A funny happened with British Gas

[kartawick]

Hi Everyone .. My story is quite bizarre I hope it tickles you.. .. Its with regard to the antics of British Gas.

In short- BG is applying for a warrant to entire my house to inspect my gas meter .. After discussing at length why this would be completely pointless, furthermore what had happened to all the information I supplied to them before..
Last week, they left me a note saying they want to disconnect my gas meter.. It all sounds quite normal at this point, BUT ....... I don't have a gas meter ..BG took it out years ago.... I've explained the whole scenario till I'm blue in the face .. but they still want to disconnect the gas meter I don't have!

It's a long story, but I'll keep it short.... 5 years ago BG took out my gas meter to replace it with a new one but brought the wrong meter, it wouldn't fit.... Inbetween this trauma and coming back to fit the new meter, BG sister company dug up the gas pipes in the road to fit new ones. But, when BG eventually arrived to re-fit my new gas meter, they said they couldn't because I don't have a gas supply! The pipe people wouldn't connect me because I had no meter... After the nightmare continued long enough, I decided I wanted nothing to do with the idiots ever again. So, hence, I don't want them in my house to check, read, take out my gas meter I don't have! ...

This new episode with BG is very stressful, particularly when it is all their fault. There was no apology, compensation, or even the thing I really wanted - a gas meter.. If anyone could advise me what I can do by law I would appreciate it .. Many thanks...
Mark cartawick

[jaguarsuk]

Hi and welcome. What a farce and it seems the meter connection person didn't bother to inform British Gas that they hadn't done the job due to no supply at the time of fitting.

Have you complained to their complaints department?

If you have kept all the letters you have sent them then you could potentially claim against them for Harassment. Unsurprisingly you wouldn't be the first and in Ferguson v British Gas [2009] the Claimant Ferguson successfully argued that an entity can harass an individual.

Even if you haven't already tried their complaints department, perhaps a letter to the CEO detailing:

• they can't read your meter as you don't have one
• you have tried exhaustively to explain this multiple times
• they are threatening you with legal proceedings to enter your home
• you find their actions to be distressing and causing you anxiety
• their actions are contrary sections 1 & 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• if they do not cease and desist it will be your intention to file a claim in the county court citing Ferguson v British Gas [2009] that they as an entity can harass you as an individual
• you require them to confirm within 28 days they will not seek a warrant to enter your property and they will not contact you further

I would hope that they will then stop and apologise, but if not then it's up to you whether you wanted to go ahead and claim against them.

Equally regards the warrant let them apply, attend the hearing and explain to the judge you have no meter for them to read so you want the proceedings dismissed. On dismissal ask for a costs award for dealing with the application and attending the hearing.

[Phaeton]

I really don't have any useful information to empart other than good luck, Do you have any thoughts slainte caragh ?

[slainte caragh]

I am taking it as read that your home is heated by electricity?

If you can give me a few hours, and a couple of cups of coffee (none yet and my brain is still slightly frazzled from yesterday's 14 hour shift) I will find out which clowns are responsible for the connection etc.

I would actually agree with jaguarsuk and say, attend the court with proof (i,e photographic/video proof) you have no gas meter. Ask them to throw the case out and award compensation, and then hit 'em with a nice little visit from the ICO with regards to breaching DPA by keeping inaccurate records!

When I am 100% awake I will take a look in to the whos and whats of who to complain to etc.