Cadent notice for "intention to disconnect Gas Service"

Anon53

Hi i hope somebody can help.

We do not use gas in our property. We havent used any since about 2011. British gas tried to charge us for standing charges without notice to say that this had changed on our bills. In fact as we never used gas (just had the meter in) we never had a bill from about 2012 until last year. We contested as we had not been informed that standing charges had been introduced and said that we would have to have our gas meter removed. So we did back in June 2016.

We have now had letter from Cadent Gas Limited saying that they intend to come next tuesday under a letter titled in red "Gas saftey (installation & Use) Regulations - Intentin to disconnect Gas Service"
They say there will be no charge for this service but we may have to pay to reconnct if we intend to have gas again in the future.

They say that it is a legal requirement that within 12 months after a gas meter is removed and not replaced that the gas supplier (we have none) to be inspected for saftey where necessary, physically disconnected. Also if we do not comply that a magistrate court order may be sought under the rights of entry act.

Could someone pleaase tell me what our rights are here. Nobody informed us that this would happen, just that we needed our gas meter out if we didnt want to pay a standing charge (for a service that we are not using and havent since 2011).

Does anyone know what this involves? for example, digging up our driveway or building works? I dont know why the pipe is being disconnected as nobody has even been to check for over 5 years and now they want to do this.

Ay advise will be grately recieved. Many thanks.

footyguy

Anon53 wrote: »

Hi i hope somebody can help.

We do not use gas in our property. We havent used any since about 2011. British gas tried to charge us for standing charges without notice to say that this had changed on our bills. In fact as we never used gas (just had the meter in) we never had a bill from about 2012 until last year. We contested as we had not been informed that standing charges had been introduced and said that we would have to have our gas meter removed. So we did back in June 2016.

We have now had letter from Cadent Gas Limited saying that they intend to come next tuesday under a letter titled in red "Gas saftey (installation & Use) Regulations - Intentin to disconnect Gas Service"
They say there will be no charge for this service but we may have to pay to reconnct if we intend to have gas again in the future.

They say that it is a legal requirement that within 12 months after a gas meter is removed and not replaced that the gas supplier (we have none) to be inspected for saftey where necessary, physically disconnected. Also if we do not comply that a magistrate court order may be sought under the rights of entry act.

Could someone pleaase tell me what our rights are here. Nobody informed us that this would happen, just that we needed our gas meter out if we didnt want to pay a standing charge (for a service that we are not using and havent since 2011).

Does anyone know what this involves? for example, digging up our driveway or building works? I dont know why the pipe is being disconnected as nobody has even been to check for over 5 years and now they want to do this.

Ay advise will be grately recieved. Many thanks.

I'm not sure by what you mean as to what rights you have.

You asked for the meter to be disconnected, and now they are coming to do that (albeit somewhat late, imho)

You have to pay for your supply whilst you have one according to the tariff you agreed to (or were deemed to have accepted)

You should have consulted a comparison site to find the best deal for you - there is more than one supplier that offers a zero standing charge tariff (great for those that use nothing )

I very much doubt they will be digging up your driveway to cap off your supply - especially as they say there is no charge for the work.

Good luck!

Anon53

Thank you for your reply.

The actual meter inside the property has already been taken out in june of last year.

They are talking about now disconnecting the whole service which i am guessing is pipes etc as there is no meter at all in the property. Just a tap that is permentently switched off.

Regarding the standing charges....we were on a tariff ears and years ago that had no standing charges. We were not billed for years, then all of a sudden a £500 odd bill came through telling us they introduced standing charges on our tariff in 2013. This is all irrelevant now as its sorted. Im just worried what they intend to do now with the "rights of entry act" 1954.

We dont have a meter or gas at all in the property so i dont know what else they are disconnecting.

molerat

They will be permanently capping off the supply before the tap. Currently all they will have done is blanked off at the meter connection. If you refuse them entry they can apply for a court order to do so and may break in and charge you for this. Easiest to allow them in.

Anon53

molerat wrote: »

They will be permanently capping off the supply before the tap. Currently all they will have done is blanked off at the meter connection. If you refuse them entry they can apply for a court order to do so and may break in and charge you for this. Easiest to allow them in.

Thank you for your reply.

Do you know if this is a big job at all as it is my mothers property who is a pensioner and is worried this will cost more money in the future if she wishes to reconnect to a gas service.

Im guessing it would propbably be best to fiind a no standing charge supplier than all this!!

trickytree1963

It will definitely cost in the future if you want the propertyr reconnected to the Gas supply. I think there are a few no SC suppliers (Ebico, Utilita at least). If you have a MPRN they may fit a new meter and put you on a Zero SC tariff

molerat

Possibly quite straight forward, maybe even done outside if there is accessible pipework.

Once disconnected the property then is officially "off supply" and it may be that a full dig to the street would be needed to re-install a supply. Also if the street is re-piped they will simply by pass your property. Reconnecting could come at a cost of several £K. The value of the property could be reduced because of this cost on future purchasers.

Anon53

trickytree1963 wrote: »

It will definitely cost in the future if you want the propertyr reconnected to the Gas supply. I think there are a few no SC suppliers (Ebico, Utilita at least). If you have a MPRN they may fit a new meter and put you on a Zero SC tariff

Thank you! I wish someone could have told us this would happen over a year ago! Im feeling massive time pressure to find a service now before tuesday that doesnt include smart meters!!

Anon53

molerat wrote: »

Possibly quite straight forward, maybe even done outside if there is accessible pipework.

Once disconnected the property then is officially "off supply" and it may be that a full dig to the street would be needed to re-install a supply. Also if the street is re-piped they will simply by pass your property. Reconnecting could come at a cost of several £K. The value of the property could be reduced because of this cost on future purchasers.

We REALLY do not want to be paying thousands in the future!! All we wanted was to disconnect the gas as we were not using it. Nobody informed us that all this would happen! Im so angry!

Raxiel

Anon53 wrote: »

Thank you! I wish someone could have told us this would happen over a year ago! Im feeling massive time pressure to find a service now before tuesday that doesnt include smart meters!!

Most (or all) smart gas meters I know of require a smart electric meter to act as a relay. If (presumably) you don't have one of those you may find a company that will fit a non-smart meter, but even if you don't, any meter installed will have the comms disabled in this situation anyway.

Although you cant deny them entry, if you call and ask Cadent to reschedule, they might let you push it back a week or two to give you more time. The trouble is, you might be waiting a month or more before a supplier can get someone in to fit a new meter. it depends if Cadent are willing to wait in that situation.