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Can I claim a lost days work?

Hi

British Gas recently switched our gas supply after a house move despite us telling them several times not to. I have the phone bill so can prove I've phoned several times.

We woke one morning to no gas (so not hot water etc).

I had to take the day off of work to wait for an "emergency" engineer to come out. He was eventually allocated to come from 11am til 2pm. He turned up just after 5pm.

Am I being unreasonable to ask for a days pay from them?

Si
I've just started entering the competitions (July 07). When I win I'll update this signature. Look on the bright side, I shouldn't have to update it very often.
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Comments

  • vuvuzela
    vuvuzela Posts: 3,648 Forumite
    IMO, yes. How much of a 'days work' would you have been able to do if they had arrived at 2PM (ie at the end of the allocated slot) and worked until 3:30 ?
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    I've just started entering the competitions (July 07). When I win I'll update this signature. Look on the bright side, I shouldn't have to update it very often.

    Have you still not won anything? ;)
    Gone ... or have I?
  • bigfatface
    bigfatface Posts: 27 Forumite
    vuvuzela wrote: »
    IMO, yes. How much of a 'days work' would you have been able to do if they had arrived at 2PM (ie at the end of the allocated slot) and worked until 3:30 ?

    If BG hadn't messed up and cancelled the appointment like the OP asked, they wouldn't have been without a gas supply and had to take a day off work. So no I do not think it is unreasonable to ask at all.

    You should also ask for somone to pull and listen to the calls you made to confirm you did call to cancel.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    lawtz04 wrote: »
    British Gas recently switched our gas supply after a house move despite us telling them several times not to. I have the phone bill so can prove I've phoned several times.

    We woke one morning to no gas (so not hot water etc).
    I don't understand this.

    Switching gas supply... what does that mean?

    Surely nothing to do with who sends bills was it?
    Because that process does not usually cause an interruption to supply.

    Was it something to do with replacing actual pipes or meters?
    I understand that you may be able to negotiate a planned interruption, but telling them several times not to is a bit beyond that.

    OP, can you please explain further what caused the supply interruption?
  • Zandoni
    Zandoni Posts: 3,465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Complain to http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/OfgemHome.aspx they can force BG to give you something for your lost time.
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    Zandoni wrote: »
    Complain to http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/OfgemHome.aspx they can force BG to give you something for your lost time.

    They can, but they certainly do not have to.
    Gone ... or have I?
  • Zandoni
    Zandoni Posts: 3,465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    dmg24 wrote: »
    They can, but they certainly do not have to.

    They do as it's part of the Gas Act, think it started with electricity and then spread to gas as well. Probably only £20.00 though
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Zandoni wrote: »
    They do as it's part of the Gas Act, think it started with electricity and then spread to gas as well. Probably only £20.00 though
    I am sure it really depends on who made the mistake, doesn't it?
  • Zandoni
    Zandoni Posts: 3,465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    wealdroam wrote: »
    I am sure it really depends on who made the mistake, doesn't it?
    I had to take the day off of work to wait for an "emergency" engineer to come out. He was eventually allocated to come from 11am til 2pm. He turned up just after 5pm.

    I always assume that the OP is telling the truth, how about you?
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Zandoni wrote: »
    I always assume that the OP is telling the truth, how about you?
    Yes, me too.

    But I do not think the OP has told us enough to decide where any fault may lie.

    Can I respectfully suggest that you look again at my concerns in post #5?

    I note that you have avoided my question by asking another one. ;)
This discussion has been closed.
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