Gas safety check - what should officially be checked?

ally18

Hi,

I recently had numerous letters from my gas supplier to ring and make an appointment for their reader to come out and do a 'gas safety check'. (In other words check the meter reading). The last letter threatened me with court action if I did not ring and make this appt within 7 days!

(I don't have a landline and mobiles are expensive so I emailed them in the end and it took them 5 days to reply).

In all the 20 yrs I have lived at my property, I have always allowed the person who knocks on the door to read the meter to come into my house and have never had any problems in the past. I have always watched the person take the reading and they have never, ever conducted anything like a safety check which is what their supposed visit is to do with and not just check I am providing the correct meter readings!

However, I am more than annoyed now that companies can threaten you to make this appointment! If this is a gas safety check then what exactly are they supposed to be doing apart from reading the meter? Shouldn't they have some kind of equiptment with them to check gas levels etc instead of just a pen and piece of paper to write down the reading??????????

I actually would like the meter to be thoroughly checked out due to its age.

Can these companies actually force their way into your home to take a reading legally?

davidgmmafan

I'm not 100% per cent on this but I believe its a visual inspection, so the person just looks at it and if its not obviously dangerous its good to go. It is required by law but hey why pay attention to that when they ignore the other stuff about mis-selling...

"Can these companies actually force their way into your home to take a reading legally?"

Yes if the deadline is up they can, they have to make all reasonable efforts to do it once every two years up to and including obtaining a magistrates court warrant. I can see how that would be mightily annoying as you have shown no indication of refusing them access.

heating-eng

davidgmmafan wrote: »

I'm not 100% per cent on this but I believe its a visual inspection, so the person just looks at it and if its not obviously dangerous its good to go. It is required by law but hey why pay attention to that when they ignore the other stuff about mis-selling...

"Can these companies actually force their way into your home to take a reading legally?"

Yes if the deadline is up they can, they have to make all reasonable efforts to do it once every two years up to and including obtaining a magistrates court warrant. I can see how that would be mightily annoying as you have shown no indication of refusing them access.

They can force there way in.
They just inspect the meter to make sure it is safe and you are not tying to rob them.

Lgas

Considering I found a meter with a dirty great crack in it the other day, leaking gas, I would say they just want to make sure your meter is in good condition, and safe etc. Not really any equipment required, if they find any corrosion etc I imagine they would call the national gas emergency service.

Cardew

ally18 wrote: »

Can these companies actually force their way into your home to take a reading legally?

Yes. Unless you are officially disconnected from gas and electricity.

You should also bear in mind that they are not your meters.

With gas it is mandatory that the meter should be checked every 2 years.

They are also checking to ensure there is no sign of tampering.

bengasman

ally18 wrote: »

Can these companies actually force their way into your home to take a reading legally?

It is not to take a reading, it is for the safety check, as you said yourself.
What exactly is your problem?