Faulty boiler / faulty maintenance - who is responsible for gas bill?

MissX

tomtontom wrote: »

A HIU is not a boiler. You need to ascertain what you actually have. Post a picture if you're not sure.

The problem here is nothing to do with you being a woman - I am female and also think that, on the information given, the amount you are claiming is nonsensical. The problem is that your understanding of your system is flawed, either that or you are very bad at explaining it.

what difference does it make if I have a HIU, gas boiler or a monkey blowing smoke into my pipes - my original point is if something is faulty then why do I have to pay for it? What difference does it make?????????????????????????????????????

MissX

I am posting in the consumer rights thread so I would like to ascertain what rights I have as a consumer in relation to said pending gas bill. I do not want engineering advise or speculation on what system I have or have not.

macman

Simply because it is impossible for someone working on your 'system' to use excessive gas, if the unit consumes no gas in the first place. If it is a gas boiler, then repair work cannot possibly consume 5,000kWh because of repair work. The boiler would be 'off' while under repair and then briefly turned on for testing
If the unit is faulty and you can prove that the high billing is due to that fault, you should be able to negotiate a reduction. However since you don't know what system you have or how you are being billed, how do you intend to do that?
No one can help you without basic information.

MissX

15 engineer visits over 3 months at 1 - 4 hours at a time isn't excessive? 3/4 of those visits being half day visits flushing the system is perfectly normal and shouldn't have effected my usage?

unholyangel

MissX wrote: »

I am posting in the consumer rights thread so I would like to ascertain what rights I have as a consumer in relation to said pending gas bill. I do not want engineering advise or speculation on what system I have or have not.

You've misunderstood.

In law, you only have a claim to damages for provable losses. You need to be able to demonstrate that their breach caused you a loss and be able to quantify that loss. Theres a statutory duty to take reasonable steps to mitigate losses (where possible).

You don't need to prove beyond all reasonable doubt (as in criminal cases), you just need to prove on the balance of probability.

There is no one size fits all advice unfortunately - that we can give in blanket situations. Other than perhaps speak to citizens advice - but they're likely going to ask you questions too - to ensure they're advising you correctly.

macman

MissX wrote: »

15 engineer visits over 3 months at 1 - 4 hours at a time isn't excessive? 3/4 of those visits being half day visits flushing the system is perfectly normal and shouldn't have effected my usage?

The system only uses gas when it's heating the property or heating hot water, not when it's in bits on the kitchen floor. Flushing a boiler and CH system does not use gas. Flushing a metered hot water system will use some units, which is why we need to know how this system works and how it's billed.
Putting in a claim for gas when you've possibly been billed for hot water is not going to make a very convincing case. Check the billing units on your meter, or post a pic of it. A gas meter will be in cu m or 100's cu ft. If you have one, which I doubt.

pathtofreedom

I'm sorry you've had this problem so long, do keep coming back here though. The people who have posted are trying to help you but without more information about specifics it is tricky to help with the next course of action.

Are you renting from the housing association? As shelter might be worth talking to about the fact it keeps breaking, and if you might be able to get any compensation if it is off for days at a time. http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/responsibility_for_repairs/repairs_in_rented_homes_-_whos_responsible_for_what

As for the amount of the bill, if it is your bill in your name, be it from the HA or the gas supplier you'll have to pay it I'm afraid. As others have said even though the boiler fixer might need to do testing, it wouldn't have used that much gas. Do you have meter readings from the past couple of years which might help you understand your usage? I normally take photos of my meters on my phone once a month. Then use the photos to put into the website for my supplier. I find it interesting though as I can look back at older photos then to see how much the meter has increased as the photos have time / dates on.

As others have said depending on how your hot water system works, it could well still use gas even if you're not at home. If it does break again (god forbid) you could ask the person who comes to fix it to confirm this or not, and show you were to turn the hot water off if there is a way to do this. Or could you ask a neighbour if they have the same setup, or the HA? Talking to a neighbour might be worth it anyway to see if they have had any similar problems with their setup, which in turn you could talk to shelter about if it isn't just you impacted.

neilmcl

MissX wrote: »

15 engineer visits over 3 months at 1 - 4 hours at a time isn't excessive? 3/4 of those visits being half day visits flushing the system is perfectly normal and shouldn't have effected my usage?

Not greatly, no it wouldn't.

wealdroam

MissX wrote: »

what difference does it make if I have a HIU, gas boiler or a monkey blowing smoke into my pipes - my original point is if something is faulty then why do I have to pay for it?

Just thought I'd pop back to give you the answer you want to hear.

You are absolutely right - it makes no difference.

You only have to pay for the service you used.

I do hope that helps, but if you have further questions then please ask again.

forgotmyname

In a similar situation myself where they installed a new boiler and controller and it has not worked properly since.

I was thinking can i claim back the costs of the excessive usage? Initially the pump ran almost 24/7. At the time of fitting we only had the hot water on and not the heating yet sometimes we woke up with the heating on.

Pump runs even when nothing is heating. They claimed this could not happen but later admitted that the pump was wired incorrectly. It still runs with the water and heating off but the display no longer shows its running. Although you can hear it.

Its a nightmare and now been 4 months with 1 or 2 visits a week every week.

I have sympathy with the OP it does drive you nuts.