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- From: rf@cl.cam.ac.uk (Robin Fairbairns)
- Subject: Re: Gas inspection cover
- Message-ID: <1992Nov17.101628.12096@infodev.cam.ac.uk>
- Sender: news@infodev.cam.ac.uk (USENET news)
- Nntp-Posting-Host: lelaps.cl.cam.ac.uk
- Organization: U of Cambridge Computer Lab, UK
- References: <JC.92Nov16145544@mr-potter-t-crosser-i-dotter.fulcrum.co.uk>
- Distribution: uk
- Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 10:16:28 GMT
- Lines: 34
-
- In article <JC.92Nov16145544@mr-potter-t-crosser-i-dotter.fulcrum.co.uk>, jc@fulcrum.co.uk (John Callingham) writes:
- |> The inspection cover to my gas meter is on the outside of my house and
- |> has recently come off. British Gas have said that they will charge me
- |> to repair it. Is this reasonable given that;-
- |> 1. The cover appears to be the property of BG as it has their name on
- |> it.
- |> 2. I do not have a key to the cover.
- |> 3. The cover has only ever been opened by BG employees.
- |> 4. The cover is protecting BG equipment, i.e the meter.
-
- The meter reader twice left the door (I called it) to the our meter
- box open. And both times, we didn't notice until it started banging
- about in a subsequent gale. On the first occasion (only one broken
- hinge) we were able to jam it shut. On the second occasion, we went
- and moaned at BG. We won - they replaced the whole box, and we didn't
- pay.
-
- So I would recommend that you fight it. If the worst comes to the
- worst, take it to consumer affairs at the council (or is there still a
- Gas Consumer's Council? - I once had startling service after
- approaching them in public industry days). You could probably
- usefully threaten to take them to the small claims court if they _do_
- charge, since it's their servants who are at fault.
-
- Good luck.
-
- And, by the way, you _should_ have a key to the box, since that's
- where the stop-cock is. It should be easily accessible at all times,
- so that if you have a leak you can quickly switch off the supply
- (_before_ calling BG).
- --
- Robin (come back John Drummond) Fairbairns rf@cl.cam.ac.uk
- U of Cambridge Computer Lab, Pembroke St, Cambridge CB2 3QG, UK
- "They had twelve years to lay in wait for us" - Bush supporter on Nov 4
-