meter reader nightmare

[cosine]

in fact, the more i think about it, you're absolutely right. it is a criminal offense and i should have a police report on the matter. they may investigate or they may ignore it. but, at lease i tried. THANKS

Be sure to understand that the meter reader himself, if he is genuine (probably is since the power company did not dispute him being there), did have a right to cut off the meter seal/clip/lock and take the meter. Filing a police report should NOT be saying that he specifically was the perpetrator. Rather, your statement should say that since he made the claim that the meter was tampered with, and that you know you did not do so, then SOMEONE must have done so. Demand an investigation. Demand the police obtain a statement from the meter reader regarding what he saw. Have them question him about why he disturbed evidence if he noticed a crime had taken place. Demand that the actual meter be produced to be dusted for fingerprints in case it may reveal any prints other than those of the meter reader (which should be given to police in advance so they can know which prints on the meter to disregard). Further demand that since the electric company believes you to be the perpetrator, that they provide to the police the evidence they have that points to you.

FYI, I knew a guy many years ago that was a meter reader. The story from him is that kids very often do come along and cut off and remove those tags. That's vandalism which is a crime.

I personally had a strange case with an electric company and a meter. My power got cut off. I paid on time regularly. I called to ask what was up. My account showed in good standing. The rep asked me to look at the meter. There was in fact a little red collar around it. She checked other records and found that another tenant of the same building was way past due and believed that the wrong meter had been locked out. She then suggested I pull the meter out and remove the collar. Whoa! I was not about to do that. I told her she needed to have one of their people come out right now and switch out the meters (it was around 10 PM). She said only emergency people are on duty now. I then told her that if I were to do what she had suggested and if I were not actually experienced with electrical power systems (I am) then they would have a major emergency to deal with. Then I added "so you decide now if you want this to be a minor emergency one person can handle or a major emergency that requires several people and lots of fire trucks because that's exactly what could happen from your suggestion". The guy showed up in 30 minutes to fix it.

 

[cosine]

You have absolutely no proof. They will think you are a lunatic. You have proven it with your reaction you posted in your original post.

Proof of a crime is not a pre-requisite to file a police report. One only needs to believe there was a crime. If the electric company tells him the meter was tampered with, and presumably they are not counting what the meter reader might have done, and if he knows he did not tamper with it, then there must have been a crime. That's plenty good enough to file a police report.

 

[cosine]

My post is completely rational. I didn't have to put much thought into it, your ignorance made it easy. Not paying your electric bill and throwing a tizzy fit has nothing to do with stolen tires. That is proof enough to me you don't have a clue about your situation. The electric meter did not belong to you, your electric company owns it. I own the tires on my vehicles.

He had custody of the meter at the time, and the electric company is trying to hold him responsible. While I personally believe the meter reader made a false claim on his report, I don't suggest that he file a report on that (not sure that it even is a crime). Instead, by assuming that the statements made to him by the power company are correct, he can assume a crime took place. Even if the police also believe the meter reader did it, he should stand firm on filing the report. He'll get a copy and can use that to show he's serious about the matter. If it comes down to arguing this in court (over a civil dispute for the assessed fees), if the judge asks him if he filed a police report for the asserted crime of vandalism by unknown persons, he'll have the paperwork to produce, whether the police actually do an investigation or not (I'm not expecting them to, unless there actually is a pattern of such vandalism already going on).

 

[thejude]

meter

My post is completely rational. I didn't have to put much thought into it, your ignorance made it easy. Not paying your electric bill and throwing a tizzy fit has nothing to do with stolen tires. That is proof enough to me you don't have a clue about your situation. The electric meter did not belong to you, your electric company owns it. I own the tires on my vehicles.

I don't know why you continue with this endless babble. you're of no use to me. be gone. if you were sitting next to me, i'd spray you with Raid.

 

[justalayman]

I don't know why you continue with this endless babble. you're of no use to me. be gone. if you were sitting next to me, i'd spray you with Raid.

this kind of attitude is probably why the guy took the meter rather than allowing you to pay.

Is it dark in Your part of Georgia yet? Was it hot today? Bet that AC should would be nice right about now.

 

[TheGeekess]

this kind of attitude is probably why the guy took the meter rather than allowing you to pay.

