[Help] Gas meter readers

[birthofanorange]

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?

 

[HeaviestTed]

I’d report it to whoever the company is

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I’d report it to whoever the company is

100%. Sounds dodgy as f***.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Report it and ask her to check if anything is missing.

 

[Chicken Run]

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?

Absolutely no way is this normal, your normal meter read carries nothing but ID, a torch and a digital appliance they put the reader in, in fact i’m amazed the guy had a van, normally sign written small cars, this story makes me very angry , good luck

 

[birthofanorange]

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.

 

[Chicken Run]

I should add that they normally are in and out quickly as they want to get onto the next one

 

[Justice]

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

 

[Chicken Run]

Was this in the Brighton area

 

[birthofanorange]

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

That was my first thought - yes. I guess the proper ID counts for sweet f*** all.

 

[birthofanorange]

Was this in the Brighton area

Southwick.

 

[Chicken Run]

Southwick.

 

[birthofanorange]

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

 

[rippleman]

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.

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.

 

[Chicken Run]

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

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

 

[Chicken Run]

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.

This , my mum has a BG engineer annually visit to check boiler, i’ve just tested my mum and said if a nice young man knocked on her door, flashed a plastic photo card ID at her and said he’s from BG she’d let him in Even though the meter is outside, time for the blackboard and chalk to come out

 

[birthofanorange]

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

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

 

[Chicken Run]

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

 

[nickbrighton]

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

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

 

[Chicken Run]

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

Ok good to know and thank you