When I arrived home this evening there was a police car parked outside. My neighbour was emerging from his house and told me that the house in the corner had had a break-in.
I walked up my path to see some post hanging out of my letter box - the equivalent of a sign saying "This house is empty!" I had a look and it was from some company I had never heard of - AccuRead - saying that they had come to read my gas meter. Some mistake, I thought, I'm with British gas.
Half an hour later is a knock on the door. I looked out the peep hole but could see no one. I called out "Who is it?" He said he had come to read my gas meter; he had put a card through earlier. I explained that I am with another company. He said he was doing it for British Gas. I said that there was no mention of British Gas on the card. He said he wasn't going to murder me. So I let him in and he murdered me...
Seriously, I explained to him that I do not let strangers into the house without an appointment. He kept insisting that he was harmless. I had to say firmly four times that I do not let strangers into the house without an appointment. He said that he understood that people get nervous but he was only here to read the gas meter.
I didn't think it was necessary for me to stand arguing about whether or not I was letting him into my house. I expect this company have got the contract from British Gas for meter reading. The silly thing is, if it had been a BG card, I would have opened the door to see inspect some ID - unless I had fainted at the shock at seeing a BG meter-reader. I have only had my meter read twice in seven and a half years of living here. On each of those occasions, it was only on the third attempt following two broken appointments in each case.
