The great moving your gas supply rip off

Micawber_2

There's some great tips on this site about how to cut your gas bill but what about this one?
We're currently having an extension built and as a result we have to have our gas meter moved to an outside wall of the property (the supply currently comes into the house through the wall to a meter under the stairs). This isn't allowed on new buildings and must be put right if you extend due to building regulations.
We need the gas board to come out and re-direct the supply by running an additional 4 metre length of pipe to the new meter box which will be on an outside wall. The route of the pipe has already been excavated by our builder and been temporarily filled with rubble so it shouldn't be too long a job.
The cost for getting it shifted? Just short of £500.00!
Our plumber can do everything inside the house but the re-routing of the gas main has, as far as I know, to be done by the gas board.
Is this right or has anyone on here had similar quotes that they've been able to knock down? Our gas supplier is Npower but apparently the have to get Transco to do the work.
Seems to me they can charge what they like.
And you have to pay up front before they've even done the work, i.e send a cheque off when accepting the quote and wait for approx. three weeks for them to come.

stevemcb

had exactly the same thing,,built extension didnt have to redirect existing pipe only to get it shortened . Got sent flow diagrams ect to work out price .£260 just to get existing supply shortened by 3 meters .they have you over a barrel