British Gas problem…..

Katem

Don't know if this is in the right place?

I have a problem with British Gas that I'm not sure how to sort.

We've had BG Homecare for about four yrs now now. 10 years ago we had an extension, which built over our gas meter so it was enclosed in the garage. We queried this with BG and the building regs guy at the time and they said it wasn't a problem and every other house I've had has had the meter wither inside or in the garage, requiring the householder to be available for meter readings. In any event, I submit my own readings monthly to BG as part of my tariff.

On our first BG central heating service, the engineer said he had to mark down that we'd built over our meter, but that it was actually a benefit because the pipework going to the meter corroded in sunlight. So by building the extension we had prolonged the life of the pipework.

The second service the engineer saw the pipework and said he'd have to report it. We got a letter saying that the pipework did not match up to BG current standards and after an inspection, that they were going to charge us around £950 + vat to change it. None of the other houses in the street were affected despite never having had their pipework changed and some people had built over their boxes too. I queried this, and after various discussions I wrote to explain that this wasn't something we could possibly afford, stating what the engineer had said about the pipework being protected and that we had building regs etc and they dropped the issue.

Third service went by and the engineer didn't even look at it.

Now we have had the fourth service. The same engineer as service 2 attended and has duly "reported it". Now BG have written to us to start the process again, so they want to inspect it. I know this will result in the same issue as a few years ago but I don't have approx £1k to sort something that no one else in our street has been subject to, despite all of our houses being the same age and despite the fact that several neighbours have built over their meters too. The only reason that we have been flagged up is that we had BG Homecare and an over zealous engineer.

I'm going to cancel Homecare because it's just a money making scheme for BG, and clearly designed to flag up ways for them to make money (they also forced me into having a magna filter something or other fitted to my boiler).

If they insist on changing the pipework and charging us, what can I do? I can't afford to pay what they're charging, and tbh I'm not sure why it would need doing, given that none of our neighbours have had theirs done and that our built over garage is protecting it from the corroding factor which is sunlight.

tykesi

If they insist on changing the pipework and charging us, what can I do? I can't afford to pay what they're charging, and tbh I'm not sure why it would need doing, given that none of our neighbours have had theirs done and that our built over garage is protecting it from the corroding factor which is sunlight.

Say no and cancel your cover, they can insist if it's a requirement for their home are but if you don't want to then cancel, simple. Like you say home are is purely a way for them to make more money, nobody at BG is there to promote safety, they are there to sell sell sell.

Katem

The problem is that this isn't related to Homecare - only that they have identified something "wrong" with our pipework through a Homecare service visit.

It's the gas supply pipe that runs to every property - pipework that's not even covered by the Homecare agreement - nothing to do with our central heating (which is what the Homecare covers) at all.

Even if I cancelled Homecare, they'd still pursue me for this pipework needing replaced as we have built over it. They reckon it isn't safe.

Fosterdog

Can you get another independent engineer out to give you a report on the pipework?

If you had services in years 1 and 3 with two different engineers and neither think the pipes are an issues but the same engineer serviced it in years 2 and 4 then you have two professionals against one. If you can prove that the pipework is safe they have no reason to chase you for any payment.

Zandoni

If the affected pipework is on the inlet side of the meter it used to be the gas companies problem, not sure if that's changed. I also think that they can only make you change any of your pipework if it's considered dangerous enough to post a warning notice.

Katem

I can't prove that the pipework is "safe", although there's no breaks in it or anything, they reckon it's just not up to current standards. Even though none of our neighbours have to have theirs changed.

Zandoni - that's an interesting viewpoint, there's no hint of any warning notice (because it's not unsafe). I will try and take it up with them using this angle.

Zandoni

Katem wrote: »

I can't prove that the pipework is "safe", although there's no breaks in it or anything, they reckon it's just not up to current standards. Even though none of our neighbours have to have theirs changed.

Zandoni - that's an interesting viewpoint, there's no hint of any warning notice (because it's not unsafe). I will try and take it up with them using this angle.

Gas regulations change all the time and we do not have to keep up with them, most of this stuff is just advisory.

bod1467

It's the same with the electrical wiring regulations - these change frequently; it doesn't mean we all have to go and rewire our houses again each time.

Katem

Right - I feel I have a bit of a justified argument now. The letter they sent seems to "insist" on me paying the fee.

I know this sounds a bit daft but would I just reply to the letter saying thanks, but no thanks, I can't afford it etc and if you want to take it further then jog on? In nicer words obviously

bod1467

Dear British Gas,
Thank you for your kind offer to quote and charge me for upgrades to pipework that is not to current gas regulation standards. I respectfully decline your offer on the following basis:

- Not being to current standards does not make it unsafe. (An analogy is that the UK electrical wiring regulations are regularly revised - nobody is compelled to rewire their properties each time this happens!)
- The pipework in my property is the same age and same condition as most other properties in the vicinity, including others which are also built over in a similar manner. None of these properties are being requested to upgrade their pipeworks.

As I have cancelled my Homecare agreement I consider this matter closed.

Regards,
Your name

Katem

Thank you so much Hopefully I won't hear anything again!