Vandalism/Fire Destroyed External Gas Meter. Who bears cost of replacing it?

silverbullit

Hi all,

i'd be very grateful for any thoughts/advice you may have about a problem i'm having.

Last week some vandals set my wheelie bin on fire in the middle of the night while i was asleep. The bin was near the external gas meter and so the fire destroyed the meter completely. The National Grid/Gas came out and cut off the gas connection for safety reasons and removed the burnt out gas meter.

I have informed my buildings insurance people who, so far have been quite good. However, they say that they are not allowed to deal with the gas connection and that i need to resolve this issue with the National Grid/Gas.

Does anyone know who is responsible for replacing the gas meter and who should bear the cost- is it the National Grid (since the meter was destroyed, not through any action/omission on my part, but by vandals), or is it my buildings insurance company?

On a related matter, my courtesy car (my own car is in the garage for repairs under warranty) was in the drive at the time of the fire and the fire resulted in one of the wing mirrors being melted. Can i claim for this under my buildings insurance, or should i just tell the car dealer who owns the car to claim for the damage under its car insurance? Would my own comprehensive car insurance cover such a scenario?

I know there are a number of queries above, but any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated. I'm in quite a desperate situation at the moment since i have no heating, hot water or cooking facilities and i'm facing the prospect of having to pay from my own pocket for the damage to the car.

Thank you all in anticipation....

V_tricky

Hi-

How awful!? There are really some scumbags out there.

I don't know who'd pay for the meter, but it will definately be the car insurance that would deal with the car, as it's the most appropriate insurer, although you will have to pay the excess (which can sometimes be pretty high on hire cars) - unless you paid extra for Collision Damage Waiver.

Hope you get it all sorted ASAP

sassi

Hi,

I think i would ask these guys, as they would probably know whos responsible for paying.

http://www.energywatch.org.uk/

good luck!

Debt_Free_Chick

Pretty sure that the meter is your responsibility. I can't see why your insurance wouldn't pay out.

However, you will need to get Transco/gas supplier to do the work and then bill you. Then use that bill to reclaim from your ins co.

Wing mirror on car ... again, I would have thought your insurance would pay out. But the owner of the car should claim on their insurance and then claim back from your ins co.

FlameCloud

As others have said, you insurance would cover the costs however they wouldnt be allowed to touch it. Get a bill from your supplier and give it to the insurers.

jessjess_2

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Pretty sure that the meter is your responsibility. I can't see why your insurance wouldn't pay out.

However, you will need to get Transco/gas supplier to do the work and then bill you. Then use that bill to reclaim from your ins co.

Wing mirror on car ... again, I would have thought your insurance would pay out. But the owner of the car should claim on their insurance and then claim back from your ins co.

Why would the car insurance claim off the home insurance? The insured wasent negligent, it was vandalism.