British Gas Problem

dori2o

My brother has a problem with British Gas.

he took the reading on moving into his property, but that same day he took out the gas meter, therefore he has not used any gas at all since 8th February as he is revovating the house and has had to repipe the gas supply to the boiler as it is going into the loft (when he buys it).

He got a estimated bill today and called BG to let them know the actual reading (the same as the opening reading), they have refused to accept the reading as they say it is impossible for him not to have used any gas and want to send someone round to read the meter.

My brother said fine, but he works all day, every day (inc Sat and Sun) and they have said that someone will call sometime on Tuesday next week. When he said that he needed a specific time they refused.

He's not going to miss a day from work to sit there and wait for someone to come and see the reading on the meter. He's self employed so it's not like he gets holiday pay.

They have said that if the guy who calls cannot get an answer on the day he arrives, they will need my brother to pay based on their estimated readings.

What does he do now?

Cardew

If you break the seals on a gas meter(to take it out) then I believe you will be in trouble.

Take this as a hypothetical situation:

I dont like paying for gas!

I remove my meter.

I then either fit a second meter, or fit a bypass pipe, and carry on using gas.

I insist on a specific time for someone to call so I can remove device used for stealing gas.

Tampering with the gas supply is a serious problem, not least from the safety point of view.

I am not suggesting that your brother is doing the above, but seals on a gas meter are there for a reason.

dori2o

I should have mentioned that my brother is a Corgi registered Gas/CH engineer/plumber. The meter has been removed according to all current gas regulations.

Cardew

Well that takes care of the safety issue.

However he(or anyone else) cannot simply remove the seals for his own benefit on a meter without the supplying company disconnecting the gas supply to the property first.

SwanJon

Did your brother inform BG that he'd taken the meter out?
What has he done with it?
Did he ask permission from the meter owner to tamper with it?
Can he prove that in doing so he hasn't consumed any gas? Without a meter in place and untouched it's not going to be easy.
Could you be in for them to come round - there just has to be someone 'responsible and over 16'.

whatatwit

If he needs to move the gas supply to the boiler, why did he need to remove the meter?
Would he not just need to run a pipe from the meter to wherever he wanted it.
As he is providing the reading and in effect disputing what BG have estimated, then he will have to allow them access to check the reading and re-issue the bill.

If he really cannot spare the time, then he will have to pay and then he will be in credit for when he starts to use gas.
I've never had any problems with BG accepting my very low usage on an empty property, but when they want to do a meter check, I re-arrange my work to be there. (I'm self employed also)

Cardew

I really am surprised that a "Corgi registered Gas/CH engineer/plumber" doesn't know the regulations about tampering with seals and removing gas meters.

I suggest that rather than your brother having a problem with British Gas, they have a problem with your brother.

dori2o

Cardew wrote: »

I really am surprised that a "Corgi registered Gas/CH engineer/plumber" doesn't know the regulations about tampering with seals and removing gas meters.

I suggest that rather than your brother having a problem with British Gas, they have a problem with your brother.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger, I'm only asking a question. I thought I may be helping my brother out but obviously not.

If you can't find something constructive to say, then don't say anything.

Cardew

dori2o wrote: »

Hey, don't shoot the messenger, I'm only asking a question. I thought I may be helping my brother out but obviously not.

If you can't find something constructive to say, then don't say anything.

Believe it or not, threads on MSE are read by quite a few people other than the OP and those who respond.

Therefore, it is constuctive(is it not?) to warn people who may read this thread that they cannot move into a house and remove a gas meter!!

Apart from the safety aspect(which of course won't apply if they are a "Corgi registered Gas/CH engineer/plumber") it is illegal and they could get taken to court.

It is also constructive to warn your "Corgi registered Gas/CH engineer/plumber" brother that he is in danger of losing his registration if he is reported.