Electric meter, new when the house was built in 1978 was replaced by a meter new in 1952 (but re-calibrated) round about 15 years ago. When I changed to EDF a year or so ago they replaced it again, but with a new electronic one.
In both cases they turned up when they had arranged. They said they preferred us to be there, but they could do it without us present, but (preferably)to isolate all large loads beforehand.
Couple of winters ago a Gas Chap turned up, switched off the boiler and replaced our digital meter. Two minute job, he left the new mechnical meter hanging by the pipework with no other means of support, and left after relighting the boiler.
A gas leak quickly ensued, and we had to call the emergency number. A very cautious telephone operator then read the riot act about making sure windows were open, smell was not in the street, no one is about to strike a match etc...
Transco chap then turned up, switched off the boiler, stopped the gas leak from the new meter fittings - and then condemmed our boiler as a non-serviced for x years safety hazard capping off the supply to it & issuing the standard "do not use even on pain of death" notice*.
He also told us to complain that the previous chap had left the new fitted meter in that state AND had not noticed the dodgy state of the boiler.
For whatever good it would do, I phoned in that complaint - and heard nothing back other than the operator thanking us for the call...
Moral - any thing can happen after an innocuous meter change. Be on your guard ....
The reader creates a large radio frequency field that swamps and energises every RFID tag in the house, from those left in the food shopping from Marks and Spencer, to the tag inserted at the scruff of the neck of the household cat - all of which is then cooked...
That sounds familiar. I took a day off work to wait for my gas meter changing. When I phoned late in the afternoon to see why they had not arrived the woman on the phone said "the driver could not find the address, is it a new build as your street is not in his map book?". The house was built in 1960 and the gas bills find there way here.
I have heard nothing since and that was three years ago.
Adam
I have mentioned this on here before but when I was young and rented a place with some friends the premises had two meters one being for a one room bed sit. One was an ordinary one the other a prepayment coin job. We were renting the whole premises so the landlord asked us which way we preferred to buy gas. We opted to pay quarterly to the gas supplier so he arranged for a gas fitter to disconnect the coin one and couple everything to the other which took place one evening.The chap must have been moonlighting and did not remove it physically from the premises or from the billing system. Fed up with getting requests for a meter bloke to get access to empty the coin one I eventually removed it from its shelf and left it on the step with a note asking for him to remove the solitary 50p in the drawer and I would put the meter back later or he could take it away. This caused quite a rumpus and a welcoming committee of Police ,Gas officials etc when I arrived home. At least it finally caused the correct paperwork to get done.
G.Harman
Shock horror! Its supposed to be under the stairs - or not if you are Drivel :-)
We've had gas & lecky meters changed in the past few weeks. We insisted on a Saturday appointments as we both work - which works out well as they only seem to work a half day on Sats, so they come in the AM.
Both fitters were in & out like a fiddlers elbow, I suspect its 'job & finish' on Saturdays.
At work the other day an apprentice from another firm had a massive stash of D batteries in his van. The were linked togther (about 6 in a pack) and wrapped in "heat shrink" clear plastic. He said his Dad got them (he fits gas meters). The packs can be seperated to use the batteries individually which is why the lad had them.
Adam
Ours is in the garage. Maybe 3 metres from the main door (further from the house door) At the last house, it was in a meter cupboard - behind a locked gate, and just as far from the nearest open access.
Under stairs? My wife's parent's house at the time we married had stairs running from the front door straight backwards - it was a terrace
- so the under stairs cupboard there is a fair way from the front too.
Andy
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