Not getting ripped of by gas contractors?

[Jamie]

Ok, yesterday, the "gas men" came and redid our connection from house, to gas mains out on the street. Laid new pipes, had the floorboard up etc. This was a legal requirement for us to have this work done (so they said), and no charge to us.

Very dissapointed with the results; as a consequence of having this work done (which was forced upon us), our boiler has stopped working. It was fine immediately before the work, straight after the work, kaput, nothing.

They tried to get it working, but no success, and just left it.

After speaking with the contractor on the phone; they're essentially denying any liability, and are not going to do anything about it. They're claiming the fault is not related to the work they carried out. I believe it's as a direct consequence, and I should not be liable for this.

So, I'm seeking advice, what can I do in this situation?

[Brutha]

How about speaking to a lawyer?

[Jamie]

Hey Brutha; thank you for your response. I've been stressing big time over this, all day!

I'm afraid a lawyer would cost more than just to get it fixed.

Anyhow, there's been developments...

I emailed them:

Hello,

A couple of your workmen carried out work on my mothers property, yesterday, 29 May 2008; at the following address:

<address>

The work involved laying of new gas pipes under the floor.

As a consequence of this work, our boiler has stopped working.

I've spoken to your workman, who is essentially denying any liability for this.

I'm very shocked at his response, my mother is an OAP, and now without hot water and central heating.

From our perspective, everything was working fine immediately before installation of the new gas pipe, and the boiler has not worked since. So the problem is as a direct consequence of the work your chaps carried out.


Firstly, I'd like to ask you if as a good will gesture, you are willing to rectify the fault? If so, there is no need for me to take this matter any further.

If you're unwilling to do so; please could you state your case in writing; as I would like to pursue complaints with the appropriate bodies, and publications.

Kind Regards,
<name>

After sending that email; they sent an engineer round .....

He took a look at the boiler and spent a good 20 mins talking with us. He seemed to think that the fault is not related to the work they carried out (while my instinct, is to assosiate the fault with the job they did, simply because it stopped working instantly, after they did the work).

He said, to get an independent corgi gas engineer, to check out the boiler (and optionally carry out repair), and also a report, to say if the boiler fault is linked to the work they carried out. If it is, they'll pay, no problem. Which to be honest, seems quite fair.

He did come across as being pretty honest guy (or maybe I'm a soft touch!). They offered to lend us a couple of fan heaters, which he said we could keep no matter what the outcome of the main issue.

So, it could well just be a coincidence, or not, who knows. I feel a little bit happier, cos he came across as a decent, honest-ish chap (like a lot of people, I can be a bit cynical of trade people, and that's probably quite unfair of me).

It's been an education so far. Maybe I'm being a sucker, I dunno..