No Gas For 5 Days
Discussion
My 80 yr old mum hasn't had gas for 5 days due to a problem with water getting into the main - I've offered for her to move in but they need her in the house to be able to turn it back on and they've had her outside at 11.30pm !
In fairness the gas company have had a people digging up the road for the full 5 days and supplied fan heaters
But obviously mum hasn't had central heating nor hot water and it's been below freezing all week
My sister and her family are visiting her over Christmas (from Oz) for 2 weeks starting today, exacerbating the problem
Does anyone know what the position is regarding the gas supplier liability as my sister is now looking into hotels but obviously doesn't know whether she would have to book for a day or two weeks
Or is there any way to rig up a temporary gas supply or any other bright ideas ?
In fairness the gas company have had a people digging up the road for the full 5 days and supplied fan heaters
But obviously mum hasn't had central heating nor hot water and it's been below freezing all week
My sister and her family are visiting her over Christmas (from Oz) for 2 weeks starting today, exacerbating the problem
Does anyone know what the position is regarding the gas supplier liability as my sister is now looking into hotels but obviously doesn't know whether she would have to book for a day or two weeks
Or is there any way to rig up a temporary gas supply or any other bright ideas ?
Sorry but I would take the Health and Safety approach - your mum needs to be kept warm and dry. Take her to yours.
The gas company can have a set of keys given to an allocated person to access whatever it is they are on about if they want. But I would not be risking an 80 year old being cold in this weather, it could be a very dangerous outcome.
The gas company can have a set of keys given to an allocated person to access whatever it is they are on about if they want. But I would not be risking an 80 year old being cold in this weather, it could be a very dangerous outcome.
Is this the problem up in Sheffield or another one?
Agree with above comment, family first, get her safe and warm.
I don't know what has been provided by water / gas company beyond some fan heaters, electricity not cheap, to keep her warm, they'd be getting some stick from me if not acted on that in addition to trying to fix fault.
Agree with above comment, family first, get her safe and warm.
I don't know what has been provided by water / gas company beyond some fan heaters, electricity not cheap, to keep her warm, they'd be getting some stick from me if not acted on that in addition to trying to fix fault.
That is shoddy, at the very least the gas supplier should be able to contact her when they’re ready to switch back on & let her live in healthy conditions meanwhile.
As for rigging up a temp supply I wouldn’t try that route but I’m sure its possible to rent bottled gas heaters - send the bill to her gas supplier when you are ready to tell them just how s
te they are.
As for rigging up a temp supply I wouldn’t try that route but I’m sure its possible to rent bottled gas heaters - send the bill to her gas supplier when you are ready to tell them just how s
te they are.The most important thing a gentleman must know is when to stop being a gentleman.
Find out who is in charge, call them, list all their failings and inadequacies then drop the F-bomb on them and tell them to get it sorted
Don't start by swearing and ranting, ask open questions like 'do you consider this to be acceptable?' or 'how would you feel if your parents were in the same position?' Then once you have them squirming and feeling bad let them have it with both barrels
And take them for enough compensation to cover the entire winters heating bill!
Find out who is in charge, call them, list all their failings and inadequacies then drop the F-bomb on them and tell them to get it sorted
Don't start by swearing and ranting, ask open questions like 'do you consider this to be acceptable?' or 'how would you feel if your parents were in the same position?' Then once you have them squirming and feeling bad let them have it with both barrels
And take them for enough compensation to cover the entire winters heating bill!
Tango13 said:
The most important thing a gentleman must know is when to stop being a gentleman.
Find out who is in charge, call them, list all their failings and inadequacies then drop the F-bomb on them and tell them to get it sorted
Don't start by swearing and ranting, ask open questions like 'do you consider this to be acceptable?' or 'how would you feel if your parents were in the same position?' Then once you have them squirming and feeling bad let them have it with both barrels
And take them for enough compensation to cover the entire winters heating bill!
Apologies if it's already been mentioned but is it actually the gas Company's "fault"? Also could they be doing anything more?Find out who is in charge, call them, list all their failings and inadequacies then drop the F-bomb on them and tell them to get it sorted
Don't start by swearing and ranting, ask open questions like 'do you consider this to be acceptable?' or 'how would you feel if your parents were in the same position?' Then once you have them squirming and feeling bad let them have it with both barrels
And take them for enough compensation to cover the entire winters heating bill!
Spoke to mum this morning she's in tears - been on hold many times for 30 mins only to be then cut off
She didn't want to call the emergency line as she didn't want to block emergencies
I called the emergency line, to listen to a message saying how they were busy and not to shout or abuse their staff - which suggests gross incompetence
I got through after 15 mins and was told they could see the job but I had to call another number to speak to someone - sure enough after 30 mins on hold I was cut off
How is this the way for a Gas Network to be run ?
I've fired off an email to the CEO having had success with this in the past with other companies
A quick google suggests Mum can claim £60/day back but that's not going to cover a hotel for 5 people
I know we're incredibly lucky in the UK but things just seem to have been going downhill for years
She didn't want to call the emergency line as she didn't want to block emergencies
I called the emergency line, to listen to a message saying how they were busy and not to shout or abuse their staff - which suggests gross incompetence
I got through after 15 mins and was told they could see the job but I had to call another number to speak to someone - sure enough after 30 mins on hold I was cut off
How is this the way for a Gas Network to be run ?
I've fired off an email to the CEO having had success with this in the past with other companies
A quick google suggests Mum can claim £60/day back but that's not going to cover a hotel for 5 people
I know we're incredibly lucky in the UK but things just seem to have been going downhill for years
FiF said:
Is this the problem up in Sheffield or another one?
