RE the letter from a couple in West Auckland having trouble with British Gas over home visits (HAS, May 26).

Their second last paragraph is quite amazing - of course British Gas do home visits, to read gas and electric meters. I work for a company which is contracted to read their meters. I have worked in West Auckland several times.

From a meter reader's perspective, some meters are in awkward places.

Even some outside the home can be obscured, but once we get to know where they are, we can read them.

If there is no one in when we call we used to be able to leave a card to enable the customer to contact British Gas with the reading. Sadly, no cards are issued now for gas meters.

If we have the time to call back, we can leave a card to say when we will call back. Some customers write the reading on the card and put it in the window. From a security point of view, this is entirely at their own risk.

I am sure British Gas can arrange an appointment for a meter reader to call at the house. Obviously, this problem needs solving as soon as possible.

John Hill, Darlington.