Our meter is inside of the apartment and have had the same issues as you. One time I heard a noise of something being slipped under the door. It was a self report card. I opened the door and saw the meter reader litetally running away. Obviously a meter reader doing a minimal amount of work.
Lots of people in the building were complaining about the lack of meter reading despite being home. I think the subcontractor was sacked as we started getting someone who actually knocked on the door.
I will never forget the sight of that meter reading running away so he didn’t have to read the meter.