Is it dark in Your part of Georgia yet? Was it hot today? Bet that AC should would be nice right about now.

I'm sure it's dark in Georgia, it's dark in Bama right now. As far as hot, you can survive with fans (if you pay your power bill) but give it a couple of days... especially since we've (southerners) had all this rain and the humidity tends to hang around longer and makes the heat less likely to dissipate....

 

[racer72]

I don't know why you continue with this endless babble. you're of no use to me. be gone. if you were sitting next to me, i'd spray you with Raid.

The bugs that will soon take over your darkened abode will thank me.

 

[Country Living]

Then there's all that stuff in the fridge. <shudder> You never really get out the smell of rotted food, which necessitates buying a new refrigerator.

Don't be surprised if faint black spots start appearing on the walls because the humidity is so high and the house is not well ventilated.

The costs just keep mounting.

This doesn't even count the boogey-bears under your bed that come out when it gets dark.

 

[BlondiePB]

Then there's all that stuff in the fridge. <shudder> You never really get out the smell of rotted food, which necessitates buying a new refrigerator.

I disagree, but won't tell him how.

Don't be surprised if faint black spots start appearing on the walls because the humidity is so high and the house is not well ventilated.

Yep, depending on how long he's in the dark is how soon those spots will start showing up.

This doesn't even count the boogey-bears under your bed that come out when it gets dark.

Perhaps he can spray himself with Raid.

 

[thejude]

Be sure to understand that the meter reader himself, if he is genuine (probably is since the power company did not dispute him being there), did have a right to cut off the meter seal/clip/lock and take the meter. Filing a police report should NOT be saying that he specifically was the perpetrator. Rather, your statement should say that since he made the claim that the meter was tampered with, and that you know you did not do so, then SOMEONE must have done so. Demand an investigation. Demand the police obtain a statement from the meter reader regarding what he saw. Have them question him about why he disturbed evidence if he noticed a crime had taken place. Demand that the actual meter be produced to be dusted for fingerprints in case it may reveal any prints other than those of the meter reader (which should be given to police in advance so they can know which prints on the meter to disregard). Further demand that since the electric company believes you to be the perpetrator, that they provide to the police the evidence they have that points to you.

FYI, I knew a guy many years ago that was a meter reader. The story from him is that kids very often do come along and cut off and remove those tags. That's vandalism which is a crime.

I personally had a strange case with an electric company and a meter. My power got cut off. I paid on time regularly. I called to ask what was up. My account showed in good standing. The rep asked me to look at the meter. There was in fact a little red collar around it. She checked other records and found that another tenant of the same building was way past due and believed that the wrong meter had been locked out. She then suggested I pull the meter out and remove the collar. Whoa! I was not about to do that. I told her she needed to have one of their people come out right now and switch out the meters (it was around 10 PM). She said only emergency people are on duty now. I then told her that if I were to do what she had suggested and if I were not actually experienced with electrical power systems (I am) then they would have a major emergency to deal with. Then I added "so you decide now if you want this to be a minor emergency one person can handle or a major emergency that requires several people and lots of fire trucks because that's exactly what could happen from your suggestion". The guy showed up in 30 minutes to fix it.

"lots of fire trucks" LOL. yes, i suppose everyone has a good meter story. LOL

i was also, thinking along those line, i.e., to not be accusatory and to just state the facts as i know them. Good finger print idea. i'm quite sure i've never touched it and no kids come into my back yard. i have a privacy fence and and dog; though, i doubt they would invest those resources in such a "small" crime. I was mugged several years ago, hit in the head with a rock, and i saved the rock for finger printing (i thought). so, there i go into the police station with my rock and started to hand it to one of the detectives. he looked at the rock, then at his buddy, snickered, and continued with his questioning.

so, let me ask you, do you think it's possible that a power company might try to raise revenue in this way? it doesn't seem they would be affected by the down turn in the economy as many other companies. gotta have juice.

