Bristish Gas Engineer refusing to go on roof.

Pincher

ben500 wrote: »

You made the comment that the householder was suffering not me, how is it a sufferance for the householder but not the tradesman?

I'm sure you would be full of the joys of spring and not expect to be compensated by the tradesman who put a foot through your ceiling or abused your property in order to carry out his or her work too.

After the first no stepping on the bare joist incident, I put in 2400x900mm particle boards (meant for flooring on joists), but the policy still stands. The only danger is if they try to stand up and bump their heads.
It was just an example of how inflexible things are these days.

ben500 wrote: »

The cost of scaffold and or safety equipment is borne by the trader not the householder and factored into the price.

So the BG engineers offered to come back another day with scaffolds, did they? BG is a big company, they can afford to keep a scaffold or two, or just rent it from HSS, but they just can't be bothered. Getting onto a roof to do work is obviously an esoteric activity, so it's the householder's fault for giving BG such a hard time.


There are scenarios which are special, and I have no problems getting a 600mm and a 1000mm masonry drill bit, and did the hole myself. I do not expect a regular tradesman to carry that, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I had a wooden worktop delivery that was 3 metres long, and they insisted a strong person had to be present because the delivery driver was alone. I'm OK to help but what if the customer wasn't able bodied?They specialise in wooden worktops: all their deliveries are heavy wooden worktops! The sell them in 3m and 4m lengths!

A contractor came to put in loft insulation, who has no problems walking on joists, but didn't want to get into the tighter spaces, which definitely needed insulating as well, so I had to volunteer, again.

I had to rush out and buy a 35mm stainless steel hole drill bit because the plumber only had a 32mm bit for the sink!

I am continously having to do the work myself because they don't want to do this, and they don't have that. And most of these have nothing to do with health and safety. I don't expect people to risk life and limb for me, but I expect them to help get the job done, and have the right tools.

I understand a lot of independents have problems with stolen tools, especially on building sites, so they keep it down to a minimum. I suspect the 35mm drill bit was stolen because it was a popular size. I am missing a spanner, which is the most useful size, so somebody must have thought the same and nicked it. It's mad.

jack_spratt_2

ben500 wrote: »

He's right scaffold would be required for the job, unless you get a private individual in who is less concerned about taking risks, it would be extremely difficult if not impossible to secure a ladder effectively to do the job. Consult your building insurer to see if they will foot the bill for the scaffold or even try their legal line to determine if scaffold should be included in your BG cover. As for the roof being sound enough to walk on, it's appearance indicates it is lacking in maintenance and the tradesman may well not share your opinion on this.



Source

I have seen some drivel wrote on the forum boards but this must take the biscuit

uptomyeyeballs

Yes, there are rules for working at height. The BG people should have come to assess the job, find out what equipment is needed for them to work safely, go away and get it, then come back and do the job. If they want to offer cover for things, and take payment for it, it does seem reasonable that they actually do the work. It simply isn't reasonable to just refuse.

gavjbrown

Been Stuck in Spain for 11 days but on getting back BG have been phoning and sent the email below. Thanks everyone for all your advice.

23 April 2010



Our Ref: 1-XXXXXXXXXX



Tel: 0800 9806036





Dear Mr BXXXX



Thank you for your email dated 1 April 2010 regarding your concerns with the level of service you have received under the HomeCare agreement. I was sorry to learn of the inconvenience you have experienced.



In view of the nature of the issues you had raised, the details of this matter were referred to our Service Manager, Steve Ellis.



Having reviewed this situation, Steve has requested that we arrange for an engineer to call to attempt to complete the required work. Scaffolding will be required, but we shall arrange this as your agreement does include making access up to a value of £1000.00.



I would therefore be grateful if you could contact me on the above telephone number or email address, to confirm if there are any dates that it would be preferable for us to carry out this work. I can then arrange for you to be contacted with a proposed appointment.



I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for our previous failure to meet with your expectations. I trust that future dealings will allow us to demonstrate an improved standard of service.



Thank you for taking the time to bring this situation to my attention and if I can be of any further assistance, please contact me at your convenience.



Yours sincerely





M MXXXXXX (Mrs)

Customer Relations Advisor

amersall

well done, glad you got it sorted

lindos90

Result!

Thats fantastic, they have admitted that your policy covers you for the flue again, and that as they have assessed the risk, they are taking steps to access safely at their cost.

Just goes to show that we HAVE to persue things like this!

Gerrard_8_lfc

lindos90 wrote: »

Result!

Thats fantastic, they have admitted that your policy covers you for the flue again, and that as they have assessed the risk, they are taking steps to access safely at their cost.

Just goes to show that we HAVE to persue things like this!

It would have been done this way anyway however at the point of arrival the engineer has deemed it unsafe to go on the roof.
(Thank the health and safety executive for that.)

It is included in the poilcy that BG cover £1000 to get access to the system.

jack_spratt_2

British Gas are changing to an insurance backed scheme for some of there home care products claiming the cover is better !! I just wonder what the outcome would have been in your situation !! the details of the new cover they provide is limited but I believe you can if you wish stay on the old contract ??

Gerrard_8_lfc

jack_spratt wrote: »

British Gas are changing to an insurance backed scheme for some of there home care products claiming the cover is better !! I just wonder what the outcome would have been in your situation !! the details of the new cover they provide is limited but I believe you can if you wish stay on the old contract ??

You can stay on the old one however "homecover" gives you.

• Accidental Damage caused by a member of the household.
• Over night accomodation up to £150 per night for 3 nights if your boiler goes on fire or explodes.
• Replacement boiler if it explodes or goes on fire.

They are included as extras for free. and one of the biggest changes are BGS is now regulated by the FSA.

C_Mababejive

If i were working as an Indie,i would have no issues doing this job. BG engineers will be subject to the 'elf n safety requirements of both the law and their employer...risk assessments n all that. No doubt they would be subject to disciplinary procs if anything happened. Privately they would probably concede that its straightforward but as BG recently nearly had a national dispute over its bully boy macho management style,the guys are probably fearful of doing it in case they have a problem/are visited/get into trouble.

Elf n safety you see