Meter Reading Job. A Con?

[Wispy68]

I've just filled out an application form for employment with a gas/electric meter reading company (Meter-U). I have just read their employment information and the company are expecting successful applicants to hand over �520, which would then be re-imbursed weekly over the first three months of employment. I would have to 'beg, borrow or steal' this amount of money! Does anyone else on AB have any experience or advice about this company? Many thanks in advance.

[rod]

It would be interesting if Nicola Jane could let us know how this firm turns out and if after filling in an application for employment the employee then becomes the boss after three months. Smudge sorry if I misunderstood your reply.

[Wispy68]

Thank you all very much for your replies. I'm going to get in touch with the C.A.B. (if they haven't got their usual answer machine on, and they never call you back!!) and possibly Trading Standards. Will let you know how it goes. Cheers all!

[Pbatch]

is anyone out there doing the job and how is it working out is the earning potentionl realistic and the 74% successful on first call realistic

pbatch

[Alioll]

Hi Folks,

My partner has been with these cowboys for 3 weeks, the �520 is for the franchise and this is deducted from your fees, you can earn 43p a read, and 5p is deducted per read until the �520 is paid!!  She attained over 80% the first 2 weeks then it dropped to 62% through doing rural readings,  unfortunately the local supervisor has now turned round and because shes had the cheek to drop below 74% has said they need to talk!!

Meter U do not provide vehicles or pay expenses I think this supposed franchise stinks and they have not got a clue on how to keep staff!! You would be better off avoiding Meter U at all costs.

Hope this helps anyone to avoid what we have had to put up with!!

[Wispy68]

Thank you for all your answers. Just to let you know that it was all a complete waste of time. I never heard another word from this company, so that's the end of that!!

[dturn]

I've been working for Meter-u for about 3 years now. The job certainly isn't a con! The �500 fee you pay at the beginning is a franchise fee. You are effectively self employed using the name 'Meter-u', the fee covers clothing, training etc. They provide you with guaranteed weekly work and you get paid per read. Obviously during the trainig you are taught how to use the handheld computer that the meter readings are entered into.

You also have an area co-ordinator who you can contact when problems arise....or he/she will be contacting you if you are slacking! You work from home and work is sent to the Handheld wirelessly. Hope this has helped anyone who is thinking of applying for a job with them. If any one needs any info please reply. Thanks.

[dturn]

Also, just to answer one other query. You don't ever get your franchise fee back........there seems to be some confusion from the opening poster!! You can either pay it yourself as a one-off fee at the start....or they will deduct it equally over the first 3 months if you can't afford it....which is what most people do.

[ianbee]

I'm just about to start work with this company, it all looks pretty kosher to me!

[Gleneagles]

Sorry for being nosey but are you able to tell me how much you are paid for each meter you read?

Are the gas and electric meters read at the same time?

Which utility companies do Meter U work for and out of say 100 properties how many are with British Gas.

Also what sort of percentage of meters are now outside.

Many Thanks

[wannabavikin]

i work for metering services for British Gas,we get 1350 ish meters to read a week,we have to hit 70% then the bonus kicks in,that sounds easy !!but if you work in an area with no outside boxes,its really really hard depressing work to reach the 70% and then the bosses are soon on your back,they then insist you work late,till 8pm,which in the summer isnt to bad but in the Dark ? trust me its no fun,some days you will be lucy to hit 50 meters !!!! in fact i hate the job so much ive just handed my notice in, it can be soul destroying to walk,6/7 miles a day and only find a few people in,then again if you live in areas with outside boxes ,especailly electric meters( more bonus ) go for it

[wannabavikin]

sorry forgot to give you some figures, some streets 100% gas boxes outside, but nill eltric, you can have whole estates with no outside boxes !!! but with the variaty of suppliers you may only have 5/10 houses in that street.
Also depending on how much work you have and how spread out it is,you may only have 1 or 2 chances to visit that house, also you would be suprised at how many people will just not answer the door, with the curtains pulled all the time, just have a look down some streets !!! work can be in seperate towns and villiages etc all this makes hitting the targets very very hard

[dturn]

Just shows the job isn't for everyone. As I've already said I've been doing the job for three years and very much enjoy it. I normally have about 1000 meters to read per week and am expected to reach 70% of those.