Another one I would think, the Stannington one is just about fixed: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorksh...FiF said:
Agree with above comment, family first, get her safe and warm.
I don't know what has been provided by water / gas company beyond some fan heaters, electricity not cheap, to keep her warm, they'd be getting some stick from me if not acted on that in addition to trying to fix fault.
Definitely this, dealing with utility companies is of secondary importance. Hope she has a cheerful, cosy and comfortable Christmas.I don't know what has been provided by water / gas company beyond some fan heaters, electricity not cheap, to keep her warm, they'd be getting some stick from me if not acted on that in addition to trying to fix fault.
If this is planned work she shouldn't be off gas for five days. If it is reactive to a fault, especially in Sheffield (see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorksh... then Cadent (or the relevant network operator) should be providing a lot more support.
Call Cadent (or the relevant network operator) and keep hassling. Fan heaters are about the best they can do in the very short term but the more noise you make the more it will help. If it is in Sheffield there should be much more help available. At five days I would also be calling the local authority's social care team for short term support and looking at what the Salvation Army can do as well.
Longer term as others have said make sure she is on the Priority Services Register. Many old folk are reluctant to do so as they don't want to be a burden but Cadent et al are incentivised by OfGem to get people on the PSR and at 80 she would be daft not to be on it. Also make sure that you follow up with Cadent or etc if it was planned work, there are agreed levels of compensation that should be automatic if Cadent or etc haven't done what they should have done wrt to advance notice and the work timescales.
Finally an email or letter to the CEO of the network will definitely bring "action this day" - I used to be on the wrong end of phone calls from Cadent's CEO in exactly these circumstances, he takes it very seriously. Look up the relevant operator on CEOEmail.com for their contact details.
Call Cadent (or the relevant network operator) and keep hassling. Fan heaters are about the best they can do in the very short term but the more noise you make the more it will help. If it is in Sheffield there should be much more help available. At five days I would also be calling the local authority's social care team for short term support and looking at what the Salvation Army can do as well.
Longer term as others have said make sure she is on the Priority Services Register. Many old folk are reluctant to do so as they don't want to be a burden but Cadent et al are incentivised by OfGem to get people on the PSR and at 80 she would be daft not to be on it. Also make sure that you follow up with Cadent or etc if it was planned work, there are agreed levels of compensation that should be automatic if Cadent or etc haven't done what they should have done wrt to advance notice and the work timescales.
Finally an email or letter to the CEO of the network will definitely bring "action this day" - I used to be on the wrong end of phone calls from Cadent's CEO in exactly these circumstances, he takes it very seriously. Look up the relevant operator on CEOEmail.com for their contact details.
Thanks all
It's not Sheffield, it wasn't planned - there has been a long history of water getting into the gas main and as she's at the bottom of the hill, it's her who's affected first
All Cadent phone systems don't work, they just cut you off
Nothing on Twitter but Facebook has at least got a response although they are saying it's fixed - FFS !
I received a reply from the CEO (presumably his customer care team) within 15 mins promising a follow up - we'll see
I've finally convinced mum to come here, she's having a shower as I type, although what happens when my sister and her family arrive this afternoon could be interesting
It's not Sheffield, it wasn't planned - there has been a long history of water getting into the gas main and as she's at the bottom of the hill, it's her who's affected first
All Cadent phone systems don't work, they just cut you off
Nothing on Twitter but Facebook has at least got a response although they are saying it's fixed - FFS !
I received a reply from the CEO (presumably his customer care team) within 15 mins promising a follow up - we'll see
I've finally convinced mum to come here, she's having a shower as I type, although what happens when my sister and her family arrive this afternoon could be interesting
KTMsm said:
My 80 yr old mum hasn't had gas for 5 days due to a problem with water getting into the main - I've offered for her to move in but they need her in the house to be able to turn it back on and they've had her outside at 11.30pm !
In fairness the gas company have had a people digging up the road for the full 5 days and supplied fan heaters
But obviously mum hasn't had central heating nor hot water and it's been below freezing all week
My sister and her family are visiting her over Christmas (from Oz) for 2 weeks starting today, exacerbating the problem
Does anyone know what the position is regarding the gas supplier liability as my sister is now looking into hotels but obviously doesn't know whether she would have to book for a day or two weeks
Or is there any way to rig up a temporary gas supply or any other bright ideas ?
Stannington Sheffield?In fairness the gas company have had a people digging up the road for the full 5 days and supplied fan heaters
But obviously mum hasn't had central heating nor hot water and it's been below freezing all week
My sister and her family are visiting her over Christmas (from Oz) for 2 weeks starting today, exacerbating the problem
Does anyone know what the position is regarding the gas supplier liability as my sister is now looking into hotels but obviously doesn't know whether she would have to book for a day or two weeks
Or is there any way to rig up a temporary gas supply or any other bright ideas ?
Sorry, just read the whole thread. The Sheffield one is about 1/2 a mile from me. Just missed us luckily.
Should anyone have a similar issue in the future - contacting the CEO is the way to go
I admit there have been engineers working on it for 5 days but I got a reply from the Operations Manager within 2 hours combined with the Network supervisor visiting and turning the gas back on and a schedule to keep on top of the issue long term
100% result
I admit there have been engineers working on it for 5 days but I got a reply from the Operations Manager within 2 hours combined with the Network supervisor visiting and turning the gas back on and a schedule to keep on top of the issue long term
100% result
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