Gas Alliance

Butlers1982

ive posted this in consumer vent but got no reply:

We are having the metal pipes in our area changed to plastic and as a result the whole area is in an absolute mess.
Prior to their arrival they sent a letter explaining what they were going to do and that if they damaged anything they would fix it.
They did some work on the footpath at the bottom of my drive and knocked down the wall. They admited it was their fault and said they would send someone to fix it. The thing is, they took away the bricks and its took them 4 weeks to "fix" it.
Only thing is its an absolute disgrace- my 3 year could have done better. The wall is now not matching and the bricks are different colours, not as it was in the first place.
When i first complained, they sent round a "supervisor" who was aggressive and rude and made a comment along the lines of" well its a bad wall anyway"

Anyway now im sick and fed up I want the whole wall rebuilding, they have damaged around 30% of it and they havent made it.
Where do I go now can someone please advise me?

Thanks!

can anyone give me any suggestions?
The wall they have damaged is not connected to the work they have done, basically they have knocked it down using a digger. they didnt need to do anything to it to do the work

Cardew

A call to Energywatch will point you in the right direction, even if they can't take up the matter themselves; they are really helpful.

Failing that - small claims court as the firm are not playing ball.

However write letters to whoever you are making a complaint to, as phone calls are no good in this sort of case. In your complaint say exactly what you want - the wall rebuilt properly.

Terrylw1

This requiries a bit more work than a usual complaint. If you go to Energywatch, I would ask them for their opinion on who you can complain to as things like this don't make it their way as much.

Ofgem are also there for complaints. However, the DTI may also be an appropriate complaint channel for this. Depends on who can most adequately cover it.

If they cannot offer anything, you need to go to small claims.

I guess they will argue that they have completed their works per the agreement but I would imagine that they should also consider the style of the brickwork so they cannot use cheap bricks to patch up something.

Cardew is right, don't make calls to these people as you will just be calling the most junior people in the organisation when you need someone much higher up. The threat of legal action to a call centre bod is meaningless as most couldn't care less about their employer, however to a director it's a bigger problem.

Suggest digging for a directors name on the web.

Terrylw1

Ok, here's their organisations structure chart, so that should help you write to someone higher up:

http://www.nwgasalliance.co.uk/Organisation-Chart.html

Ofgem is the ombudsman, so they won't be a member of them but will be governed by them and the DTI.

Whilst they may have said they cannot guarantee the style, that doesn't mean they couldn't have discussed it with you and even delayed the rebuild if required in order to obtain the brickwork. Sounds like a shoddy organisation really that has little control over the work done.

Butlers1982

Id really appreciate some assistance writting the letter and who do you think its best to address it to?

Sorry to be a pain!

Butlers1982

UPDATE!

phoned energywatch, asking for advice, told them what has happened and they have "taken the case on".
Will give you further update when received but many thanks to CARDEW & TERRYLW1 for your advice, much appreciated.

Hopefully I will get a decent wall rebuilt to MY Standard

Terrylw1

Nice one.

It did sound dodgy that they don't have to rebuild to your standard. I thought it strange because some people have expensive brickwork and wouldn't let them use cheaper bricks to patch it up.

Good luck