I let him in. I didn't ask for ID.

However, I have a duel fuel contract, and he was only there to read the electricity meter, which I found a bit odd, so I may check with them just in case.

He didn't appear to be looking about for stuff to come back and steal (just as well as there isn't any :)) )

[Houseoflego]

when 'meter readers', are not genuine i think its more about scoping your property out for future burglary more than that they will rob people on the spot. We had 3 meter readers in 2 weeks once and it felt really dodgy. Now i just go read the meter, write it down and tell them what it is while they stay at the front door.

[kibris]

Why dont you all just do it online

[Sue]

I do do it online.

But so far (not having Smart technology) my laptop is not able to miraculously read my meters and transmit the information to my energy provider.

I regularly send them readings online - but they have to occasionally check them.

.

Innit.

And yes of course the dodgy ones are not going to ransack your home whilst you are standing there. They are seeing if it's worth them, or whoever they pass the info about your possessions/standard of living to, coming back.

At this time of year, probably after Christmas. Or just before. When there is likely to be new stuff around.

[Penguin68]

I regularly send them readings online - but they have to occasionally check them.

Indeed there is a legal obligation - where there are not smart meters installed - for there to be a 'real' meter reading at least annually. Smart meters are anyway not that smart, and the ones rolled out so far are not universally compatible, so if you change supplier your smart meter may no longer be any use. I would be loathe to put someone else's communicating IT into my home. Particularly where you have no control over it (in terms of what it communicates etc.) The 'control' which is offered is your ability to turn off lights if you think you are spending too much. Actual control of the communicating computer in your home sits with the supplier and anyone able to hack your supplier.

[yeknomyeknom]

If you do it online, the meter reader is irrelevant. You don?t need both.

[kiera]

The meter reader who came to me recently can genuinely claim not to have ID, as I've found his ID on the floor in my cellar.

[Blah Blah]

We have had meter readers just read one meter. Not sure why they do things that way, but they do sometimes.

[Sue]

yeknomyeknom Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If you do it online, the meter reader is

> irrelevant. You don?t need both.

Yes of course you do.

Otherwise somebody could input false readings online indefinitely and then do a runner or else be in massive debt to the energy provider.

There has to be an occasional external check.

[Blah Blah]

I think they have to physically read the meter every two years by law, but I'm not completely certain on that. They have to check meters under safety rules.