Phoenix Gas charging me for box replacement

aday167

Hello, just looking for a bit of advice.

A Phoenix Gas engineer arrived out a few months ago to fix my brown box outside. I had not contacted them as I didn't realise the box needed fixing and the guy who fixed out never mentioned anything about a bill. So the next month I got an invoice for £221.06! Where do I stand with regards paying this? Surely they should have informed me beforehand that there would be charge especially as it is so expensive? I have heard it is possible to buy replacement boxes in DIY stores so I could have fixed this myself for alot cheaper if I'd only been informed about it!

Anyone else had the same problem?

spiro

Unless you have received any letter advising you to fix the box and ignored it they should not be doing anything. I would WRITE to them (not phone or email) requesting proof that you requested this work to be undertaken and details of the quote they provided. Most suppliers will tell the customer to go to the local DIY store to get a new box.
If they can't prove you requested the work to be undertaken tell them to foxtrot oscar.

[Deleted User]

The box itself, various models, are around £ 50, but may involve removing the gas meter. National Grid and their contractors are the only ones ( i think ) allowed to remove the meter, so maybe thats where the high costs comes from. anything involving N.Grid coming out is likely to be costly

Terrylw1

sacsquacco wrote: »

The box itself, various models, are around £ 50, but may involve removing the gas meter. National Grid and their contractors are the only ones ( i think ) allowed to remove the meter, so maybe thats where the high costs comes from. anything involving N.Grid coming out is likely to be costly

If the meter needs removing it be also be a case of de-energisation & energisation, so it will be a Meter Asset Manager via the supplier.

The NG network guys can do it, but the supplier can just arrange it themselves via their contracts.

Since the box is belonging to the property, as Spiro said, its not on the level.

One consideration though, don't Phoenix do work for councils and HA's? So, is it a rented property and its under maintenance work or the landlord noticing it?

aday167

No I own the house. The meter didn't need removing. I'm a plumber and as far as I could see it was just a cracked box, very minor, as I hadn't even noticed until the guy arrived to replace it. Plus the box was installed on the ground right on the driveway where it is a hazard and could easily be damaged again by the wheel of a car.