British Gas HELP - Unauthorised entry

Mummy2211

So now BG are trying to say that the National Grid have advised them that it was my boiler that was faulty and was leaking.. I have just spoken to NG - and they have confirmed that their report did state it was actually the meter that was leaking at two points.

They actully are not bothered by any of this. So i am now still without hot water, and not alot of money on the meter, No card to top it up with, and a failed appointment for an engineer to attend to the property today...

Smodlet

Please go back and read House Martin's posts, especially #10. My advice is to take his advice. BG suck, imho; got my boiler from them but they are not my supplier and it is highly unlikely they ever will be.

I hope your daughter can find a way out of her darkness; life is a wonderful gift, even at times like this. I think you must be a very strong person; please hold on to that strength.

EachPenny

House_Martin wrote: »

Usually when they enter a property with the occupier not present they leave a letter with a phone number to contact them so you can get the new lock keys to your property.

Out of genuine interest, where would they leave the letter? If it is inside then the owner is not going to be able to see it, and if outside what's stopping someone else reading it, pretending to be the owner and collecting the keys?

I assume in the latter case they would ask for ID before handing the keys over, but what if all your ID is in the house?

From time to time I go out on my bike with nothing but a house key.... I'd be a bit stuck if I came home and found BG had changed my locks.

Smodlet

EachPenny wrote: »

Out of genuine interest, where would they leave the letter? If it is inside then the owner is not going to be able to see it, and if outside what's stopping someone else reading it, pretending to be the owner and collecting the keys?

I assume in the latter case they would ask for ID before handing the keys over, but what if all your ID is in the house?

From time to time I go out on my bike with nothing but a house key.... I'd be a bit stuck if I came home and found BG had changed my locks.

I guess, if you don't owe money to anyone who could get a warrant to enter your home without your permission, you would have nothing to worry about. The OP does sound as if there has been a breakdown in communication somewhere along the line unless there is more to this story.

LewisHamilton

Sounds like you should raise a formal complaint and if they do not resolve it within 8 weeks then go to the energy ombudsman.

Regardless as to whether or not you had a debt, it sounds like you have experienced shortfalls in service. Would be worth asking the energy ombudsman to have a review if they don't resolve your complaint satisfactorily.

Mummy2211

I have raised a complaint, Although the complaints handler wasn't worried about the gas leak, as she thinks it was from our boiler, not the meter, Luckily for me I managed to call Cadent and get a copy of the report, which states the leak was from the gas meter and was leaking from two points, Poorly installed. So I will have fun with that when she calls me back on Wednesday!

We do owe BG some money, Yes and I have never denied this fact, BUT I have tried to resolve this matter with them, on a number of occasions.

What was funny in the post today I got TWO letters, regarding they are applying for a warrant on the 16th April.. One was addressed to me, and the other was to the occupier - Both letters came together in the same envelope!

I stand my ground, I did not in anyway get a letter regarding this at all, Otherwise I would have either sorted it out, or just stayed at home, I do not like people in my house when I am not here.

Not only that - I've now had 3 days out of the house (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) Due to Smell of gas Wednesday from when they changed it, Thursday no hot water and a gas leak, Friday I waited all day, Two failed appointments, I then had to take my children back to my parents house, BG turned up at 10pm Friday, only to be told, they are turning the boiler off completely and they will attend Saturday..

So not hot water or even any heating until they turn up to fix it!!

EachPenny

Smodlet wrote: »

I guess, if you don't owe money to anyone who could get a warrant to enter your home without your permission, you would have nothing to worry about.

They do have other entry powers though, and not necessarily giving you lots of notice. For example if there is a major leak on the network and the supply to your property fails, National Grid have to ensure people's individual supply is turned off before restoring the supply to the distribution network. If nobody is at home then they can gain access for that.

You could return from holiday and find your key doesn't work. What do you do then?

Smodlet

EachPenny wrote: »

They do have other entry powers though, and not necessarily giving you lots of notice. For example if there is a major leak on the network and the supply to your property fails, National Grid have to ensure people's individual supply is turned off before restoring the supply to the distribution network. If nobody is at home then they can gain access for that.

You could return from holiday and find your key doesn't work. What do you do then?

Damned good question, EP; I have no idea. Let us all hope this never happens to us. What a crock that would be to come home to! :eek::eek::eek:

I can only imagine one would hope there would be a notice on one's front door with a number to call to get the new key which, of course, would be manned 24/7... Not.

Mummy2211

So here we are 9 days later, 9 engineers later, We now have heating and hot water.

In this last 9 days, we have been left with two big gas leaks, One from the meter the day it was fitted, and one on wednesday when the engineer didnt check the boiler properly and left us with a major gas leak - Had i have no come home when i did, i dread to think what would have happened, the gad hit us when we opened the door like a smack in the face, Not only that my daughter was also in the house!

It has been a carry on completely. Poorly children and not heating or hot water has been a nightmare.

Now for the complaints to be sorted out - The complaint in regards to the warrant is now going to the ombudsman, as according to british Gas i havent accepted that resloved the issue, Although there was nothing said, or solved! All they said was we sent you a letter, it wasnt their fault we did get it.
But i asked them to prove the postage, which of course they cant, because it was not sent recored delivery, just standard post.
Not only that i have asked them for the information as to why they never came out on the 5th March as planned.

Customer service at British Gas is shocking to say the least, It has been nothing but a headache and hours of being on the phone, from one deparment to another. Weve had 9 engineers out, 9 days with no heating or hot water, and weve not even had an appoligie - Well apart from a manger from the engineers side, because of the gas leak one of the engineers left us with

Farway

Glad to hear you have hot water & heating back working

On subject of proof of posting by BG. As I understand it proof is not required, just posting the letter is sufficient in law.

Recorded delivery, proof of posting certificate & tracking is useful but not legally necessary, just saves hassle if a dispute arises