Have I Paid to Much (Gas Meter Alteration)

NW_MAN_2

I have recently had an alteration to my gas meter to move it from 3 meters. I paid National Grid £900 for this work which took around 2 hours for their men to complete.
The existing gas pipe was already in a plastic tubing and the work that was undertaken does not justify the price I paid. The worker advised that new gas connections cost around £250 to put in, but because no one else can do this work, National Grid can charge over the top prices to alter the location of a meter.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO CLAIM SOME OF THE MONEY BACK FROM NATIONAL GRID???

vansboy

I would think you are pretty much restricted on what you can do, to complain.

Unless there WAS an option for at least SOME of the groundworks be carried out by alternative approved contractors & they didn't make you aware of this, not much chance, I'd say.

If it's a fixed amount for EVERY job, again, not a chance.

However, if it IS a variable amount, then there isn't any reason why you can't ask them to re-asses the chrges, now the jobs done, to find if they were being over cautios in their calculations.

VB

jblack_2

Sounds steep to me. Unfortunately they have quite a monopoly on these things. Did it include reconnecting the meter?

I am about to pay £430 to SGN to move our meter approx 3 metres. I'm reconnecting the meter myself as they can't do it and it needs to be done by a CORGI.

J

andrew-b

Don't take it the wrong way...
I don't get it...presumably you agreed a price with them BEFORE you gave the go ahead and probably signed something to that effect? If you thought it was too much (i do too) why go ahead with it?

I've posted on a few of these threads disputing the cost after the job has been completed to customer satisfaction (apart from disputing the cost!). Always get a quote up front (confirmed in writing if your going ahead with work) and if your not happy about it don't give the go-ahead for the work to be done until you reach a price you agree to! If they start the work and the work quoted for changes drastically then don't let them proceed until you've renegotiated a new quote.

As you've entered into a contract with them and paid for the work i don't see you have any legal right to any money back whatsoever. It's a costly mistake to make unfortunately!

Andy

BB1984

You might be able to claim some money back - try writing a polite but firm letter? I paid SGN £380 to put in a new gas supply, but wrote to them afterwards to point out that they hadn't had to do as much work as they'd predicted. They re-assessed it and I got a refund of £116. Worth spending 10mins writing a letter!

BB