Compensation

Meter_maid20

I had smart meters fitted a month ago. The electric one was fine, but when the installer completed the gas one and turned the gas back on, there was a gas leak. I contacted Octopus Energy, my supplier, and they said I needed to find an engineer to fix it and to pay for the repairs. He arrived after a couple of days and was horrified to discover that the installer, on fixing the meter base to the floor, had drilled through the gas pipe (and put a rawl plug and screw in the pipe!) I paid the £600+ for the repair, and after some discussion that was eventually refunded by Octopus. I am a pensioner and had three days without heating and hot water, plus the stress of the situation and time involved in trying to sort this out with Octopus, reporting it to the Gas Safe Register etc. The installer was subcontracted by Octopus, from a company in Enfield. He could potentially have caused an explosion or fire when the gas was turned back on - with me in the house! Octopus have offered, as a 'goodwill gesture', to credit my account with them with £200 for the inconvenience caused. I have, fortunately, never been in this sort of situation before, so does their offer sound reasonable and fair? Opinions, please. Thanks.

400ixl

Can't see you getting a better offer, probably better than the ombudsman would make them pay if you went the complaints route.

powerful_Rogue

Meter_maid20 said:

I had smart meters fitted a month ago. The electric one was fine, but when the installer completed the gas one and turned the gas back on, there was a gas leak. I contacted Octopus Energy, my supplier, and they said I needed to find an engineer to fix it and to pay for the repairs. He arrived after a couple of days and was horrified to discover that the installer, on fixing the meter base to the floor, had drilled through the gas pipe (and put a rawl plug and screw in the pipe!) I paid the £600+ for the repair, and after some discussion that was eventually refunded by Octopus. I am a pensioner and had three days without heating and hot water, plus the stress of the situation and time involved in trying to sort this out with Octopus, reporting it to the Gas Safe Register etc. The installer was subcontracted by Octopus, from a company in Enfield. He could potentially have caused an explosion or fire when the gas was turned back on - with me in the house! Octopus have offered, as a 'goodwill gesture', to credit my account with them with £200 for the inconvenience caused. I have, fortunately, never been in this sort of situation before, so does their offer sound reasonable and fair? Opinions, please. Thanks.

Seems a very generous good will offer rather then compensation.

Compensation would be for additional expense such as having to purchase an electric blanket to keep warm whilst the gas was off etc.

grn99

Goodwill is normally the route to pacify us without admitting liability, regardless of the amount. The only way you'd get any further would be talking to a solicitor I think, and with no guarantees. I don't think the Ombudsman will do anything now, as in theory they have rectified the situation, presumably with your agreement? I don't think they'd do anymore than recover out of pocket for you and that's happened.

Swipe

Take the £200. Pursuing them for more will probably result in more stress for you.

TroubledTarts

Seems a good offer

pseudodox

That is awful - but as you had the £600 refunded already I would take the £200 and avoid any further stress.  This prompts me ask the question - when my smart meters are fitted are the installers guaranteed to be Gas Safe Registered?  I will anyway ask to check their ID before allowing them into my home and anywhere near my gas meter.

Good to hear that you reported them to the GSR.

Meter_maid20

Thanks for all your comments. I will accept their offer and leave it at that. The guy who installed it was gas safe registered but obviously needs more training! Maybe Octopus Energy needs to review which companies they use to subcontract their work. However, my house is still standing! Ironically, the gas meter is not working (no display showing), but at least the app lets me check the usage. Thanks, forum people.

debitcardmayhem

Meter_maid20 said:

Thanks for all your comments. I will accept their offer and leave it at that. The guy who installed it was gas safe registered but obviously needs more training! Maybe Octopus Energy needs to review which companies they use to subcontract their work. However, my house is still standing! Ironically, the gas meter is not working (no display showing), but at least the app lets me check the usage. Thanks, forum people.

You need to press the button on the gas meter to wake up the display, it runs on a battery and tries to conserve it for 5 or more years.