Phoenix gas cut off threat

ricoman72

Guys, opened a letter this evening from Phoenix gas. Without going into full detail the letter states "Phoenix Natural gas must charge you £514.38 to connect a replacement recessed box to our network"....it goes on "regrettably, because the meter installation has been classified as 'not to standard' we must disconnect the supply to the property if there is no response by 30th July 2012". The letter continues to state that if this occurs there will be a further disconnection fee of £75.60 if this occurs.

The letter does not contain my name (simply states 'The occupier'), a meter number or a customer or account number. It tells me to call a mobile number which seemingly belongs to a 'connections' engineer if I require more details.

The box has been installed for 11 years with no modifications. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this before? & why would such a letter be issued after 11 years of a box being in service? Any help would be appreciated. I will be calling phoenix tomorrow.:(

ballyblack

another reason to go with an Heating OIL system which you 100% own

getzls

Google the phone number, may be some sort of con. Of course ph. Phoenix

gibbyni

Sounds very fishy to me call phoenix and ask, let us know if it is dodgey so we know to keep an eye out

spike7451

Sounds fishy to me too...I'd call Phoenix on a legit number to verify this & then,if it turns out to be dodgy,go to the PSNI.
Normally in things like this,you're asked to call the office number to arrange for an engineer to call & considering Phoenix usually use contractors,makes it sound doubly dodgy!

warmhands.coldheart

ricoman72 wrote: »

"Phoenix Natural gas must charge you £514.38 to connect a replacement recessed box to our network"....

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm Sounds Odd... why so specific about a recessed box... is your current one recessed? What exactly is meant to be wrong with your current installation? Phone Phoenix and get all the details..... if it's not suitable and only fitted 11 years, who installed it originally? must have been Phoenix (if in Belfsat area) as they are the only ones who could have done it and if they did they should replace for free.

ricoman72

I contacted the consumer concil today and this is not a scam...at least not in the traditional sense (Big up to phoenix gas for reinventing the scam). They are aware of at least two developments that have had their supply cut due to not paying up the 500+ per household. Phoenix have refused to tell them how many people are involved. They have not responed when asked by the CC why some of these installations have existed for many years with no attention drawn to any unsafe installation & why now there is a 30 day limit. They have failed to respond to any suggested alternative solutions. The lady on the phone was able to finish reading the letter off to me. They were all dated 3rd July 2012 & threatened cut-off by July 30th. The issue seems to revolve around how the earth wire has been brought into the box. It seems that at installation a piece of copper pipe was used to essentially act as a piece of trunking through the wall cavity & into the box (thus the box has been broken to allow the copper pie in) The earth wire was pushed through the pipe & connected to the meter. Phoenix are saying this now constitutes a meter that is not fit for purpose....some 44 metre readings later. My installer couldn't believe the threat. He says it could be fixed for £50 by re-routing the earth & using epoxy to fill the hole where the pipe breaks through......but then phoenix would be down £470 so that's not going to happen!

NAR

Offer to let them to cut you off when they have returned the 44 payments made during a period of time when the installation was unsafe, a fact which they should have discovered at commencement of your contract with them.

unclebulgaria

This sounds as though you have an old reccessed Gas meter box with the gas inlet pipe coming into the box from inside the cavity of the building which is now deemed unsafe. Strange thing is in my locality when Ive reported these boxes the ESP has said that there is a renewal program in hand but the number of units is so big it will take years to sort out. A cost to the homeowner was never mentioned when I reported them. I cant see how an installation that was installed to the correct standards 11 years ago and is now deemed unsafe can be disconnected so readily if YOU dont pay up. The only thing I can think of is because the inlet pipe isn't safe any longer they have right of entry and therefore legal right to disconnect on behalf of their managing contractor?
Of course i may be talking tosh!

Old_Git

contact your local MLA ( ok they may be useless ) and Stephen Nolan get some publicity ,maybe Phoenix will back down or reduce the amount they charge.

ricoman72

Thanks Nar, but two things. Firstly the gas supply does not come in from the cavity. The pipe is exterior to the building. It runs up the exterior wall and enters the cabinet from the bottom. (the meter cabinet is only partially recessed, about 3 inches still protrude outwards from the wall). Lastly, as I said it seems the issue, at least in this case, has to do with how the earth wire was brought into the box.