Gas meter and asbestos

TMinfidel

Hello everybody!

I'm after some advice for something that has been driving me mad for ages.

About three years ago, I received a letter stating that my gas meter was old and needed to be replaced. I arranged an appointment, someone came out, and I was told almost straight away that they couldn't replace the meter as it is mounted on an asbestos backboard. The guy said he would inform the meter company and someone would be in touch.

No further contact came and I completely forgot about it, until another letter arrived saying the same thing approximately a year later. I called the number and explained the situation, but was told I needed to have another inspection as they had no record of the previous result. Hence, another day of me working from home awaiting the inspector. The same thing happened, and again I heard nothing back.

Last year I received yet another letter, but was determined not to waste another day, so pursued the matter over the phone again, and this time was told they had a record of the previous call and someone would be in touch. This time they actually did call me back, and told me it is my responsibility to pay the cost of having the asbestos removed.

My problem with this is that the meter is not owned by me, but by the supplier (hence their need every two years to do a safety check). When I said this, I was told that suppliers do not and have never used asbestos back boards to mount gas meters, so it must have been done by the home owner (albeit before my time).

They then went on to say that I should arrange and pay for an independent contractor to be at my property on the same day that they come to change the meter. When I asked to arrange a (purely hypothetical at this stage) appointment, I was told they can't give timeslots, I would need to have someone there all day!

Following that, it all went quiet, until yesterday when I received yet another email saying exactly the same thing as the last three, and now we're back at square one.

Finally, getting to my question, whose responsibility should it be to pay for and remove this asbestos back board? The law as I understand it is that it is an offence for me or anyone other than an authorised agent of the gas supplier to tamper with/move/change the gas meter, and I am simply not prepared (nor can I afford) to pay a specialist asbestos removal company to stand around at my property all day awaiting someone from "Meters Plus" (I think?) to attend.

Thanks in advance, and apologies for War and Peace above.

[Deleted User]

I have seen quite a few electric meters ( not gas ) mounted on asbestos back boards. Initially, when due for a change of meter, the meter fitter had rightly refused and left. Next fitter had returned, changed it, with a mask on , with no charges to the customer.

C_Mababejive

What a hullabaloo about nothing in particular !

dogshome

"suppliers do not and never have used asbestos back-boards" - RUBBISH !

Useing the makers name and Serial No.on the meter, track it's manufacturing date - The chances are that it's older than the regulations regarding the uses of asbestos

Wywth

TMinfidel wrote: »

Hello everybody!

I'm after some advice for something that has been driving me mad for ages.

About three years ago, I received a letter stating that my gas meter was old and needed to be replaced. I arranged an appointment, someone came out, and I was told almost straight away that they couldn't replace the meter as it is mounted on an asbestos backboard. The guy said he would inform the meter company and someone would be in touch.

No further contact came and I completely forgot about it, until another letter arrived saying the same thing approximately a year later. I called the number and explained the situation, but was told I needed to have another inspection as they had no record of the previous result. Hence, another day of me working from home awaiting the inspector. The same thing happened, and again I heard nothing back.

Last year I received yet another letter, but was determined not to waste another day, so pursued the matter over the phone again, and this time was told they had a record of the previous call and someone would be in touch. This time they actually did call me back, and told me it is my responsibility to pay the cost of having the asbestos removed.

My problem with this is that the meter is not owned by me, but by the supplier (hence their need every two years to do a safety check). When I said this, I was told that suppliers do not and have never used asbestos back boards to mount gas meters, so it must have been done by the home owner (albeit before my time).

They then went on to say that I should arrange and pay for an independent contractor to be at my property on the same day that they come to change the meter. When I asked to arrange a (purely hypothetical at this stage) appointment, I was told they can't give timeslots, I would need to have someone there all day!

Following that, it all went quiet, until yesterday when I received yet another email saying exactly the same thing as the last three, and now we're back at square one.

Finally, getting to my question, whose responsibility should it be to pay for and remove this asbestos back board? The law as I understand it is that it is an offence for me or anyone other than an authorised agent of the gas supplier to tamper with/move/change the gas meter, and I am simply not prepared (nor can I afford) to pay a specialist asbestos removal company to stand around at my property all day awaiting someone from "Meters Plus" (I think?) to attend.

Thanks in advance, and apologies for War and Peace above.

When a gas meter is changed, they don't need to touch the back board if there even is one - we don't have one.

southcoastrgi

+1 on above