Gas pipe

[Yoyo2021]

Hi,

I hope that someone may be able to help me.

This morning Jurassic Fibre arrived on our road to install there cables and started digging up the road

I have had to leave work this afternoon as an emergency which will be un paid due to my neighbour calling me to say the Jurassic fibre installers had hit a gas pipe!

Jurassic fibre scampered and it is just the gas people outside. They say Jurassic dug so unbelievably deep it’s rediculous. I am now here with my windows shut waiting for the gas to roar or something.

They tell me I will need to be here tomorrow as the gas pipe is adjacent to my property only (just my luck) ! This will be a whole day off work un paid and I won’t have any gas this evening!

They came in the gas people to check my gas box which is in the living room and said they don’t think I will be able to have my gas mains where they are!!! Instead he is thinking they will have to go in the middle part of my living room and sadly confirmed whole living room potentially dug up!!!

How do I handle this situation? I haven’t asked for this internet to be installed in my neighbourhood?

Can I get compensation for the loss of working hours and if it progresses to my living room being dug up what do I do?

Thanks all x

Do you have legal cover on your house or car insurance? Either way contact your house insurance and explain what has happened so far.

Start to keep a detailed timeline of what has happened so far and update it as things happen. Ask your employer for confirmation in writing that the time you have had to take off will be unpaid and how much gross salary you will lose. Keep a record of all your financial losses.

Ask the gas people to put in writing what has happened and what needs to be done. You will probably need to email their customer service team to get this.

Locate contact details for Jurassic Fibre and after speaking to your insurance company (they may handle it but if not) email the CEO an initial letter setting out what has happened and that you are suffering a financial detriment due to their employees actions. Ask what their plans are for compensating you for your losses and rectifying any necessary work to your home due to the actions of their employees.

Thank you for this advice and information I have followed everything you have told me.

To update you I am off of work today again. I am waiting for the copper pipe people. I cannot leave the property as at the bottom of my porch they have dug a hole and you cannot get over it.

I have a very tiny small outside space with a wall which has been dug up and gas person says will only be basic cover up when finished installing outside meter.

My bench and bin storage is up on its side they will no longer fit with the big box that’s being put in place.

I have such a small living room space that the copper pipes in the living room will be such an eyesore I feel like crying. I have been advised to see if they can go up through the upstairs floor boards.

The engineers say a high probability my carpets will be cut and pulled up too. I only had them fitted in April last year.

I am a single parent I have no savings t this house is meant to be something for my son that I can leave him one day. The work that has already happened and will happen will de value it. So much work I have put into this place trying not to get emotional just for a broadband company who wants to sell it in my area.

@Yoyo2021 i am so sorry you are having to go through this.

Take photos but also keep asking why, why do you need to do this, why can’t you lift the carpets, why are the pipes not being hidden, if you can record their answers so you have proof of what they are saying.

Also ask who is making it right. Ask what happens if you refuse to allow them to do the work. Ask why no paper work.

I have to be honest this level of disruption and modification with no notification seems to be very excessive.

Make sure your insurance company understands what is happening in detail - email so there is a paper trail.

@Yoyo2021 ive no advice to give but wanted to say how sorry I am this has happened to you. I hope these Jurassic people can make amends and also compensate you. Is there a local Solicitor who could advise you if your insurance company can't help? Can you take them to court etc? I really hope this gets sorted out soon.

That sounds awful

But I agree with the posts above

Speak to your insurers, keep asking questions of the gas team, and don’t take no for an answer (easily). Be firm…”that doesn’t work for me”, re positioning of your gas meter.

start with getting the gas reconnected where you want it.

Then set your insurers onto Jurassic to reinstate everything to how it was…porch, patio, etc

Take photos of everything. as it is now, as they work, after.
Find photos of how everything that has been touched looked before
Keep receipts for every single expense

I’d ask around your neighbours too for a builder & gas engineer recommendation ASAP to get a second/third opinion and quotes on works to reinstate & positioning of the meter/pipes

if you are on FB, shame Jurassic on there on a local to you page too and ask for help for builder and gas engineers.

^^ and yes everything in writing

even if you just speak to someone at Jurassic & Gas network operator, ask for an email address and confirm every single conversation in writing by email after

Twitter might be faster to get hold of both of them, than going through CEO email

Thank you so much for your guidance and advice.

I tried taking to my insurers via a chat function on the website they said un likely able to help but to open a log if I don’t agree.

I asked as advised about why I could not still use my old meatre and have it outside the reason is they cannot re connect an old gas pipe due to health and safety laws a few years ago.

The company came with a plumber to put the new copper pipes around 3pm. I have an old property and he said if he does them in the living room they will be a montrosety and stick out.

They then looked at running them up the outside and through the bedrooms but this will take a couple of days and he needs to look again tomorrow with colleague. They told me they would bill JF I said but they said you would need to bill me they said they would never do that as I might not have the money to pay. It will likely cost thousands to put new gas pipes in!

I got the plumber to call Jurassic fibre we had to wait ages for them to say yes to the works and they would pay the plumbers laying the pipe.

They then agreed but at past four too late and I am here no gas another night.

You should see the front of my property it’s terrible.

They tell me they will sort all costs and after look at a gesture of good will.

What do you think that looks like with loss of earnings etc?

My front of property will never fit a bench or my bin storage either as a result of al this 🙁I hope and pray I haven’t got to have un covered copper pipes in the living room.

