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Meter Reading Job. A Con?
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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.
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My experience with Meter-U wasn't a success.I live on Shetland which is rural,spread out+ consists of several islands accessible by ferry.I was head hunted by phone when they took over Scottish Power contract as I was already working for G4S(Accuread).After negotiation I agreed+was offered 40p a mile(G4S gave 35p)& was sent my work on paper via email.I had to phone my reads at the end of the day.This I was told would change once handsets& training were organised.I received a contract which I read&challenged them about pay per reading as I knew it would not be worth my while.Here many meters are businesses,coast guard huts etc, which are locked, locating the keyholers is so time consuming.I was assured this wouldnt apply to me, I would be paid by the hour ( £7)with an 8 hr a wk retainer.I was also told the franchise would not apply to me.. I started work before I had ID(they were happy for me to use my G4S ID until theirs was organised.)I spent many hours finding addresses, many of which came from an inaccurate database (an ongoing problem I had anyway)& found many places inaccessible.I sent my hours via email,+ to date have received no pay.It is impossible here to meet targets compatible with those on the mainland with everything being so spread out and with both companies there was a real lack of understanding of the geographical restrictions of the location I live I had repeated phone calls asking for my work, which obviously had deadlines. After 2 weeks I heard nothing more, no offer of training, no support,so I decided it was not worth the hassle. I have since given up meter reading completely,I am sure on the mainland it could work but in my experience these companies are disorganised+have unrealistic expectations.In theory it sounds an attractive job, your own hours, your own boss,but in reality it was a bit of a headache!So my advice would be to stay away,there are less stressful ways of making a living!
This is a con...they hired me for a contract with Scottish Power that was already lost then fired me along with the rest of their motley crue on Scottish Power - redundant. The contractor Siemens must be annoyed at these cowboys but I believe they have finally got rid of them as a sub-contractor. One wheeze they use is to give you faulty equipment not signed for and then blame you. I fired them off after week...truly appalling.
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I currently work for Meter U and have done since Nov 09 working on both British gas and Scottish power contracts.
Im still on employed status and will be going over to being a franchisee in the next couple of weeks. I really enjoy the job as I select the hours I work a day I tend to start at about 10am then back home for about 2pm then I start again at 5pm til 7-8pm. I earn about £85 per day.
Its an easy job to do (apart from lots of walking). The work is sent to the handset and you plan your route. I am at an advantage as I life in Kent and its a very built up area around me so majority of my work is all close together.
I can understand that people are wary of the franchise fee but it is better to be self employed rather than employed for this type of work as the tax benifits are better.
Anyone who says its a con has just had a bad experience and is not the general rule. Siemens offer a great training package and full support to me as a Meter U worker. I love this job and I know a lot of other people that do to.
Im still on employed status and will be going over to being a franchisee in the next couple of weeks. I really enjoy the job as I select the hours I work a day I tend to start at about 10am then back home for about 2pm then I start again at 5pm til 7-8pm. I earn about £85 per day.
Its an easy job to do (apart from lots of walking). The work is sent to the handset and you plan your route. I am at an advantage as I life in Kent and its a very built up area around me so majority of my work is all close together.
I can understand that people are wary of the franchise fee but it is better to be self employed rather than employed for this type of work as the tax benifits are better.
Anyone who says its a con has just had a bad experience and is not the general rule. Siemens offer a great training package and full support to me as a Meter U worker. I love this job and I know a lot of other people that do to.
I currently work for Meter U and have done since Nov 09 working on both British gas and Scottish power contracts.
Im still on employed status and will be going over to being a franchisee in the next couple of weeks. I really enjoy the job as I select the hours I work a day I tend to start at about 10am then back home for about 2pm then I start again at 5pm til 7-8pm. I earn about £85 per day.
Its an easy job to do (apart from lots of walking). The work is sent to the handset and you plan your route. I am at an advantage as I life in Kent and its a very built up area around me so majority of my work is all close together.
I can understand that people are wary of the franchise fee but it is better to be self employed rather than employed for this type of work as the tax benifits are better.
Anyone who says its a con has just had a bad experience and is not the general rule. Siemens offer a great training package and full support to me as a Meter U worker. I love this job and I know a lot of other people that do to.
Im still on employed status and will be going over to being a franchisee in the next couple of weeks. I really enjoy the job as I select the hours I work a day I tend to start at about 10am then back home for about 2pm then I start again at 5pm til 7-8pm. I earn about £85 per day.
Its an easy job to do (apart from lots of walking). The work is sent to the handset and you plan your route. I am at an advantage as I life in Kent and its a very built up area around me so majority of my work is all close together.
