I recently returned home from a 10 day break in the sun, and on going to turn on the water supply at the main stop tap, noticed that the water meter had been changed during my absence.
There was no damage to my property, and nothing seems to be missing, so I presume that the water supply company 'United Utilities' had, without requesting access in writing or otherwise, employed a locksmith to effect entry, and carried out the work.
I can only assume that as I have been assiduously attempting to conserve water, that my usage was considered to be too low even for a single occupant, and that I must have been in some way 'fiddling' the meterage.
I am normally a {mentally} robust and outgoing octogenarian, but since this unannounced incursion, I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that the thought of strangers being in my home, and the unspoken inference that I must have been in some way stealing from the suppliers, has been constantly on my mind, affecting my appetite and sleep.
I must also confess to a certain amount of anger / frustration that some faceless bureau{c}rat has the power to initiate this intrusion.
Sorry to be so long-winded,; I'm new here, but I wished to paint a complete picture in my pre-amble to my question. I might add that I now feel I must take steps to increase the security of my home, so that in future, just 'lock-picking' will not allow strangers to break in........My question:
Should I seek some advice / medication from my GP. or is this depression a normal and passing reaction?
Regards, Ian Colley.
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Terotech1
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i would definately find out if this has really happened there must be somewhere that you could check this inormation out. get in touch with united utilities and see what they have to say. you would think that if they had got into your home while you were away that they would leave some letter of explanation. and your quite right to feel angry. i would not start to take some medication for this intrusion as what is that going to do to your body? there are always side effects from any medicine i mean if you were/are really upset you could have something very short term to help you recover but please dont take medicine on a long term basis because it will not change what happened, if there was a fire to your house while you were away would you still be upset if the appropriate people broke into your house to save everything else. sometimes we have to change our attitude even when we are in the right as we will only hurt ourself more. think of it this way. some company has deeply upset you with breaking into your house and now you are going to damage your body by taking medication. no. please stop and think.try to remain calm and collected and get the facts. you can buy your health or peace of mind. my thoughts are with you. i know its hard but why should you batter your body with a medicine because an in justice has been done to you. good luck.xxx
Thanks grace111 for your comprehensive advice, but what I said was "Should I seek some advice / medication from my GP?". I still think this the sensible way to procede.
I don't need to find out whether this really happened.....I know it did!
The new meter and pipework is all the evidence I need.
I'm reluctant to contact United Utilities before taking legal advice as this may affect any legal compensation claim I may be urged to pursue.
You are quite right in thinking, as I do, that some explanation was due....whoever was responsible didn't even leave a record of the reading on the meter they removed, so UNITED UTILITIES could in the future decide to bill me any amount they please, or even blame me for tampering with their property.
Luckily, as I find it very difficult for physical reasons to reach the low situated meter, I use a digital camera to do so, and so have a photographic record of the reading, taken a few days before I left for holiday.
The replacement meter display appears to have been set to read close to this.
I intend only at this juncture to inform the local police force of the incident, not to increase their workload, but to put on record that my house has been invaded for no necessary emergency action, without any request for access, in fact no contact whatsoever.....before or after the intrusion.
With reference to your instance of my property being threatened by fire or other danger, OF COURSE I would be happy and relieved for the requisite service to do whatever they need to do to take action.....in this case there was no emergency, and a letter or telephone call would have given them immediate access.
The only bright point as far as I am concerned is that as I wasn't trying to cheat this company, and in fact am not physically capable of doing so, their lack of consideration and courtesy has cost them....financially....for the services of a locksmith and possibly for the provision of a new meter, and testing / refurbishment of the old one.
I am still going to save water, so they will not gain anything there!