[siroliver50]

dturn, will you please contact me on e-mail [email protected]? I would really appreciate if you do, I would like you to share your experiences of that job with you? I've received appointment for interview with Meter U on 22/01/09...
Best Regards

[dturn]

Sorry, only just noticed this. How did the interview go?

[perc1305]

I worked for meter u since 2004 and in aug 2008 they lost all contracts but took over british gas work. Within one month I earnt 2.5k which I was very happy about!! The next thing I knew was a formal meeting and I was suspended while they investigated how I did so well. Cut a long story short I was sacked as they decided I wasnt what the company wanted!! I lost my job,all franchise fee paid and wasnt offered a reference. I have later found out that the company is struggling to supply work to its staff as they have too many meter readers for the work they have. I have since started work with eon as a meter reader and strangely eon still own the contract for british gas work which they can recall in 2011 so beware of meter u as if you work well youll probably get the sack!!

[dturn]

I've earnt over 2k a month loads of times and never had a problem.

Out of 3 years only about 2 months of that weren't in my own postcode area....even then they were within 45 minut drive.

[dturn]

They didn't take over Bgas work in 2009? They've been doing it for years? As for EON owning the Bgas contract....where is this information from??

[tstay]

I am currently working for Meter U, and have been for 6 - 7 months. I strongly suggest to people out there if offered this job as a meter reader do not take it. I made a big mistake in taking this job. I thought I would do well and earn lots of money.. 500 quid a week i was told by my interviewer.. and would be getting 1350 jobs a week to do so.
I earn on average about 700 quid a week, use my own car and petrol money, i get about 700 jobs a week if i am lucky, they do not pay you on time and under pay you all the time. Your line manager never returns calls or gives you a straight answer, no one seems to know. The HR and payroll departments are ran by part time agency staff who do not seem to care if you get paid or have a complaint.
I have been fighting to get money the company owed me since the September 2008, only now i have received that money due to me taking action with acas. I am not the only employee to have this view on the company either. 5 Other meter readers agree with this, in this time 2 have left the company and 2 have been sacked unfairly and they are taking the company all the way in a tribunal.

My advise to any one is not to take employment with this company.. the franchise fee i paid was �750, what do you get from that.. nothing. It just a scam for the company not to pay you sick or holiday pay. There is nothing stopping E on ( the big bosses that control meter u ) stopping your contract or stopping your work.. where does the franchise sit then ?
The franchise fee has now gone up to 800 quid.. It seems to me they employee people to do the job for a few months get the franchise fee of them, then sack them. Employee a new batch of employees get the franchise of them and do the same... its a joke !!

DO NOT EMPLOYEE WITH THIS COMPANY>>>

[tstay]

adding to my notes , touching on what perc1305 said above , all what he said is true, meter u dont have a say in anything it all comes from eon... so just work for eon. you dont pay anything to eon to do the jobs for them. They are sacking people all over the places and for nothing and no reason. the company is a joke....
dturn : go luck to you in working for this company.. you must be a lucky one because i know many people working for this company and they all say the same thing

[dturn]

Sorry to hear people have had had troubles with them.....but I can only speak for myself....I know others that have been doing the job as long or longer than me. I've had work every week for the past 3 years and have always been paid??! You don't get paid if you are sick or take holidays and that is made perfectly clear at the start. The reason for this is because you are self employed.

The fact that people are saying you get sacked for doing well is laughable and I cant really respond to that! All I've ever got for doing well is encouragement!

Meter-U are in contract with Siemens who in turn work for BGas. They set targets for us to hit.......if they are not hit there are fines. It makes sense for them to employ people who will do the work, they sack people that don't.

To the guys that have had problems I hope you get them sorted. I can only speak for myself, which I've done so I won't keep chipping in to defend them.