Would you let a stranger into your house?

[Evoluzione]

10am on a week day, you're on your own at home and someone knocks on the door. Looking out it's some bloke with hi-viz and Covid mask on. ID tag hanging from his neck. So & so utilities written on his hi-viz and on his van parked behind him.
Says he wants to read the leccy meter, yet you have a smart meter fitted. When you tell him this he says 'Oh they don't always work though'.
If you don't have a meter in your house then imagine you do.

Would you let him in to read the meter?

Edited by Evoluzione on Thursday 12th May 11:54

[InitialDave]

Probably not, no.

[limpsfield]

Yes but I would keep an eye on him

But wait.

if I look over his shoulder - can I see two abandoned dogs, tied together?

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Personally, no, but maybe that’s because I’m not very trusting.

What was the outcome in your case?

[okgo]

Yes, did it the other week. Looked legit to me, if not, what is he going to do? Die in my cellar is what

[vixen1700]

Probably yes.

Was the van plain or did it have the company name on it?

[motco]

Ask him for your meter number. Scammers are unlikely to have that and it might visibly faze him. Besides, my meter is in my garage.

[Rollin]

okgo said:

Yes, did it the other week. Looked legit to me, if not, what is he going to do? Die in my cellar is what

Same here. They always look a lot more nervous than me as I follow them down the cellar stairs.

[InitialDave]

okgo said:

Yes, did it the other week. Looked legit to me, if not, what is he going to do? Die in my cellar is what

They can never resist an offer of amontillado.

[The Rotrex Kid]

My meter is outside. Next question please.

[jfdi]

limpsfield said:

But wait.

if I look over his shoulder - can I see two abandoned dogs, tied together?

[cobra kid]

I close the door, lock it then go get the reading off the meter for him/her.

[Plymo]

In that situation, would I fk! (Even ignoring the fact we don't have a smart meter, I have never had anyone round to read the meter).
I would assume that it it's genuine the company would have called or sent a letter in advance - if they haven't then unfortunately it's a wasted journey for them.

[wpa1975]

No not a chance I would let him in.

[105.4]

Don’t be silly. Not a chance !

[boyse7en]

Plymo said:

In that situation, would I fk! (Even ignoring the fact we don't have a smart meter, I have never had anyone round to read the meter).
I would assume that it it's genuine the company would have called or sent a letter in advance - if they haven't then unfortunately it's a wasted journey for them.

Fair enough on not letting him in, but I've never had an Electric company tell me in advance when they coming to read the meter! Friend of mine works as a meter reader and she just gets sent a list of properties to visit each day, and she works out the route/order that she will visit them herself so no advance notice for sure.

[blueST]

Is this not the normal way meters get read/checked periodically? I have been letting these chaps into my house about once a year for as long as I can remember. Am I doing it wrong?

[Roger Irrelevant]

blueST said:

Is this not the normal way meters get read/checked periodically? I have been letting these chaps into my house about once a year for as long as I can remember. Am I doing it wrong?

Me too. All that's happened is that my meter has been read. We clearly need to work at being more awkward and confrontational and scared that everybody in the world is out to do us over. Maybe reading the Daily Mail will help.

[mikey_b]

Puzzled by the 'never seen a meter reader' responses. We get them round from time to time - not very often, but maybe every 2-3 years they appear and read the meter. Always separate readers for gas and electric, despite having a dual-fuel tariff.

Aside from the ID, they always carry a widget, some sort of PDA thing into which they put the numbers.

[drdino]

InitialDave said:

They can never resist an offer of amontillado.