disruption to mains gas supply

topgun_maverick

Hi
This is my first time so be gentle with me.
Because of incompetance when renewing my mains gas supply my supply was cut off for 56 hours. No hot water, no heating & no cooking appliances.
The company carrying out the work have admitted liability and the problems have still not been completely resolved.
They have now added insult to injury by offering £76.00 compensation!!!!!
Who can help me, who has any advice?

Pssst

Can you explain the nature of this alleged incompetence ? AFAIK loss of supply carries standardised compo payments provided that the loss fits the right parameters.

topgun_maverick

The engineer forced the new pipe from the mains to the house resulting in a twisted kinked pipe that was leaking gas, didn't join it to the supply pipe for the house then walked off the job leaving no note to advise us that we had no gas and ther was a leak directly outside my front door.

topgun_maverick

Being very new to this what IS AFAIK?

lemontart

AFIAK - as far as I know

that aside the compensation for loss of gas service is at a fixed rate per 24 hr period and only becomes payable after a qualifying period - I am not sure how long that is off hand before you start to qualify for compemsation.

If you are not happy then you need to put you complaint in writing along with any supporting documents to the relevant gas transporter responsible for the pipe work in your area.

Premier_2

topgun_maverick wrote: »

...They have now added insult to injury by offering £76.00 compensation!!!!!...

Donate it to a charity of your choice if you don't want it. I'm sure they'll appreciate it

ex-energywatch_adviser

Information from http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/en/content/cms/Energy_Help___Advice/Your_energy_question/Your_energy_question.aspx

Compensation for gas supply interruptions

If your property is without gas for more than 24 hours, you may be entitled to payment of compensation of £30 under the gas Guaranteed Standards. You would also be entitled to a further £30 for each additional 24 hour period without gas. National Grid (formerly known as Transco) must tell you about their right to compensation and make payment within 20 working days of a claim - either directly to you or through the supplier.

If you are registered with your gas supplier's Priority Services Register you are entitled to receive alternative cooking and heating facilities within 4 hours if less than 250 consumers are affected, or 8 hours if more than 250 consumers are affected.

Pssst

£76 sounds good to me.

Nothing or no one is perfect and we all take for granted the services and utilities that we enjoy until they go wrong.

Pink_fluff

Pssst wrote: »

£76 sounds good to me.

Nothing or no one is perfect and we all take for granted the services and utilities that we enjoy until they go wrong.

I agree. £76 is a fair sum of money! Given that the gas being off would have been inconvinient for you, did it cost you £76, ie. Did you need to spend £76 to be able to have something to eat that day...so you have gained from a bad situation!:money:

izoomzoom

Just jumping on the band wagon.

We had national grid out in our road today. apparently just after they replaced the pipe from the road to our meter, which is in our garage, they discovered a leak, so our gas has not been reconnected, and we are without heating, cooking or hot water.

They have supplied us with three electric heaters, and a poxy two plate stove, but where do I go from here. Who do I contact to get my gas leak discovered (and fixed) so that I can get my supply reconnected.

I have some boiler cover with my gas supplier, but does this cover the gas supply issue or if it turns out to be my stove (for instance) can they just wash their hands of it (and probably fix it, but charge me cos it is not 'covered'.

??????????????

ex-energywatch_adviser

Where is the gas leak? Has National Grid not given you any indication regarding this? If an appliance was involved they would disconnect it and put a label on it stating that it cannot be used until it has been repaired or replaced but that would only affect that particular appliance, it shouldn't result in all of the gas supply being off.

If the leak is from pipework before the meter then it is National Grid's responsibility and they should carry out the repair and reconnect the supply. If the leak is from internal pipework then that is your responsibility so you would need to call out a CORGI registered gas engineer.