Meter testing

greencreeper · 18-10-2006, 23:37

Bit odd is this. Received a hand-delivered letter, no envelope, from NPower saying that they called 5 days ago and left a note saying they'd call in 5 days time, which they have and I was out. They want to test my gas and electricity meters. I never got any such note - though I may have binned it with the junk mail. Trouble is, I've lived on my own for the past decade (and then some), and I have never had a meter tested. Nor have I ever heard of meter testing. I'm wondering if it's some sort of con

I don't know why they have to test the meters - the letter says that it's a legal requirement (news to me) and for my safety. More likely to check that I'm not on the fiddle - since when have large companies cared about safety?

Anyone know anything about this?

Shaun · 18-10-2006, 23:41

I do know from working at BG that the company do need to see the meter every 2 years. It's normally done when you get a meter reading done and as you say it's to make sure you're not on the fiddle.

It is a legal requirement I believe. If you're concerned ring NPower and ask them to confirm the appointment.

greencreeper · 18-10-2006, 23:48

Weird - never heard of it before. I've been at this address more than two years, so they're a bit late! According to the letter, I've to telephone a contractor to arrange a date/time. Hope they're better looking than the meter readers. I've stopped letting them in. The last one looked like a serial killer and left muddy footprints on the carpet.

danielf · 19-10-2006, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

Weird - never heard of it before. I've been at this address more than two years, so they're a bit late! According to the letter, I've to telephone a contractor to arrange a date/time. Hope they're better looking than the meter readers. I've stopped letting them in. The last one looked like a serial killer and left muddy footprints on the carpet.

So he looked like a serial killer with muddy boots and you still let him in? Smart move...

I've never heard of this meter testing either. Never saw a meter tester. Must be your neighbourhood. We take good care of our meters here

punky · 19-10-2006, 00:11

I wish I lived up north. I get meter readings about once every 1-2 months. I kid you not. Its a pain in the a**e.

Marge · 19-10-2006, 00:13

I get a letter every so often asking for a bloke to come round and check my meters, must be an oop north thing

danielf · 19-10-2006, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

I wish I lived up north. I get meter readings about once every 1-2 months. I kid you not. Its a pain in the a**e.

We get meter readings twice a year or so. Usually, it's a fat bloke that can't get to one of the meters and asks me to do the reading.

Xaccers · 19-10-2006, 00:28

Used to work with a guy who would turn his gas meter round at the begining of the 2nd month, then turn it back at the begining of the 3rd, so he'd only pay for 1 month out of 3.
One night his wife asked if he'd remember to do it as they were coming the next day.
In a panic he fixed it up to the vacuum cleaner and left it running in the back garden overnight.
Got a bill for about 4 cubic feet of gas and nothing more was said. Very lucky, but very very naughty. Doubt you could do that these days with the meters.

Another colleague was replacing his central heating, so when the gas man came, he just brought the meter to the door to be read

greencreeper · 19-10-2006, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

So he looked like a serial killer with muddy boots and you still let him in? Smart move...

Hey - some of them don't give you a choice. You open the door and they're in like next door's cat. The boots weren't muddy when he came in. The meters are in the cellar... <cue incidental music>

The meter reader comes round about once a quarter, but the meter tester - well, like said, first time I've heard of it. Must be us thieving Northerners

KingPhoenix · 19-10-2006, 12:08

Weve just had a wireless meter installed.... about 2 months ago. A van just drives round collecting all the data from what im aware.

danielf · 19-10-2006, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

Hey - some of them don't give you a choice. You open the door and they're in like next door's cat. The boots weren't muddy when he came in. The meters are in the cellar... <cue incidental music>

Ah, so it wasn't actually mud on his shoes?

hatedbythemail · 19-10-2006, 12:35

when i was with those idiots npower i did have a fella come around to upgrade the meter (except ours was already upgraded) so i suspect its kosher. but my experience with npower generally was not good at all (just thought id use this thread to air my grievance and bitterness :-) )

**Stuart C** · 19-10-2006, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

I wish I lived up north. I get meter readings about once every 1-2 months. I kid you not. Its a pain in the a**e.

You are lucky (without meaning to sound like one of Monty Python's Four Yorkshiremen).

I finally persuaded npower to close an old electricity account and open a new one in my name. They (logically) came to read the meter. They issued a revised bill (the old one was waaaay out) and I paid it.

A month later, I got home to find a card on my doorstep to say that npower had attempted to read the meter and there was no one around to let them in. I got a bill a week later with an estimated amount on it.

greencreeper · 19-10-2006, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Ah, so it wasn't actually mud on his shoes?

It was, yes - don't forget I have a small stream in the cellar...

NPower are hopeless. It tooks them months to setup accounts in my name when I first moved in - wouldn't accept that the gas meter wasn't a token meter. As for readings - I regularly send my meter readings but the bills are always marked "E" for estimate. It's the Â£60 discount that keeps me with them - that and the knowledge that the next company is likely to be as bad, if not worse.