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Faulty meter - ongoing saga!

kimarie
kimarie Posts: 3 Newbie
Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
in Energy
The gas meter in our rental property has not had a working LCD reading panel for over 5 years. Attempts to rectify by the tenant have been fruitless, with the supplier, EDF, saying they cannot replace it due to incorrect pipework? The supplier periodically requests a reading, sometimes threatening, so the tenant explains they can't due to the he problem but we're getting nowhere. 
Any idea what's potentially the problem??
The property was built in 2002 and was one of a final 4 properties on a small development.
Sometime between then and 2012 the battery was changed on the LCD screen rather than replace the meter (notification at the time that the meter was being replaced but the engineer, someone we happen to know, just said it didn't need replacing and changed the battery).
Help!
«1

Comments

  • Netexporter
    Netexporter Posts: 2,175 Forumite
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    Most likely a flat battery, although they are supposed to be good for well over 10 years. I take it the correct button is being pressed to illuminate the screen? If the meter was actually supplied by EDF then it is usually the middle of the three buttons that needs pressing. Another possibility is that the backlight of the display has failed. Sometimes you can read the meter if you shine a torch very close to the display.
  • Zandoni
    Zandoni Posts: 3,465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you can't read the meter they can't bill you with it, I'd suggest you take a firmer stance with EDF.
  • MeteredOut
    MeteredOut Posts: 3,510 Forumite
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    Zandoni said:
    If you can't read the meter they can't bill you with it, I'd suggest you take a firmer stance with EDF.
    I wonder if the tenant is getting (and paying) estimated bills. So could be drastically under or over paying. 
  • kimarie
    kimarie Posts: 3 Newbie
    Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
    MeteredOut said:
    Zandoni said:
    If you can't read the meter they can't bill you with it, I'd suggest you take a firmer stance with EDF.
    I wonder if the tenant is getting (and paying) estimated bills. So could be drastically under or over paying. 
    Yes, tenants are being estimated gas despite trying to resolve the issue and EDF not helping. 
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 19,899 Forumite
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    You could point EDF to The Electricity and Gas (Standards of Performance) (Suppliers) Regulations 2015 and ask where your £30 payments are for failing to sort this out in a timely fashion?
    See in particular regulations 4 (re. faulty meters) and 8 (re. payments).
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  • Mobtr
    Mobtr Posts: 672 Forumite
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    How is the pipe work incorrect. Is that down to you to fix? 
  • Netexporter
    Netexporter Posts: 2,175 Forumite
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    They won't connect to lead pipes. That's up to the owner to bring up to standard. 
  • Mobtr
    Mobtr Posts: 672 Forumite
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    Netexporter said:
    They won't connect to lead pipes. That's up to the owner to bring up to standard. 
    If that’s the case, don’t see how EDF are to blame 
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,757 Forumite
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    Netexporter said:
    They won't connect to lead pipes. That's up to the owner to bring up to standard. 
    Are lead pipes really likely on  a build that recent?
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  • Netexporter
    Netexporter Posts: 2,175 Forumite
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    EssexHebridean said:
    Netexporter said:
    They won't connect to lead pipes. That's up to the owner to bring up to standard. 
    Are lead pipes really likely on  a build that recent?
    No. I hadn't clocked the build date. Could they have used plastic? That's only permitted outside/buried, because there's no fire resistance.
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