Transco are a joke!

Flibertigibit

I am moving to an all electric flat next week, but have discovered that there is a gas supply in there, currently capped off and with no meter. After making some enquiries I discovered that I need an MPR number and that I would have to ring Transco to test if the supply was "alive or dead". I did this and an appointment for the test to be done was made for last Friday between 4.00 - 8.00pm. So, seriously stressed by other matters, I nearly killed myself to get to my new flat by 4.00pm, then sat and waited for over four hours in the cold, but no sign of Transco!!

This morning I phoned up and could not believe what I was told. In effect the engineers were "too busy" and could not let me know because they are only allowed to ring landline numbers (despite the fact that I wasn't at home where my landline is because I was at the empty flat with no landline!!) In any case, I checked my call log and they hadn't tried to phone.

The girl said she would try and find out more and 20 minutes (with me paying for a premium rate number) later came back to say she hadn't been able to find out any more except that they were busy. She offered to make another appointment which I now have done for a few days after I move in (but when I still won't have an operating landline). I declined her offer of a 4 hour slot as she said they might not turn up in it, and just said "Put me down for the whole day" and made her agree that she added my mobile number and why they should use it. Then I asked her what I should do if they don't turn up again on that day and guess what "Just ring us again"!!!!!!!!!!!!

One problem seems to be that although this test is just routine (and she agreed with that) it is carried out by the Emergency Team, who naturally have to deal with real emergencies as and when they happen and so my job will always get pushed to the back of the queue, especially in this weather. Maybe I should ring up and say I can smell gas and they'll then turn up and do it?

trisontana

Can I correct one thing? There is no such company as "Transco". For the last few years they have gone by the name of "National Grid -Gas".

Flibertigibit

Thanks - I did know that technically they are now called National Grid but to me that means electricity so I prefer to call them Transco! Either way, a rose by any other name will stink as badly. One thing I didn't bother to put in my post yesterday was that the person I spoke to asked if I wanted to make a complaint. I said I did, and she then asked me what I wanted to put in the complaint and appeared to be typing as I spoke. She then told me that somebody from the complaints dept would ring me to say they had received it within 2 hrs - hey ho, here we are almost 24hrs later and not a peep out of them!

Techhead_2

I'd imagine they are quite busy, what with all very very cold weather and the strain this puts on the gas supply.
If it was me, I would calm down a bit. Its not worth getting stressed over.