Hopefully I will shake off this depressed feeling that I have following this affair, but as the water companies' have a monopoly hold over everyone, unfortunately there is no way for customer satisfaction [or lack of it] to influence their relationships with us.....we can't change suppliers!
all the very best to you ian, hopefully you will shake this off as its riddiculous with what those companies can get away with these days. its awful that you cant chage suppleirs so they can actually do what they want then. yes it looks like we are all becoming prisoners in this world, i dont know where in the world you live im in the uk and things have not gotten so bad here as they have in other parts of the world.YET. I wish you well and i probably misunderstood your situation, so thanks for your kind reply. bless you .xx
Depression here is probably mental exhaustion from raging emotions. Get plenty of sleep which helps clear emotional by products. It will go on its own accord. Will take a week or two.
Thanks John, the problem is getting to sleep in the first place! 'Raging' is probably the correct word to describe my emotions....anger.....the first shock is over, now I have to think about how to deal with the bureau{c}rats who initiated the unannounced break-in, for no valid reason, and with no thought to the feelings of the householder.....{similar I'm sure to those experienced by the victims of burglary after having their homes invaded during their absence}.
This 'right of entry', if it still exists, is probably a hang-over from the days when the service was provided by public utilities rather than private companies, but I should think that a laid-down protocol for checking meters exists, starting with a simple request perhaps?
Not followed in my case.
A letter, or 'phone call would have provided immediate access to my property, but of course would not give the wished-for ego boost to these clerks.
I already have a prior appointment booked with my doctor, and will ask for her advice on this depression in addition to my initial {medical} problems.
For raging watch a ballet. Then try and copy the graceful arm movements. This should help dissipate the rage. This is how children deal with upset. They get upset then change the movement afterwards which them turns then less upset.
Sleep you can't sleep with rage as the body needs to move in this state. So practice gentle movements and work on not doing rageful movements.
The following prayer may help
Grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Grant me the peace to live one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to wisdom
Most people would feel angry. Go through the steps one by one.
(1) The Water Utility owns the meter but is not allowed to break into your house unless it is an emergency e.g. massive leak. What reason does the water utility give? Asking how and why they entered your home will not compromise your legal rights.
(2) Where is the meter?
(3) Did your neighbours see anything?
(4) Have you overlooked any letters from the utility?
Hi I'm new on here ,but I don't think they are allowed to enter your property when you are not there. If I was you I would get some advise for citizens advice Beauro.
You mention that you are an octogenarian so may I suggest you contact your local AGE CONCERN they will advice you of your rights and will also help you with the correct procedure for any claim you may have against the water company.
Good thinking {Gareth?}.....hadn't crossed my mind, as I've never considered 'Age Concern', and 'Over Sixties ' clubs etc. as having any relevance to me!
Your idea however, has jolted me into age reality, and I'll certainly give it coat of looking at, {a lot of thought!}
With regard to the upset and worry caused to me:
As therapy, I've decided to look further into the powers of the bureau{c}rats in these privately-owned, mainly foreign, monopolies, without prior warning, to carry out, or organise, break-ins to property, whilst the owners are absent, and where there is no emergency or failure of payment.
I have still received no communication from United Utilities by mail or otherwise, of any kind, requesting access to their meter, or regarding the plumbing work carried out in my absence, and any readings taken either before or after same.
Thanks, to you and also the other considerate people who have responded to my initial question. Very much appreciated.
Good thinking {Gareth?}.....hadn't crossed my mind, as I've never considered 'Age Concern', and 'Over Sixties ' clubs etc. as having any relevance to me!
Your idea however, has jolted me into age reality, and I'll certainly give it coat of looking at, {a lot of thought!}
With regard to the upset and worry caused to me:
As therapy, I've decided to look further into the powers of the bureau{c}rats in these privately-owned, mainly foreign, monopolies, without prior warning, to carry out, or organise, break-ins to property, whilst the owners are absent, and where there is no emergency or failure of payment.
I have still received no communication from United Utilities by mail or otherwise, of any kind, requesting access to their meter, or regarding the plumbing work carried out in my absence, and any readings taken either before or after same.
Thanks, to you and also the other considerate people who have responded to my initial question. Very much appreciated.
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