BoxT installed boiler. Cancellation rights. Help!

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Depends on how the contract was formed, if it a distance or off-premises there isn't a limit for gas boilers IIRC so you could cancel the goods (i.e the boiler) but would still have to pay for the service of having it fitted and the cost of it's removal to return it.

A more pragmatic approach would be to pay someone to come and sort out the gas supply between the meter and boiler so the new boiler can be tested. If it works that's great, if with a live gas supply it doesn't you'd go back to BoxT and ask them out to sort the issue.  

born_again

Was it never flagged in when purchasing the flat the gas was capped off?
Have you been paying any gas bills since moving in?

Molaram

born_again said:

Was it never flagged in when purchasing the flat the gas was capped off?
Have you been paying any gas bills since moving in?

It wasn't flagged, but I have been told that it is standard practice when a building is empty. Have not paid for gas since moving in as I did not have a supply. Am thinking I made a big mistake in not having an electric boiler installed - have no idea if the pipes in the flat go anywhere. 

photome

Molaram said:

photome said:

why on earth wasnt it established if there is a gas supply  before fitting a gas boiler


was there a gas boiler there before ?

has the gas hob ever worked since you have been there

do you know who the current or last gas supplier is/was

So, there is a gas meter that Southern Gas Network told me is for my flat. They established that it is live, but it was capped (as the building had been empty). The boiler engineer checked it as well. As I had not uncapped the meter initially, I was not using the gas hob (I cooked using the electric oven and my Ninja foodi). It took my ages to find out about the issue, as I had been told I had a working boiler that just needed to be switched back on by an engineer. 

I hired an engineer, who told me the original boiler did not work and would be cheaper to replace. That is why I had a new boiler installed... with disastrous results. Gas is live at the meter. The boiler is new. In between? Who knows where the pipes go?! I hope that clears some of the details up. It's all a big hot mess.

I would say your issue is with the engineer who told you the boiler didn’t work , any competent gas engineer would/ should have tried and tested  the supply.

Alderbank

photome said:

Molaram said:

photome said:

why on earth wasnt it established if there is a gas supply  before fitting a gas boiler


was there a gas boiler there before ?

has the gas hob ever worked since you have been there

do you know who the current or last gas supplier is/was

So, there is a gas meter that Southern Gas Network told me is for my flat. They established that it is live, but it was capped (as the building had been empty). The boiler engineer checked it as well. As I had not uncapped the meter initially, I was not using the gas hob (I cooked using the electric oven and my Ninja foodi). It took my ages to find out about the issue, as I had been told I had a working boiler that just needed to be switched back on by an engineer. 

I hired an engineer, who told me the original boiler did not work and would be cheaper to replace. That is why I had a new boiler installed... with disastrous results. Gas is live at the meter. The boiler is new. In between? Who knows where the pipes go?! I hope that clears some of the details up. It's all a big hot mess.

I would say your issue is with the engineer who told you the boiler didn’t work , any competent gas engineer would/ should have tried and tested  the supply.

It's quite common to be called out because the boiler just 'doesn't work'.
First job is to turn the gas off and take the cover off the boiler. Often (and presumably in this case) there is severe corrosion inside, so the boiler has to be condemned. No benefit at that point to waste the customer's money further by fiddling with the ignition, pilot light, etc. on a probably 20 year old boiler. However good the gas supply is doesn't matter - the boiler is fubar.

born_again

Molaram said:

born_again said:

Was it never flagged in when purchasing the flat the gas was capped off?
Have you been paying any gas bills since moving in?

It wasn't flagged, but I have been told that it is standard practice when a building is empty. Have not paid for gas since moving in as I did not have a supply. Am thinking I made a big mistake in not having an electric boiler installed - have no idea if the pipes in the flat go anywhere. 

Was there not a safety certificate etc covering the boiler. 

I would get a photo taken of the meter to show reading on there to cover yourself. As it is possible that someone will be looking for their standing charge for the period since you moved in. 
Use this link to see who this might be.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/finding-your-energy-supplier-or-network-operator

sheramber

Would it not be easier to get an engineer to uncap the supply, so you can use the boiler and the hob.

flo22

If the gas to the hob is capped would it not end up cheaper to get a new induction hob installed than uncapping the gas to the hob?

sheramber

flo22 said:

If the gas to the hob is capped would it not end up cheaper to get a new induction hob installed than uncapping the gas to the hob?

I htink it is the gas supply to the house that is capped. It needs to be uncapped to allow the gas boiler to work.

pinkshoes

Molaram said:

So, there is a gas meter that Southern Gas Network told me is for my flat. They established that it is live, but it was capped (as the building had been empty). The boiler engineer checked it as well. As I had not uncapped the meter initially, I was not using the gas hob (I cooked using the electric oven and my Ninja foodi). It took my ages to find out about the issue, as I had been told I had a working boiler that just needed to be switched back on by an engineer. 

I hired an engineer, who told me the original boiler did not work and would be cheaper to replace. That is why I had a new boiler installed... with disastrous results. Gas is live at the meter. The boiler is new. In between? Who knows where the pipes go?! I hope that clears some of the details up. It's all a big hot mess.

You need to contact BoxT again and lodge a complaint that the installation is not complete. 

The gas engineer should have been able to fix the problem. If you've got gas live at the meter then it was up to the gas engineer to make sure the gas flow reached the boiler, as they were informed of this on their first visit.

How did you pay? Or have you paid?? I'd be writing to BoxT and informing them that the installation is not complete, and they need to be in touch in the next 7 days to complete the installation. If they feel they are unable to complete the installation, then say you are happy to find another gas engineer that can complete it, and you will deduct the cost from what you agreed to pay for the boiler installation.

Just because they "can't do it", doesn't mean they can just wash their hands of it. They know the status, and have charged you to replace the boiler. Gas isn't rocket science. It's just pipes. Follow the pipe, find the blockage and ta da!