Electricity reconnection question

katyjinny

I own a small workshop which was rented out until July when the tenant went into liquidation. He and the liquidator assured me that the electricity meter had been read and bills sorted. I informed the supplier, British Gas Business by email that the tenant had moved and that the premises were now empty and handed the keys to an estate agent to sell the property. Last week I visited the property and discovered that a Management company had somehow entered through the locked doors and disconnected the electricity stating that there was a large outstanding balance. British Gas claim not to have received my email and neither I nor the liquidator have seen any invoices for the outstanding amount. However I arranged with British Gas to have the electricity reconnected this morning (8am - 12noon), at a cost of £60,28. I travelled to the workshop which is an hour away from home but the engineer failed to show. When I telephoned to ask why, I was told that he had phoned in sick this morning and the job had not been reassigned to anyone. So I have to take another morning off work tomorrow or Friday ( still waiting for a new appointment), travel to the workshop again and hope that someone will turn up. My question is ; do I have to have British Gas Business do the reconnection or can I choose another company?

rosscobley

Only Bgas can do the reconnection as they are the people that did the disconnection. Get on the phone and speck to a manager tell them that you want a 2 hour app as they have messed you around. Most Meter opps will give you a 2 hour time slot...

katyjinny

rosscobley wrote:

Only Bgas can do the reconnection as they are the people that did the disconnection. Get on the phone and speck to a manager tell them that you want a 2 hour app as they have messed you around. Most Meter opps will give you a 2 hour time slot...

Thanks for the suggestion. I just tried is but all they have offered me is another 4 hour slot tomorrow morning. To be fair the British Gas chap has been very polite and efficient. Apparantly it's National Grid who arrange reconnections and they're the ones who have let me down.

rosscobley

As long as its sorted thats all that matters

tripled

You may be entitled to a bit of compo for the missed appointment, you do on domestic but not sure about business.

katyjinny

tripled wrote:

You may be entitled to a bit of compo for the missed appointment, you do on domestic but not sure about business.

Make that 2 missed appointments. I sat outside the workshop again this morning from 7.45 to 12 still no engineer. I had phoned British gas at 9.30 to confirm that the engineer was coming. They informed me that they had just spoken to national grid and the engineer was definitely booked for the morning. I made 2 further phone calls during the morning. Spoke to a manager who promised to ring national grid and call me back. None of my calls were returned, each time I had to ring again. Finally I asked for the phone number of national grid so I could speak to them myself. Guess what. they don't do reconnections on Thursdays so everything I was told by Roy, Ryan and Mushtek at Brisitish Gas Business was lies. Am supposed to be getting a phone call tomorrow from the engineer when he is 30minutes from the factory.

katyjinny

Have made 2 visits to the factory today to meet engineers. The first claimed he could not refit the fuses because when they were removed they were not put back in properly (doesn't make any sense to me). Came home (30 minutes drive each way). Had phone call to meet 2nd engineer. Drove back. This one sorted out fuses no problem, so first guy lied, but he can't reconnect electricity cos we need a meter man ???? Phoned Onstream who are doing the job, told I need to ring British Gas. I say no dealing with you now want to speak to a manager. Managers all at lunch. I say I want to arrange for meter man to call. Left on hold for 10 minutes. I hang up. Wish I could strangle someone.

rosscobley

What type of meter is it domestic of Business??? If it is domestic i believe they have to reconnect it within 4 days under Gs Standards. You can claim £20 per missed apps anyway but otherwise you just have to wait for them to sort it out. get on to a manager