Mystery phone call and visit

I think if it was your neighbour that phoned you, the guy was probably legit.

My neighbour told me last time I was there that my water meter had been read, and the way she said it, hers wasn't. Is your house purchased on a business account? Maybe they read the business accounts at different times to the household ones?

I was pleased to find my account was 5 cubic meters in credit. If I understood correctly, she was saying it was some sort of bonus. I have no idea really!

No I don't have a business account Jane. The account is in my name first because I'm older than my husband .  I paid deposits into the water company because we weren't living in the house when they came to read the meter except last year I was there when the meter was read so I deposited more money to cover the times we weren't there.

I don't think for one moment that the man wasn't legit it just seemed a bit odd, especially when I think he mentioned the electric. My electric meter is in the Lane outside my home and I pay that via my bank account, but I think that the reader on the meter is powered by electricity'. Maybe the man didn't think I'd used enough water or something but I've only been living here full time since the end of August.

@kath9483

hi Kath

Im not a resident in Bulgaria yet and at one time a bulgarian friend who does my bills for me used to phone the water company and get them to come round to take the meter reading, so if you were out when they came the 1st time it would only be your meter reading he would take.   Now she asks me to take a picture of the reading and send it to her.  She must do it online now as she is in Samokov 500km away from my place in Byala which is just along the coast from you.  not sure about the fact he new the electric company would take a reading unless he was being helpfull ? or maybe they use a single company to take readings ?

Anyway probably you can pay online or just send a photo of the meter reading to your supplier. There not very strict with billing anyway in my experience

Phil

Worth an ask with your water company to make it easier.  they dont seem to come anymore and quite happy with what they are told

Thank you for your reply. I'm thinking that I may have been one of the last households to have had a meter reading and as my neighbour works at the bread kiosk she may have seen him and knowing he was coming here she rang me to get me to open the gate. I seem to be a bit out if step in the village in so far that even when I'm home I keep my gate locked . Ad for the electric well anyone's guess is as good as mine as I say the actual meter is outside on the lane and is ready monthly as far as I know.

Being here on my own is pretty difficult so I really need to learn the language.

I'm not sure about the water meter you have, but mine is the old style that's purely mechanical, no electricity. Maybe he was just trying to be helpful letting you know the electric would be read?

It's difficult not speaking the language. I rely on my neighbour far more than I want to. She doesn't mind at all, but I'd prefer to be independent.

Mystery solved it seems that the meter man asked my neighbour to ring me . They'd got talking a day or so ago and so he'd asked her to phone me today to let him in. As for the electric thing she's got no idea as her meter is in the same cupboard so she's none the wiser.

Turns out the meter man must be local she spoke to him again yesterday and electric meters are being installed in the village in around ten days time. So that's all solved now thankfully.