Forced Entry

PaulG1984

HI, Two days ago i arrived home to find out that southern gas had broken into my property and changed the locks on the house i owned over an unpaid bill. They left a message on the window saying they had a warrant to do so. I later found out that they did not install a meter, or switch off any gas supply, all they did was to perform, what they called a burn test. They then left my property and changed the locks so i was un-able to gain entry to my own house. I had know previous visits to my property asking for entry and i never recieved any copy of this so called warrant.

I would like to know if anyone has any advice on this matter as i feel slightly angry that strangers have forced entry into my property without so much of a letter or a phone call, achieved nothing by doing so and changing my locks, leaving me stranded outside my own property.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

macman

Did they have your correct contact details to serve the warrant and any other correspondence (assuming that the billing address is not the supply address)?
Had you previously refused them access to inspect the meter?-they do have a legal right of access to their own property.

dude89

PaulG1984 wrote: »

HI, Two days ago i arrived home to find out that southern gas had broken into my property and changed the locks on the house i owned over an unpaid bill. They left a message on the window saying they had a warrant to do so. I later found out that they did not install a meter, or switch off any gas supply, all they did was to perform, what they called a burn test. They then left my property and changed the locks so i was un-able to gain entry to my own house. I had know previous visits to my property asking for entry and i never recieved any copy of this so called warrant.

I would like to know if anyone has any advice on this matter as i feel slightly angry that strangers have forced entry into my property without so much of a letter or a phone call, achieved nothing by doing so and changing my locks, leaving me stranded outside my own property.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

The main issue here is the warrant. First off you should of been informed when, why and where they were applying for it. This would of given you a chance to contest it being granted. Are you sure no letter was received advising of court action?

Was a warrant left in your property anywhere at all? You should always be left a copy of the warrant. If no warrant has been left, i would be contacting the police to inform them of breaking and entering.

I would also be sending a formal written complaint to your supplier asking for a full explanation with copies of any correspondence apparantly sent to you.

PaulG1984

I was never given a date of any hearing to gain a warrant, and there was no copy off a warrant when we eventually got some keys to access the property.

Obiviously we work all day, we have recieved visits in the past were we have allowed someone to access our property to read the meter. On this occasion nobody from the gas company have called round to inform us of this action or to come in and read the meter.

Thanks for your advice, i will contact the local police, make a complaint and see if they can advise me any further.

Thanks again.

Premier_2

PaulG1984 wrote: »

HI, Two days ago i arrived home to find out that southern gas had broken into my property and changed the locks on the house i owned over an unpaid bill. They left a message on the window saying they had a warrant to do so. I later found out that they did not install a meter, or switch off any gas supply, all they did was to perform, what they called a burn test. They then left my property and changed the locks so i was un-able to gain entry to my own house. I had know previous visits to my property asking for entry and i never recieved any copy of this so called warrant.

I would like to know if anyone has any advice on this matter as i feel slightly angry that strangers have forced entry into my property without so much of a letter or a phone call, achieved nothing by doing so and changing my locks, leaving me stranded outside my own property.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

PaulG1984 wrote: »

I was never given a date of any hearing to gain a warrant, and there was no copy off a warrant when we eventually got some keys to access the property.

Obiviously we work all day, we have recieved visits in the past were we have allowed someone to access our property to read the meter. On this occasion nobody from the gas company have called round to inform us of this action or to come in and read the meter.

Thanks for your advice, i will contact the local police, make a complaint and see if they can advise me any further.

Thanks again.

If someone had broke into my home, (and not left any official documents such as an entry warrant) the first thing I would have done was call the police. I certainly wouldn't have waited over 2 days!!!. They can't do anything now you have waited so long and presumably contaminated any potential crime scene.

The fact you now know the energy company were the ones that entered and claim to have had a warrant suggests you probably knew they were on their way anyway.

If you have any issues over the validity of the warrant or how it was communicated (or not) you should contact the court that issued it.

PaulG1984

Unfortunately the police were called, however they were not interested in this matter and they told me to contact the gas company.

chanz4

It would of been a gas safety inspection warrant, under the Gas & Electricty board act to check their equipment. I know the process very well and they would of sent you letters. The warrant would of been granted by your local magistrates court and they have no obligation to leave a copy behind, hence the reason the police were not intrested.

Give your reads to meter readers when the leave cards, it stops this.

C_Mababejive

It is my experience that energy companies bend over backwards both to write/phone and visit customers before exercising the ultimate sanction. They must have had sufficient grounds for entry otherwise they would not have been able to demonstrate adequately to the courts as to their right to obtain a warrant. Did you owe them money? if so how much and for how long and what arrangements did you make to pay?

smjxm09

Can't help but think that you only have yourself to blame.

bengasman

It seems you forgot to mention that you had received a number of letters asking you to arrange access for a safety inspection which the supplier is legally obliged to undertake.
At the very least one of those letters warns the occupier that this is something the supplier must do by law, and that they have no other option than to get a warrant to enter if you persist in ignoring their attempts to carry out their obligations.
You have been warned, warned, and warned again; what are you complaining about?