On June 10, 05, I received a postcard from Centerpoint Energy saying
that since the county was digging up Lake St., Centerpoint would be
replacing my gas meter. They gave a number to call for more information.
I called and was told that sometime after July 5, 05 workers would come
to change the gas meter. The woman I talked to, Jill Borchardt,
Scheduler for Construction Services, also said I would receive notice a
few days before the workers showed up so that I could be there to let
them in.
I received no notice. Tuesday, 7/19 I came home and found a man unknown
to me standing in my kitchen. Someone else in the house had let him in
(actually, let them in, there were two of them, the other being down in
the basement).
Think about it. I'm over 60, I come home to find a stranger in my
kitchen. This poor man could easily have been shot.
I called Centerpoint and told Ms. Borchardt that I had not received
notice and was very upset. She apologized, but even though she could not
do anything other, somehow it didn't cover the seriousness of the incident.
Later on Tuesday I had occasion to speak to one of the men working on my
sofits and facia. He said that yes, "some guy" had come round and told
him they would be changing the gas meter the next day. Of course the guy
working on my house was gone when I got home on Monday, so I knew
nothing about this until I found a stranger in my kitchen. (One of my
housemates had let him in.)
There's miscommunication and then there's dangerous miscommunication.
This incident fell into the latter category.
For those of you who read this list and have friends and family working
for one of the companies contracted by Centerpoint Energy to replace gas
meters, please warn them to be sure that notice is given to the
homeowner, not some guy up a ladder on the outside of the house. Also,
leave a written notice on the front door saying the date and time they
expect to be there and need to be admitted to the house.
This could have been a terrible tragedy.
WizardMarks, Central
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