If the box is in the way of your things outside, tell them it doesn’t work for you and keep escalating.
At the end of the day it’s not your fault you’re in this position, so you shouldn’t have to compromise - they should be picking up the tab in its entirety.

@Yoyo2021 email Jurassic Fibre setting out what has happened so far including that they agreed to the works. Add in the financial losses so far e.g. unpaid absence from work plus that you have been without gas. Point out that you will have insufficient money to live on as your next wages will be short and ask for an interim payment of expenses - add in date you get paid and how short you will be.

As JF agreed to the works take the approach that gives the best result e.g. pipes hidden, box in an unobtrusive position etc. do not compromise to get it done quicker as they will not rectify later.

What a nightmare, hope that it is sorted out quickly.

Do you have anyone else who is knowledgable about building works who could come and give some back up to you? Just for a second opinion?

I hope the works go well today.

The nightmare continues. I received a call to say the two who came to have a look have decided they won’t do the job. I asked why it is as they seemed keen last night they replied that they did not have a reason!

they said they have no engineers I said we are a priority with me on my own and young child.

They asked me to ring and find quotes. I said no this is for them to do and sort and I don’t need anymore time off. I need to go straight into work if no one is coming.

This is day three of no gas. I’ve received a email just now to say they are trying their best to find someone local but they would still need to approve the works needed.

Update this evening they got in touch with me after a number of calls they told me to call x company who they had sorted to come out to me this evening. They said I had to phone with x reference because of data protection.

I phoned the company they said they haven’t agreed to anything with Jurassic and told them they can’t do the work and they are cross that I had been told this.

So they have lied to me. Three days now without gas and two half days off work.

I don’t know what on Earth to do now it’s a heatwave and no family for showers etc my son isn’t fussed with a cold shower but that’s not the point.

Get on to your MP, local councillor whatever - you need to kick up a huge stink - this is appalling.

Jurassic people should be giving you Just eat vouchers or whatever for food - this is what happened when we had a problem with pipes.
They are pushing you from pillar to post - it's awful.
I really feel for you, it must be so frustrating.

You definitely need some more support and input from Jurassic as they are solely responsible for this utter mess.

Can you write to their Chief Exec / Chairman to complain - I've done this in the past and it has definitely helped to "move things along" plus you'll have a record.

Wishing you well.

You need to get onto Anna Tims at these observer or one of the other newspaper consumer champions as well as your MP, email them both tonight.

You should not have to find engineers or suffer any loss without being compensated

Hello both,

thank you for your support.

I’ve followed your advice. Emails have gone to councillor and Mp. I have now messaged Anna’s team at the observer and sent pictures to all three.

I have already received a response from the councillor and they have tagged a director which is huge movement!!!

I will keep all updated. Don’t feel great at all right now but need to get up and get to work.

Good grief

can’t believe this is still ongoing.
I’d ask to be put up in a hotel, no hot water for 3 days due to their F up is not on.

as for the new meter, ask for a sunken not wall mounted box. Is more expensive but you will be able to fit a bench over it

^^ and of course they pay for it.

have you tweeted Jurassic yet?
I would.
out it all over their socials that they’ve left you with no gas, no hot water and no wages for 4 days now, and you aren’t even a customer, and won’t be after this behaviour & suggest no one else uses them if this is how they treat people

Hi it gets worse.

Today, I had a phone call from a team leader where they said they have got a company called Exeter hub to sort out the gas and that company will call me to organise. I said but when will that be I can’t go over the weekend no gas and what about x y z.

To this they turned around and said I’m not sure if your aware but its because you had a gas leaking from the pipes even before this and it’s not actually are duty to sort out the pipes on your property it’s your responsibility but us fixing it is a gesture of good will???

I turned around and said gas leak??? No one at any point has said that there was a gas leak already there. I said i have emails from your staff saying you’re fully responsible and will sort, pay for works and as a gesture of good compensate for other damage? Why the change of story!!

it got into a argument and I then said we won’t agree in this call please send me proof that the gas people had found my pipes had been leaking before hand he said he would.

I waited hours and no email with proof. I then got a sharp email on a professional template saying they will pay for the works as good will but not liable as they are my pipes and they will not be paying compensation or anymore costs.

just don’t know what to do now 🙁

This is awful. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with it.

Where exactly did the break the pipe on the first day?

Where was the hole when you got home?

Public land or in your patio?

This might not be your area, but yours should say the same

its only your pipe PAST the meter.

anything before belongs to gas distribution grid - the people you pay your gas bill to

It’s on my land just added a picture. I’m not sure apart from they knocked the gas pipe said they can’t re connect it as it’s safety law they can’t re connect old pipes.

Just had to fill tubs of hot water and pour over in the shower and do it that way. I’m done lying in bed feeling sick.

OP this sounds so frustrating and stressful! They are having you on by saying there was already a leak. Was it JF or the gas people who said that? Tell them you are going to contact the Ombudsman (it’s the energy ombudsman for gas and the communications ombudsman for JF).

is your front wall like the neighbours grey/white one visible?

and you didn’t order fibre?
they were digging the grass verge on the street outside your front garden wall?

then they hit the pipe and had to dig up your front path to your door?

The white box next to your front door, is that gas your original gas meter & white wall mounted box?

who called you this evening?
was it Jurassic or your gas network provider who came out the day jurrasic hit the pipe?