Those Lawncare People

[Rageaholic]

You know those ones who spray that chemical stuff on your lawn whether you like it or not? What gives them the right to not only spray shit on your lawn, but to break into your backyard without your permission and OPEN your gate? Yes, we have a dog, a dog who likes to be outside a lot and has almost escaped when our gate was kicked down one time. I don't care if it's your job, don't fucking trespass on our property, and don't leave our gate open. Hell, I don't even think we asked for this done so I don't know how they can legally do this. Same goes with those meter guys who check your meter. Just stay the fuck off my property! *Clint Eastwood growl*

I will give this guy credit though, he at least closed the gate after he was done with the backyard, where others have carelessly left the gate open without our knowledge. They're lucky nothing happened to my dog or I would go justifyably SC on their asses.

[HYHYBT]

I don't know who the lawncare guys are or who they work for, but you *have* to let people check your meter. How else are they supposed to know how much to charge?

[Nyoibo]

With meter readers, at least in Aus, I think you can refuse them access onto your property, however if you do then they assume the maximum usage and charge you for it.

[Rageaholic]

I don't know who the lawncare guys are or who they work for, but you *have* to let people check your meter. How else are they supposed to know how much to charge?

They can at least knock first.

[Fryk]

I zeroed in on the "kick the gate open" part. Bad enough they can trapse around your property, they have to damage it, too?

[Rageaholic]

I zeroed in on the "kick the gate open" part. Bad enough they can trapse around your property, they have to damage it, too?

I suspect it was the meter people who kicked the gate open and ran, but I'm not sure.

Now it turns out they weren't supposed to spray the backyard, only the front. Even worse is that the dog can get sick from those chemicals which is why we didn't want the backyard done. If they had checked with us first, this wouldn't be a problem. Assholes.

[Stormraven]

I have no idea where you are, Rage, but I'm glad I don't live there.

[AdminAssistant]

You are required to allow the meter reader access to your property so that they can do their job. If you'll ask your power company, I'm sure they can tell you which day your meter is scheduled to be read. You should also make sure that your dog is put up in a place away from the meter. My BIL started out as a meter reader and nearly got bit hundreds of times for trying to do his job.

[linguist]

Same goes with those meter guys who check your meter. Just stay the fuck off my property!

the meters may be located on your property, but they aren't your property. they belong to the companies who provide the services, and by using those services you've given implied permission to those companies' agents to enter your property in order to read the meters.

They can at least knock first.

why should they have to waste the time to do so when permission to enter has already been granted?

put another way, say you're a meter reader with 100 houses to read on your route. if you take the time to knock at every house, then wait for an answer that might or might not come, you've wasted time. it may not be much time per house (let's be conservative and call it a minute), but over the course of a day that adds up to over an hour and a half of wasted time.

[jackfaire]

The others already pretty well covered meter reading.

The lawn care depends. If you rent your home the landlord has the right to have lawn care professionals treat the yard however he may be liable for anything that happens to your dog if he has not informed you of the schedule.

If you own your home and neither you nor your significant other scheduled lawn care then you may check if any friends or family did so for you.

Otherwise yes it is illegal trespassing if you have informed the to not do it.

[Fryk]

If you rent, it's still trespassing unless the landlord gave you prior notice.