Warrent to enter to change my metre but they left it so that I am unable to get in.

MListin

I don't know who attended, the only information I have is the note that is attached to the door that said 'we have accessed your property under the authority of a warrent of entry and it has been necessary to change the locks, to obtain a copy of the keys go to X address (npower offices)'

There is no contact information on the note other than the npower address.

I really don't want to have to break in as I won't be able to afford to fix any damage I cause getting in and then my home won't be secure for I don't know how long.
But if I can't sort something out soon I won't have much choice, we can't spend another night in the car.

CashStrapped

It has been 2 days! A locksmith may take 10 seconds to gain entry. Have you even rung one? There is nothing else we can do.

You have to take some responsibility for the situation you are in. You have to choose a course of action. The fact you have slept in a car for two nights is a bit silly.

Ring npower as it is Monday and they are open! Ring a locksmith! Ring the landlord!

Either way take some responsibility for yourself.

torbrex

The locksmith that gained entry in the first place and secured the door afterwards has a responsibility to make sure that you can gain entry using the new key so it is them that you need to speak to, it's really no-one else's problem.

CashStrapped

torbrex wrote: »

it's really no-one else's problem.

That is all well and good but the op's initial post was two days ago at that was not an option at the time. They could not contact npower to contact the locksmith who gained entry as it was a Saturday. Their post sounded like they were in a bit of a desperate situation.

The OP was asking for alternatives. We gave them.

However the OP has seemingly done nothing for two days!

So....as it is now Monday they should be straight on the phone to Npower and yet they come back here for more of the same advice.

As I said, they need to take a bit of responsibility for themselves make a decision and get it sorted. If getting back into the property was so important (especially with two children) it should have been done by now.

MListin

I rand a locksmith on Saturday, he said the turning handle is a clear sign that the internal mechanisms of the door/lock have been damaged and it will be over £200 to open and fix, there is no way I can afford that, it's just not an option.

I have spoken to the landlord, but as it states in the contract that we are responsible or all maintenance and repairs he has no reason to help.

Ives called npower again, I'm waiting for a call back from a manager who can decide if they are able to wave the data protection security questions.

I'm sorry that you feel I am not taking responsability, I am, I just genuinely do not know what to do. Everything is just such a mess.

HappyMJ

MListin wrote: »

I rand a locksmith on Saturday, he said the turning handle is a clear sign that the internal mechanisms of the door/lock have been damaged and it will be over £200 to open and fix, there is no way I can afford that, it's just not an option.

I have spoken to the landlord, but as it states in the contract that we are responsible or all maintenance and repairs he has no reason to help.

Ives called npower again, I'm waiting for a call back from a manager who can decide if they are able to wave the data protection security questions.

I'm sorry that you feel I am not taking responsability, I am, I just genuinely do not know what to do. Everything is just such a mess.

Then you pay for it and claim it back from Npower.

Rubidium

Surely if the handle now turns 360 degrees and does not open the door, then they have done more than change the lock, they have broken the locking mechanism of the door.

What was the point of them getting you to travel 40 miles to get keys that they must have known would not open the door, that they had broken.

They should have been able to gain entry without breaking the door mechanism by drilling/picking the lock barrel, so perhaps you can claim for their heavy handed approach and the resultant damage caused to the door?

teddysmum

Can you not call the premises, from which you collected the keys, to enquire about who (ie the locksmith) provided those keys ?

MListin

Well I finally spoke with npower, the person that called me said they had personally spoken to the engineer and the locksmith and they are certain they did not do anything to the handle or the mechanism, all they did was drill and replace the lock so there is no way they will pay for or accept responsability for the door.

She then went on to tell me that it need to contact them when i have "eventually gained entry" so that I can arange for their engineer to come back and reconnect the gas which will cost me £70.

I'm devistated.
So my only option is going to be to break a window to get in and hope it will be ok boarded up until I can save up to have it fixed, I also don't know when I will be able to afford to have the gas reconnected, so we will have to live without heating or hot water for a while.

I just didn't think things could get much worse at the moment, I feel like this is never going to end, my situation is just getting worse and worse.

Thank you to those that offered advice, I do appreciate it.

HappyMJ

MListin wrote: »

Well I finally spoke with npower, the person that called me said they had personally spoken to the engineer and the locksmith and they are certain they did not do anything to the handle or the mechanism, all they did was drill and replace the lock so there is no way they will pay for or accept responsability for the door.

She then went on to tell me that it need to contact them when i have "eventually gained entry" so that I can arange for their engineer to come back and reconnect the gas which will cost me £70.

I'm devistated.
So my only option is going to be to break a window to get in and hope it will be ok boarded up until I can save up to have it fixed, I also don't know when I will be able to afford to have the gas reconnected, so we will have to live without heating or hot water for a while.

I just didn't think things could get much worse at the moment, I feel like this is never going to end, my situation is just getting worse and worse.

Thank you to those that offered advice, I do appreciate it.

Breaking a window is going to cost a lot more than replacing the lock. You've still got to replace the lock in any case and you may as well do it without the window being broken and security of the premises being compromised.

You can claim against Npower without them agreeing they were at fault in advance.

Get a report from the locksmith showing the lock was damaged before they replaced the lock and go to court to get your money back. Keep all the broken lock/handle parts so if it does ever get to court (which it won't) you have proof that it was all broken beyond repair. My bet is they will settle out of court.