Gas Meter

tim9966

3 weeks ago my house was connected to mains gas for the first time, and since then I've been trying to get a meter, but British Gas don't seem to want to give me one.

I rang them on 13th Sept and they said they would come and fit it (Wales & West fitted an empty meter box on my house) on 16th Sept, but no one turned up. I gave them a couple of days before I rang them, then when I rang them they said yes we've done your meter, but I said no you haven't, so they said they would send someone out on 3rd Oct. That's now come and gone and no one has fitted it yet.

Can I get another company to give me one instead as this is delaying my central heating from being installed? and I'm getting fed up waiting for them now. British Gas have set up a gas account for me online, so I don't want to wait 6 weeks to get it moved.

spiro

Is this a new build or have you got gas to an old house?
I would phone them again and double check they have the correct address. Also for every missed appointment they are requried to pay you £10 plus another £10 if they dont pay you (can be account credit) with 5 working days.

bengasman

Count yourself lucky that you didn't get in bed with BG, they run up more complaints than any other company in the industry; they have recently been fined millions for not dealing with complaints by even the most minimal requirements, as well as presenting false figures.
Just ring around, and get yourself the best deal.

spiro

bengasman wrote: »

Count yourself lucky that you didn't get in bed with BG, they run up more complaints than any other company in the industry; they have recently been fined millions for not dealing with complaints by even the most minimal requirements, as well as presenting false figures.
Just ring around, and get yourself the best deal.

The fine was solely related to business accounts.

In terms of the level of complaints and complaint handling I suggest you get your facts right:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/sep/02/edf-tops-complaints-league-table-energy-companies - BG are 2nd with only 55.2 per 100k

http://energyapps.consumerfocus.org.uk/performance/ BG are 2nd with 4 out of 5 stars.

tim9966

It's gas to an old house. The address they have for me is correct, and the gas meter box is outside and clearly visable from the road so they can't miss it.

Today I've just had a letter from BG asking for my meter reading, which I can't do as I haven't got a meter! However the letter seems to suggest they are trying to transfer my supply from another supplier, and not started as a brand new customer with no meter, or old supplier.

chanz4

Have they assigned you a new mpr? I know you may feel you want to change supplier, but until fully complete I strongly advice you not to switch.

tim9966

Yes I have been given a meter point reference number, first by Wales and West who connected my house up to the main in the road, and it's also the same number quoted by British Gas in their letter which arrived today.

Do British Gas install the meters themselves or use a 3rd party company?

chanz4

they use national grid metering or onstream (a sister company). Have the put you on a bgc supply (their own IGT) ?

tim9966

I don't know what supply I'm on. Wales and West Utilities (who own the pipes in this area of the country) connected my house up to the local gas main in the road.

I then rang British Gas and asked for a meter which they said they would do, but no one has turned up to do it.

chanz4

call british gas and ask them if they have a job number for the meter, if they do and you call wales and west they will tell you the status of it. If they dont have one you know it was never booked.

lemontart

You need to confirm with BG which metering company they are using and then contact that company, BG do not often use National Grid Metering these days so may well be onstream or wales and west or another company Then you can check with them - though some will only communicate with suppliers but worth a try. Perhaps give bg a time limit to supply meter or you will go elsewhere will gee them up a bit rather than what is happening now.