 

[thejude]

Be sure to understand that the meter reader himself, if he is genuine (probably is since the power company did not dispute him being there), did have a right to cut off the meter seal/clip/lock and take the meter. Filing a police report should NOT be saying that he specifically was the perpetrator. Rather, your statement should say that since he made the claim that the meter was tampered with, and that you know you did not do so, then SOMEONE must have done so. Demand an investigation. Demand the police obtain a statement from the meter reader regarding what he saw. Have them question him about why he disturbed evidence if he noticed a crime had taken place. Demand that the actual meter be produced to be dusted for fingerprints in case it may reveal any prints other than those of the meter reader (which should be given to police in advance so they can know which prints on the meter to disregard). Further demand that since the electric company believes you to be the perpetrator, that they provide to the police the evidence they have that points to you.

FYI, I knew a guy many years ago that was a meter reader. The story from him is that kids very often do come along and cut off and remove those tags. That's vandalism which is a crime.

I personally had a strange case with an electric company and a meter. My power got cut off. I paid on time regularly. I called to ask what was up. My account showed in good standing. The rep asked me to look at the meter. There was in fact a little red collar around it. She checked other records and found that another tenant of the same building was way past due and believed that the wrong meter had been locked out. She then suggested I pull the meter out and remove the collar. Whoa! I was not about to do that. I told her she needed to have one of their people come out right now and switch out the meters (it was around 10 PM). She said only emergency people are on duty now. I then told her that if I were to do what she had suggested and if I were not actually experienced with electrical power systems (I am) then they would have a major emergency to deal with. Then I added "so you decide now if you want this to be a minor emergency one person can handle or a major emergency that requires several people and lots of fire trucks because that's exactly what could happen from your suggestion". The guy showed up in 30 minutes to fix it.

"lots of fire trucks" LOL. yes, i suppose everyone has a good meter story. LOL

i was also, thinking along those line, i.e., to not be accusatory and to just state the facts as i know them. Good finger print idea. i'm quite sure i've never touched it and no kids come into my back yard. i have a privacy fence and and dog; though, i doubt they would invest those resources in such a "menial" crime. I was mugged several years ago, hit in the head with a rock, and i saved the rock for finger printing (i thought). so, there i go into the police station with my rock and started to hand it to one of the detectives. he looked at the rock, then at his buddy, snickered, and continued with his questioning.

so, let me ask you, do you think it's possible that a power company would try to raise revenue with such a tactic? I don't imagine they would be as affected by the down-turn in the economy as other companies. we've all still gotta have juice.

 

[thejude]

meter reader

this kind of attitude is probably why the guy took the meter rather than allowing you to pay.

Is it dark in Your part of Georgia yet? Was it hot today? Bet that AC should would be nice right about now.

I agree that he may have taken the meter because i argued; however, as most posters, i'm much sweeter in person.

 

[thejude]

meter reader

I disagree, but won't tell him how.


Yep, depending on how long he's in the dark is how soon those spots will start showing up.


Perhaps he can spray himself with Raid.

ha, ha, very funny actually i'm laughing my butt off

 

[Country Living]

so, let me ask you, do you think it's possible that a power company might try to raise revenue in this way?

No, this is not a revenue generating situation. Utility companies take meter tampering seriously first of all because it's theft and secondly because the rest of the subscribers have to make up for the loss of revenue from the theft. How can they keep rates low (and competitive) unless they put deterrence in place for such things?

I think what did happen was you had a pretty crappy attitude toward the meter guy who was just doing his job. I have no idea why you gave him such grief when you were the one who didn't pay your bill. Nor did you state anywhere you tried to make payment arrangements with the utility company.

If you're running an extension cord from the side of your neighbor's house to your fridge, you had better have permission because you're running up their electric bill.

 

[thejude]

meter reader

He had custody of the meter at the time, and the electric company is trying to hold him responsible. While I personally believe the meter reader made a false claim on his report, I don't suggest that he file a report on that (not sure that it even is a crime). Instead, by assuming that the statements made to him by the power company are correct, he can assume a crime took place. Even if the police also believe the meter reader did it, he should stand firm on filing the report. He'll get a copy and can use that to show he's serious about the matter. If it comes down to arguing this in court (over a civil dispute for the assessed fees), if the judge asks him if he filed a police report for the asserted crime of vandalism by unknown persons, he'll have the paperwork to produce, whether the police actually do an investigation or not (I'm not expecting them to, unless there actually is a pattern of such vandalism already going on).

this is sound advice and i'm filing a report tomorrow.