British Gas pay as you go reset issues

tomhudson21

Hi,

We have just moved into a new house and found out that the a previous tenants debt is still on the pay as you go gas meter. The gas is turned off, no heating or water. The landlord assures me it's not capped, it just needs a British Gas engineer to reset the meter and apply some credit. Now, i mustn't have spent five or so hours with these clowns trying to get this sorted. They are saying I need to wait to mid next week until they can sort it, which is unacceptable to leave us with no heat. I actually first raised this with them Friday afternoon.. so a full weekend and two days in the week.

Does anyone know if there's a way round this? I asssume it has to be a British Gas engineer that resets it? I just want some hot water!!

System

Normally a new key or card can reset the meter and wipe off all the debt. No need for a visit from a meter reader to reset the meters.BG need to be assured that the new account holder has no contact with the debtor.
Telephone British Gas with your details.You may have to forward a copy of the tenancy agreement. If you had done that on first occupying the house than you , as a "clown " yourself would not have been sat around all weekend with no hot water.The landlord is also a prime "clown " for not understanding the system but the landlords are liable for standing charges (£1.82 a week ) whilst the property is vacant and they prefer other "clowns " to pay it on their behalf

spiro

Also because it is only the gas that is off you are deemed to have an alternative method of heating/hot water - electicity.
You should have phone BG as soon as you moved in.
Also as already been said the LL should have advised BG the previous tenants had moved out and set up an account in his name.

MeterMan

You keep saying 'us' if there is a child under the age of 5 or an adult over the age of 70, you will be deemed as vulnerable and get the emergency call out that you wish.

Now that we have that bit sorted out.

IF an engineer turns up and IF he does his job properly, he should sort the meter and leave it capped as its a rented property and must have its land lord safety check carried out.

Good luck finding more people to calls clowns because they do their job correctly.

footyguy

spiro wrote: »

...
Also as already been said the LL should have advised BG the previous tenants had moved out and set up an account in his name.

To clalrify, the landlord is only required to have the supply put into his own name for any period the property is untenanted.

If may be the OP moved into this property the day the previous tenants left. The OP does not state either way.

footyguy

MeterMan wrote: »

...

IF an engineer turns up and IF he does his job properly, he should sort the meter and leave it capped as its a rented property and must have its land lord safety check carried out. ...

I sincerely hope no BG engineer will take it upon themself to be judge, jury & executioner in this matter.

What evidence do you have that no CP12 is in existence for this property?
Even the BG engineer has no right to request to see one.

footyguy

tomhudson21 wrote: »

Hi,

We have just moved into a new house and found out that the a previous tenants debt is still on the pay as you go gas meter. The gas is turned off, no heating or water. The landlord assures me it's not capped, it just needs a British Gas engineer to reset the meter and apply some credit. Now, i mustn't have spent five or so hours with these clowns trying to get this sorted. They are saying I need to wait to mid next week until they can sort it, which is unacceptable to leave us with no heat. I actually first raised this with them Friday afternoon.. so a full weekend and two days in the week.

Does anyone know if there's a way round this? I asssume it has to be a British Gas engineer that resets it? I just want some hot water!!

Is the gas turned on at the islolation valve?
If so, what is the status of the meter? Is all the emergency credit used up as well?

As has been mentioned, you need to advise BG you are the new user and hence account holder. They will tell you how to obtain a new key/card and how to apply credit to it. You then need to load this to the meter.

There is normally no need for an engineer. If one does call, there is not anything to reset afaik. If necessary, they will fit a new meter (but I doubt it will be necessary)

MeterMan

footyguy wrote: »

I sincerely hope no BG engineer will take it upon themself to be judge, jury & executioner in this matter.

What evidence do you have that no CP12 is in existence for this property?
Even the BG engineer has no right to request to see one.

Well, as the cp12 requires running gas in order to be carried out, the meter will tell you when it was last topped up, the amount of debt on the meter will also state this.

There is also the small bit of legislation which states that if the gas has been off for a 'short period of time' then it requires a Gas Safe Registered engineer to re-commission an installation and its appliances. That being said, if an appliance is no 'commissioned' then its deemed as ID should be disconnected from the supply with the tennants permission, if no permission is granted then it is reported to National Grid as a dangerous appliance.

footyguy

MeterMan wrote: »

Well, as the cp12 requires running gas in order to be carried out, the meter will tell you when it was last topped up, the amount of debt on the meter will also state this.

There is also the small bit of legislation which states that if the gas has been off for a 'short period of time' then it requires a Gas Safe Registered engineer to re-commission an installation and its appliances. That being said, if an appliance is no 'commissioned' then its deemed as ID should be disconnected from the supply with the tennants permission, if no permission is granted then it is reported to National Grid as a dangerous appliance.

The gas is not off (capped) according to the OP's landlord.

MeterMan

footyguy wrote: »

The gas is not off (capped) according to the OP's landlord.

I never said it has to be capped off on arrival, I said off, out of credit for a 'short period of time'