Inaccessible gas meter - est bills for years

jen383

Afternoon all,

I recently moved into my boyfriend's (1st floor) flat, which he's owned for about 7 years. His gas meter is located in a restaurant on the ground floor, which closed a few years ago. The owners are impossible to get hold of, so he hasn't been able to get an accurate reading for years.

This means that he (and now we) pay estimated bills, which I'm fairly certain means that he's massively overpaid.

Any suggestions on how we go about changing this? Are there any legal tools at our disposal to get into the restaurant, to get even just one accurate reading?

Thanks.

Cardew

I believe it is a legal requirement, for safety reasons, for gas meters to be read every 2 years.

I would write(not phone) to your gas supplier and insist that they get the meter inspected and an accurate reading obtained.

It may well be they have to re-locate the meter.

undaunted

I agree with Cardew (but not too often ) your supplier has an obligation to ensure the safety of the meter, that it hasn't been tampered with in any way etc. They are also responsible for billing the account accurately not just taking the easy route of estimating for ever more. How they achieve it is their problem, not yours!

Bear in mind however that there is always the chance they have under estimated.

lemontart

http://cfe.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5529/~/the-legal-rights-of-a-supplier-to-access-a-consumers-property

Yes they do have a legal right of access, and if you rent your landlord is under law obliged to give you access not only for meter readings but in the event of an emergency to be able to turn supply off in the interests of safety to people and property.

lemontart

any move of meter would of course be chargeable to the owner of the property as up to them to ensure ease of access to suppliers and gas emergency service.

[Deleted User]

I am surprised its gone over the two year limit, British Gas start making determined efforts to inspect the meters for all non vacant properties even as far as warrants being issued if its gone over two years.all owners can eventually be got hold of, who is clearing all the junk mail building up ?. You need a key to access the control valve on the meter in emergency. I also work for Edf and Utility First who are shocking at attempting to get into long term no access meters as it costs them extra money. what supplier have you got whos allowed this to carry on for all these years,? as they are breaking Ofgems rules

chanz4

op have you been changing suppliers during the periods?

chanz4

Your supplier needs to apply for a 3rd party warrant, under
Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act, 1954 safety inspection

Terrylw1

In the gas industry, the Must Be Read process is far tighter than elec. In gas, the Last Inspection Date (LID) is passed between suppliers when you switch, so it doesn't get lost.

In elec, none of this happens as the Must Be Really process is only from the current suppliers start date. So really, its an outdated policy that only works prior to deregulation where customers don't switch. Now they do, you could go 10 years with no reading taken as there is no way for supplier to know.

The supplier needs to request a rights of entry warrant...just make sure they understand the problem because its the customer who is obliged to give them access to the meter...and the will charge that warrant back to you. You are a bit stuck in getting access though so it would be a bit unfair.

Can't you find out who owns be other property and contact them?