Disconnected in Error....Long Wait For Reconnection

[tooth_fairy]

Swalec, in their wisdom, decided in June to disconnect our gas....the top and bottom of the issue was that when we switched to British Gas, the worng meter was taken and has only just been sorted out by Energywatch. In fact the dispute with Energywatch and Swalec was ongoing when they removed the meter, no prepayment meter was installed due to safety issues with the earth bonding to the gas meter, which we had sorted.

 

Anyway, we've managed to sort out the billing and have had money back from BG and paid the Swalec bill for the time that we were 'away' but weren't!

 

Swalec have admitted they were wrong and are very sorry etc etc but now we NEED to be reconnected and we are having to wait ages for Swalec to get ther act together. I understand that National Grid install the meters but we have been waiting for reinstallation since June and we paid our bill for the period due (without hesitation or argument) at the begining of September. They came to install a meter but it was a prepayment meter, which wasn't what we were told was happening, we were assured our credit meter was going back in as we'd always been in credit previously. The man said he could install the PP meter then I could sort it out with Swalec, as I was desperate, I agreed, then it transpired that the PP couldn't go in as both types were too big for the gap and the pipework was too short.

 

Anyway, I have chased up repeatedly and today, after going back to energywatch, Swalec said Nation Grid can come on 15th October to reinstall us!

 

I'm waiting for an operation and have been quite ill lately and this is doing my head in, they say that 15th October is the earliest but I really don't feel this is acceptable.

 

I have left a message for Energywatch but they said the legislation that would have meant our meter went back in within 5 days was scrapped 6-7 months ago and we are really at the mercy of Swalec and National Grid.

 

Please, any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm desperate, especially with the weather turning.

 

TF x

[tr03bor]

Do you have any children or anyone with a disability? This should speed up the appointment as you can say its an emergency, if not then yes you are at the mercy of swalec

[2Grumpy]

Am I the only person who's jaw hit the floor on reading this.

 

I'm not sure I understand some bits - like why was the original meter disconnected?

 

I would be on to the MD of swalec & national grid/transco (are they the same people?) to get this sorted - especially the swalec MD. I would ask if it could be speeded up by taking the meter from his home to replace yours, his could be put back in March.

 

I cannot believe that you have been without gas for 6 months - don't you cook with it?

 

I'm surprised that there isn't some action that you can take against them that might result in hurrying them up, though it might depend on why you were disconnected in the first place.

 

Grumpy

[tooth_fairy]

The meter was disconnected because we belived we were being supplied by and indeed we were paying £80 per month to BG for use for over 2 years.

 

18 months after, Swalec started sening demands for £900+, we did not understand this and after investigation, BG had taken the wrong meter over, an erroneous transfer, we were transferred back but between being transferred back and receiving a refund from BG, Swalec, disconnected us, whilst we were away for the day.

 

Energywatch has now sorted this and we have paid, sometime ago now, the balance owed, which we had to wait for from BG.

 

I haven't got gas cooking, I have electric and half the house is on storage heaters anyway.

 

I haven't got a disability but I am about to give up work for major surgery, I am on the emergency list and could go in on any day my surgeon operates.

 

I don't have any children either.

 

Swalec just aren't budging, they say it is up to National Grid.

 

TF x

[tr03bor]

 

I haven't got gas cooking, I have electric and half the house is on storage heaters anyway.

 

 

why do you need gas then?? for your hot water?

[tooth_fairy]

Yes, hot water and the remaining radiators, which are in the bedrooms and bathroom, all of which can get quite nippy! Also as we want to get rid of the storage heaters we want to get a full central heating system in at some point.

[tr03bor]

I'd say speak to transco, try and escalate the call to a manager, number 0800 111 999 i think