Just had a card put through door they want a meter reading! I have a smart meter that flashes at me and data doesn't stay on long enough to read let alone write down! I was with Extra Energy that then went bust! STILL waiting for my money back November 2018. I use very little gas and electricity but they keep taking £99.00 from me every month. Is any one else having the same problem  please? 

Using Data Services   Call it what you like, meter reading, data collection visual safety checkers, whatever. It is a most essential service that has to be carried out for all gas and electricity supply companies whether they use in house employees or contract it out does not matter, in any event, it would be the very same persons that would be employed in these jobs to carry this work and in turn become part of the tax paying employed persons of the nation..

One of the most crucial reasons why you get a visit by these persons and or companies is that because all meters and equipment that bring the energy supplies into our homes belong to your energy supplier and it is there responsibility whatever type of meter it is , It will always be needed  to be accessed and seen at some time to ensure everything is safe and Ok and that all information is correct,  meter serial numbers  etc.  Info of occupation of the property etc. etc.... These supply meters are potentially a dangerous element we are dealing with and as such need for many reasons to be kept an eye on ... These services are as such is the best way to achieve this and why people get so troubled by this service I don’t really know ?  It’s such a simple thing to allow a meter reader in to do a good job...You can check their Id s have passwords on your account to enter etc.  So unless you are hiding something there should be no problem at all. Of course if you continue refuse them access then they may wonder why and a course to investigate further.  At the end of the day they need to get access to their equipment on your property. It is written into all our contracts with these services of conditions to supply and into the law of the land...  

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@Midboy  wrote:

These services are as such is the best way to achieve this and why people get so troubled by this service I don’t really know ?  It’s such a simple thing to allow a meter reader in to do a good job...You can check their Id s have passwords on your account to enter etc.  So unless you are hiding something there should be no problem at all. Of course if you continue refuse them access then they may wonder why and a course to investigate further. 

 

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Here we go round the Mulberry bush...

1 - Because people don't know who their meter reading firm are, so don't know whether to let these people in or not.

... the mulberry bush...

2 - Yes, it is a simple thing to allow a meter reader to do a good job, but if you've never even heard of the firm before, how do you know they're legit?

... the mulberry bush.

3 - Vulnerable people often don't have the confidence to challenge people at the door, it's the definition of 'vulnerable'. Opportunists know it, that's why DoorstepCrime is on the increase.

Here we go round the mulberry bush...

4 - Why does someone who doesn't want to let a stranger into their home have to be hiding something? That attitude says more about someone who gets paid per meter read, than it does the homeowner.

... on a cold...

5 - If people continue to refuse strangers accessto their homes perhaps Scottish Power might suddenly think: "Hold on a minute... what would happen if we actually TOLD people which firm was going to knock on their door?"

... and frosty

That's all people want, really. To know.

...morning.

@Wednesbury76   Meter readers have a legal duty to inspect meters for safety and tampering. 

Pre payment meters still need to be inspected and read.

Some meters do not transfer readings back to the supplier and need to be inspectected to obtain a read.