I can understand that people are wary of the franchise fee but it is better to be self employed rather than employed for this type of work as the tax benifits are better.
Anyone who says its a con has just had a bad experience and is not the general rule. Siemens offer a great training package and full support to me as a Meter U worker. I love this job and I know a lot of other people that do to.
i got transferred to meter u from n power under tupe regulations they are making me and over 100 colleagues redundant and expect us to work on a franchise i have 10 years experience as a meter reader and wouldnt givethis the time of day ,they have treat us like absolute crap since we arrived , as far as earning money this week i recieved 80 meters to read at 42 pence each , you do the maths you can work 3 hours without getting paid a penny . this company should be outlawed you cannot get a straight answer out of anybody our union is taking them to court you have been warned
dear whoever its no true what you have been, told this is a really good job with loads of protenial,the problem most of us have is the managers are a waste of space my thinks he works for the mafia he keeps tellin me not to cause trouble as he can make me dissapeer, some are good but never get mine he is a nightmare a bully with no brains but if you get a good one my word you can really earn money and you are well cared about, good luck hope for you never to see u in my area cos u are doomed lol
I started with Meter-U late 2008 and went over to franchise after doing 5 months employed. I paid over the franchise fee and was told that I would be getting 1300 reads a week. In fact I was getting around 500-600 reads a week and my earnings were pitiful. I was expected to run a Limited VAT Registered company on about £700 a month. That also required me to provide a vehicle and fuel for wherever they decided to send me, sometimes as much as 30 miles away from home every day.
Most weeks the work was difficult - areas were typically working class where people were out at work during the day, so needing return visits evenings or weekends to get a reading. The desirable work, where most of the meter boxes were outside so easy to read, were rarely given out.
The pay rate was per meter, but was on a sliding scale. Until you achieved the target read rate, the rate per read was really poor, increasing once target had been reached.
Management was rubbish. They constantly interfered with what work was done and when, and imposed restrictions and unnecessary rules and regs which made the job difficult and unrewarding. I lost my franchise fee and made no money.
This company should be avoided.
Most weeks the work was difficult - areas were typically working class where people were out at work during the day, so needing return visits evenings or weekends to get a reading. The desirable work, where most of the meter boxes were outside so easy to read, were rarely given out.
The pay rate was per meter, but was on a sliding scale. Until you achieved the target read rate, the rate per read was really poor, increasing once target had been reached.
Management was rubbish. They constantly interfered with what work was done and when, and imposed restrictions and unnecessary rules and regs which made the job difficult and unrewarding. I lost my franchise fee and made no money.
This company should be avoided.
Hi.
Firstly, avoid working in Coventry. Many long roads and few outside meter boxes so working through meter u, you won't find it easy to make much money. I'd advise trying to get a job with a reputable metering company like G4S or Metering Services. these jobs are usually available through an agency, look up Search Consultancy or CIP Metering. These companies offer you the opportunity to earn bonuses equivalent to what meter u are offering without the risky initial outlay and a guarranteed hourly rate.
Firstly, avoid working in Coventry. Many long roads and few outside meter boxes so working through meter u, you won't find it easy to make much money. I'd advise trying to get a job with a reputable metering company like G4S or Metering Services. these jobs are usually available through an agency, look up Search Consultancy or CIP Metering. These companies offer you the opportunity to earn bonuses equivalent to what meter u are offering without the risky initial outlay and a guarranteed hourly rate.
i had an interview with meter u december 2009 had photo taken and was told a few weeks for the crb checks.i never heard anything more until about six months later when i was called and asked if i wanted to still be kept on hold and that was three months ago and still heard nothing.At interview i asked what i would earn in a year and was told £20,000........not exactly getting excited over that kind of money especially when im supplying car , fuel .being self employed with accountants fees and being responsible for my own tax..might just as well be a postman with paid holidays
After reading through the posts here I'm a bit weary of applying with Meter-U. I've been searching the web and found electric meter reader vacancies advertised by Beaver Management Services with a wage of £400-450 for a 40 hour week (Mon-Fri). The jobs are found at "jobisjob.co.uk" but don't mention the actual recruiting company in the description and when I phoned them, they wouldn't reveal who you would be working for.
I've applied via email for several positions in the Bromley/Croydon area in the last couple of weeks and attached my CV but am yet to receive a response. Has anyone had any dealing with BMS and know which suppliers you would be working for? Should I contact them again and enquire about the status of my application?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
I've applied via email for several positions in the Bromley/Croydon area in the last couple of weeks and attached my CV but am yet to receive a response. Has anyone had any dealing with BMS and know which suppliers you would be working for? Should I contact them again and enquire about the status of my application?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
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