My wife and I experienced a very similar situation recently to that described in "Arrest threat for power sales pest" (The Argus, October 22).

A representative from a gas company knocked on our door and told our 14-year-old daughter he wanted to read the meter.

She called us and by the time we got to the front door he was already standing in our hallway.

My wife showed him the meter, which he took little notice of. He then asked to look at our gas bills because he wished to check what system we were on.

He then promptly asked my wife for her bank details. At this point, my wife informed him she thought he was a fraud, took his name and number from his ID badge and asked him to leave.

He was reluctant to leave until I stepped in and backed up my wife.

We then rang the gas company and were informed he was not an employee but could quite possibly be working for an agency that had been contracted to "work our area".

We rang the police immediately. They informed us we were just one of many complaints they had received in the past few days concerning the same matter.

The police arrived promptly and a statement was given. We also received a call from the gas company, asking for further details.

To this day, we have heard no more. Surely these gas and electricity companies should not be allowed to "contract out" our safety?

They should be far more responsible about who has access to information and is given a security ID badge that we, the public, are supposed to have trust in.

-Mr G Hazell, Riley Road, Brighton