LPG below 5% and newborn baby in the house - please help!

Cazzle

Hello all, I moved into a property with an LPG tank in the summer. We are currently with Shell. I placed an order on the 23rd Dec when my tank was at 25% and was told the order would come in 9 days at the latest. The order still hasn't turned up. I have been phoning and phoning as I have a newborn baby and a 19 month old and am so worried about having no heating. They called and emailed yesterday to confrim the delivery would be coming today and said (and i have written proof) that the only reason the delivery would not come would be because of bad weather. They have acknowledged that i am a 'vunerable' customer.

I had a phone call this morning to say the driver has called in sick so we won't be getting a delivery. They don't know when the driver will be back and cannot let me know when the order will be coming.

I am in the process of complaining, but am sick with worry about what to do now. Can anyone advise me on my legal rights? I know a lot of people are having problems but am particularly worried because of the age of my baby

samtheman1k

Can't you use an electric heater, or wear more clothes? At worst it will only be for a couple of days and you haven't even run out yet!

LittleVermin

Cazzle wrote: »

Hello all, I moved into a property with an LPG tank in the summer. We are currently with Shell. I placed an order on the 23rd Dec when my tank was at 25% and was told the order would come in 9 days at the latest. The order still hasn't turned up. I have been phoning and phoning as I have a newborn baby and a 19 month old and am so worried about having no heating. They called and emailed yesterday to confrim the delivery would be coming today and said (and i have written proof) that the only reason the delivery would not come would be because of bad weather. They have acknowledged that i am a 'vunerable' customer.

I had a phone call this morning to say the driver has called in sick so we won't be getting a delivery. They don't know when the driver will be back and cannot let me know when the order will be coming.

I am in the process of complaining, but am sick with worry about what to do now. Can anyone advise me on my legal rights? I know a lot of people are having problems but am particularly worried because of the age of my baby

Hi Cazzle,

Welcome to the forum.

You've obviously done the right thing - ordering at 25% - and it looks as if Shell is trying hard to do the right thing too. They've got you down as vulnerable because of your very young family, and they gave you a time limit of 9 days (that'll be 9 working days - i.e. up to next Monday, Jan 10th).

A sick driver is like the weather - they cannot plan it in. So I don't think legal rights come in here, really.

There was some good advice from DAVID.T - who's in the LPG industry - on the Bulk LPG thread recently - basically try to eke out your gas by using electric heaters if you can, turning your thermostat down a degree, etc. See http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=39564226&postcount=497

I'm sure Shell will be trying to replace the driver if he's likely to be away more than a day. I wouldn't want a driver with flu in charge of a bulk LPG tanker! Flogas got their engineering staff to double up as drivers - so the regular drivers could have time off and the tankers could be kept on the road. They even had the tankers running 24 hours. I'm sure all the companies are trying to make sure their tankers are on the road as much as possible.

Keep us posted on how you get on.

Good luck.

Flearoy

Cazzle wrote: »

Hello all, I moved into a property with an LPG tank in the summer. We are currently with Shell. I placed an order on the 23rd Dec when my tank was at 25% and was told the order would come in 9 days at the latest. The order still hasn't turned up. I have been phoning and phoning as I have a newborn baby and a 19 month old and am so worried about having no heating. They called and emailed yesterday to confrim the delivery would be coming today and said (and i have written proof) that the only reason the delivery would not come would be because of bad weather. They have acknowledged that i am a 'vunerable' customer.

I had a phone call this morning to say the driver has called in sick so we won't be getting a delivery. They don't know when the driver will be back and cannot let me know when the order will be coming.

I am in the process of complaining, but am sick with worry about what to do now. Can anyone advise me on my legal rights? I know a lot of people are having problems but am particularly worried because of the age of my baby

I can't advise on your legal rights, but I would advise not worrying! You still have some LPG left, which I assume fuels your central heating and your hot water. Your plan of action, while waiting for a delivery, should be to minimise what LPG you use. So, you can turn down your radiators, especially in rooms your little one doesn't spend so much time in, and be economical with your hot water use (shallow baths, short showers if not an electric shower). Bear in mind that your child will have been perfectly ok outside in his/her pram with suitable clothes on even if it's pretty darn chilly! The same will apply inside. Maybe you can all bunk in together if you are worried about it being cold. Electric heaters are a worthwhile standby if you have one, and could be used to keep one room toasty warm. Best of luck

frankie

Hi Cazzle,

Agree with Flearoy. Also if your system allows, switch your programmer to water heating OFF and switch on the immersion heater. This will conserve some gas.

Good luck, and hope you get a refill very soon.