British Gas Warrant of Entry

[Ivy]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

hi
glad to see you are keeping at it - I couldn't deal with my BG problems in the end and they had done the same thing to me, that is gone into Mag for a warrant with a plain piece of paper typed up by anybody style - inaccurate info and no opportunity to go to court with no advance warning - I note that E-On and local council tax enforcement teams do pretty much the same thing to their customers. Wasn't their a discussion somewhere online by judges about these warrants?

Hello All,
I am new to the forum. I was prompted to join as I have had the horrible experience that BG did break in to my home when I was not there - just to read the meter. I hasten to add that I am fully paid up and have provided readings regularly. I also contacted them to arrange a visit.

The BG intruders did not leave a copy of the warrant. I called the court and was told that the application was not in my name, and furthermore that it was part of a bulk application that was signed off in one go by the judge. That sounds very questionable to me.

I have asked BG to verify the claims made to support their application - I await an answer. My door was also damaged - I have asked for the procedure to request compensation. This is clearly just the beginning...

In 2008 Lord Selsdon introduced a House of Lords Bill (HL Bill 71) to regulate powers of entry - have a read. It should be brought in to force - the Gas Act 1954 is outdated and allows unecessary and disproportionate intrusion.

[Jess]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Ivy

I am sorry to hear of your bad experience

I was more fortunate with my outcome

But agree with you about the Selsdon Bill

Part of the problem now is that all steps of the process are sub-contracted, so the 1954 Act is outdated as it did not even consider modern circumstances

Perhaps you have a local MP who will be worth contacting in this respect?

[Animal]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Lastest update: Back from court, application rejected.
BG rep was actually quite decent. Willingly told judge how BG had "accidentally" closed their bank account resulting in charges to my account. He admitted under oath that the alleged debt consisted of charges, not supply. He explained to the judge that the gas had been switched off so a pre pay meter was pointless... He asked judge to dismiss the application, which the judge was happy to do.
Others there defending applications, one of which didn't even have gas in the property...!

[Animal]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Yesterday I received a letter from BG stating that they would be attending today to fit a pre pay meter...!

[Kati]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

but ... they said in court that getting the pre-pay meter put in was pointless!

Have you got anything from the courts that could be used to prove this?

If I was in your position, I would be refusing entry to BG until the police are present then allowing the policeman in and showing them all the evidence you have of BG's harassment

Maybe it's time you went to the press??

[nemesis45]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Sounds to me like time for Formal Complaint to the CEO and seek some redress!!

[Animal]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

I've emailed Chris Weston asking on what authority they are intending to enter my property, given the Mags have rejected their application six times and two have clearly stated that "it's not a matter for this court"... No response as yet.

[Animal]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Nobody turned up, so I suspect the letter was sent in error on the assumption they would get the Warrant...

Response to earlier email:

Thank you for your email of 12 December 2014. I’m sorry that we’re not meeting your expectations at the moment and that you’ve had cause to complain. I would like to reassure you that we take all complaints very seriously.

The details of your complaint have been allocated to a dedicated account manager in British Gas Executive Office. As we work to resolve your complaint we will keep you fully informed of its progress, and we’ll be in contact within the next 5 working days.

I understand that you have previously had reason to complain about this matter and I’m sorry that it remains outstanding. Due to the timeframe of your original complaint, we are obliged to provide you with details of the Ombudsman Services for Energy; this information will be provided under separate cover. Please be assured however that we are committed to resolving your concerns just as soon as is possible.

If you’d like to know more about our complaints handling procedure you can view a copy by either going online at britishgas.co.uk/energycomplaints or by contacting us using the above details and one of our advisors will arrange to send you a copy free of charge.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Yours sincerely

Shane Bonney
Customer Relations Manager
Executive Office

[Kati]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

I'd put in an official complaint ... they shouldn't send out letters without checking their fact are right first! unnecessary stress!

[Don Quixote]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Evening Animal. What happened with this in the end? I have a similar case, going on since 2007... and a trip to Magistrates next Friday to defend their eighth warrant application.

[charitynjw]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Hi Don Quixote

This may help. (Harassment)

http://swarb.co.uk/ferguson-v-british-gas-trading-ltd-ca-10-feb-2009/

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2009/46.html

[Don Quixote]

Re: British Gas Warrant of Entry

Thank you – I’m very familiar with those, and have referred BG to them many times. They want about £2.5k now and I don’t owe them anything. But they keep on going back to court... even though I now have a complaint in with the ombudsman (took all that time to get a letter of deadlock – I kid you not).

The amount is made up of gross overcharging by wild estimates (even though they have the readings – they have upped my estimated use by 300% in a year), and charges that I have always disputed. They even offered me a refund of £1000, but then withdrew it as they claimed it was a full and final offer, which it clearly was not. And I had accepted it!

The next hearing is at a court 12 miles away rather than two miles away. I’m wondering if this is a new trick to try and catch me out, or if they now expect people to travel half way across London to defend themselves.

I am seriously thinking of going for an injunction...

- - - Updated - - -

Anyway, lots of similarities with Animal’s case – that’s why I’m so interested in the outcome. Sorry for the rant...