[Help] Gas meter readers

HeaviestTed said:

I’d report it to whoever the company is

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birthofanorange said:

Does anybody know if meter readers (British Gas) are supposed to ask (or are qualified to) "check appliances"?
I only ask as my elderly mum had her meter read, by prior arrangement, and he was a bona fide British Gas official, but there were some concerning aspects to his visit.
Having read the meter, he returned to his van for about 10 minutes, then came back to the house, knocked at the door and asked to use her loo.
Mum wasn't really happy with it - especially as he traipsed his muddy boots up the stairs to the bathroom, Being pretty immobile, she couldn't follow him upstairs and he was quite a while.
When he came back downstairs, he asked her if it was okay for him to check all her appliances, to which she replied no. (she was feeling uneasy) and he was a little pushy, saying that it wouldn't take long.
She stood her ground and said "No", so he left.
My question is, is this usual for meter readers and are they qualified to 'check appliances' or is this potentially something else?

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Justice said:

They are meter monkeys not gas engineers. He was on the rob.

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Chicken Run said:

Was this in the Brighton area

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birthofanorange said:

Southwick.

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Chicken Run said:

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birthofanorange said:

Will advise her to report it - just wondered if it was a normal (or legal) thing for them to check appliances.
She has taken a look around and nothing is (apparently) missing.

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birthofanorange said:

Rules you out, then? I jest, of course, but why did you ask?

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rippleman said:

BG do offer a service to do boiler checks but more expensive than your local gas safe fella.

But your meter reader is NOT going to be a gas safe engineer! No way. Gas safe engineers are highly skilled engineers who have to do thorough training, take exams, have their work checked initially. Your meter reasder needs to know how to use a torch and write numbers down.

Respect to your mum for standing her ground but I echo comments of others. This was an attempt to rob her. She must report it to BG and the police.

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Chicken Run said:

Because my mum is 91, lives alone, refuses any help and maintains she’s more than capable of living an independent life even though she’s basically disabled, this year alone she’s given out her long card number DOB and 3 digit security number to two appliance insurance companies over the phone and i’ve just established she’s recently let a bod into read her electric meter even though she has a smart meter so i genuinely am concerned for your mother good luck edit and mine of course

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birthofanorange said:

I know we've clashed in the past, but I genuinely appreciate your input. Thank you, and good luck (and health) to them both.

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Chicken Run said:

Because my mum is 91, lives alone, refuses any help and maintains she’s more than capable of living an independent life even though she’s basically disabled, this year alone she’s given out her long card number DOB and 3 digit security number to two appliance insurance companies over the phone and i’ve just established she’s recently let a bod into read her electric meter even though she has a smart meter so i genuinely am concerned for your mother good luck edit and mine of course

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nickbrighton said:

Ex EDF employee, and husband of ex meter reader here, just pointing out Smart Meters still require a visit from a meter reader regularly . Meter readers do safety checks on both gas and electric meters whilst taking a meter reading. Smart meters will reduce the frequency of calls, but all smart meters legally MUST be visually inspected. You would be amazed at some of the dodgy connections bypassing meters , A surprising mnumber of people think because they have smart meters they wont get meter readers ever again

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