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

Indeed,

if this is before your gas meter now? You cannot touch this pipe except to box it. don’t give a figure for compensation & making good yet.

say it still has not been completed satisfactorily

if after your meter, get a gas engineer to quote doing it properly again.

SO angry that you've been put in this position.
You are not a drama Lama or stupid.
I'm particularly appalled at whoever did that pipe work.
I've posted in AIBU to see if anyone can help with calculating compensation.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4832965-to-ask-the-hive-mind-what-reasonable-compensation-would-be-for-this-dreadful-situation

Hey all,

The saga continues and no offer.

Received a email today they asked for me to produce evidence to say that my pipes were not damaged before hand as wales and west have apparently sent them conflicting information ( yes they have gone back to this point) . I sent them a written email I had from wales and west so I sent it to them straight away this morning but also asked them to send me what they had been sent that they stated was conflicting?

well it’s 6pm…. and they have sent me nothing that wales and west apparently sent them!

They also want a full picture of the pipes and asked how many days I had without pay and I’ve sent that to them.

Ive done a video of outside too as just had the strength to look and terrible out there as well.

They also still a 12 days on have the port a loo still in my drive and I’ve sent them a picture.

I did say I’ve produced everything I can now and that in many emails they admit full liability so many times so do not know why they chop and change stories.

Huge migraine here thank you so much for all your advice and support feel so lonely and not very well at all. I can’t believe a company can do this and be like this still after everything.

I give it to Friday and then I will find money for a solicitor some how.

I've just found this thread and I can't believe what you've been put through by JF.
OP you've been brilliant! You're right, and you know you're right and we know you're right! ( but we all know sometimes it's hard not to get worn down by it all when there seems no end in sight!)
They're just delaying things - after all, this has no effect on their lives - but it is having a massive impact on yours. And it's unacceptable.

You need to take control now. Don't just wait for them to contact you - email them to say that you've provided all the information they've asked for and they have enough information now to address the issue.
So now that they are in full possession of the facts, you require a satisfactory resolution within the next 7 (or whatever) days. And mention that you will be seeking legal advice.
Copy in your councillor and anyone else you've previously contacted.
I hope you can get this resolved soon xx

Wow, those pipes aren’t good at all. I’d be wanting them put under the floor boards inside and they pay for a decorator and new carpets if necessary. Also I’ve never seen copper pipes like that outside? Are they ok to be external?

I’m not sure either??? They don’t look safe?? Never seen anything like that. I don’t know 😰

Thank you so much! I am going to use that wording if that’s okay as it’s enough now for me and need to try bring it to an end as I’m exhausted. I will not sure how find the money for court. 😰

I just asked dh who is a keen amateur plumber and he says the external copper pipes are fine and safe. He agrees the internal ones are a total bodge job.

When we moved here we had similar internal copper pipes as part of the central heating coming out the landing floor/carpet. They went into the wall one end and under the floor the other. They looked awful. Dh dismantled it and changed the pipe work so it was all inside the wall and under the floor. It involved making a hole in the wall, moving the pipe with new joins and plastering. There is actually a hole for access due to some sort of emergency pressure valve but he’s covered it up. If dh who is not a plumber can do that then a proper plumber should be able to do better. This is all I have visible now

I’ve sent the pictures to home Exeter who did the work too. I wonder if they got told to do a cheap job???

I’ve written now and said I’m tired of providing endless facts and I expect a response by tomorrow evening then if not resolved then I will pay for legal support as it has gone to far now and I’m not very well at all.

They have done your job in the easiest way for them, but not the best way for you. By running them along and through the wall they have saved themselves digging a big hole and pulling up your floorboards.

I had my gas supply moved from the middle of my house to the outside front wall and everything was run under the floor so no pipes show at all, just the 2 that go up into the white box on the outside.

I think you should insist on it being redone properly, not bodged.

Email your MP or the consumer Champions that way you won't need to find the money

I haven't read the whole thread, but I sympathise with you.

What they did (and are still doing) to you is horrific.

I'm sure you have already checked, but can you get legal cover through your home insurance?

A pp saying they would want 20k would be left disappointed.
They probably won’t put them under floorboards, it’s really quite common for retro fitted pipes to run along skirting. Copper pipes externally are also fine. The treatment of op however is not!

Did you speak to anyone legal op? Do you have legal cover with your home insurance?

Hi All,

Just an update.

I finally found someone to box the pipes in which cost 140 pound and I could be waiting 14 days for it to be refunded.

I then asked about compensation and they have said to me £260.00 which to me feels hugely insulting but what do you think?

Hugely insulting is right!
I think I'd be asking how they arrived at the figure .

Hope other posters come along soon with advice
Honestly what toe rags.

£260 is a joke. Ask them for a breakdown of how they arrived at that figure

Ask them if they have missed a zero in their figure? Blooming cheek.

They feel that because they put me
in a hotel five days after having no gas, installed new pipes 10 days later and boxed my pipe in that it is the correct offer.

Thanks for your replies and advice. It’s hard to consider whether to even bother trying to get compensation now and just leave it.

Therefore, I have written the following:

I reject your offer, it is insulting after all the hours spent phoning, emailing, the loss of earnings, disruption to my employment & work , and the changes your mistake has made to my house. If you hadn’t done what you had done none of this would have happened.

I guess I won’t hear anything from
monday now. 😔

Hi Op, the buzzwords to use are distressed, stress causing deterioration in mental health, their failure to listen, changing their offers, lack of consistency causing confusion as to whats happening, damage to your property, loss of amenity, making good, exposed internal pipes need redoing, extra food costs due to hotel etc.

COSTS
Extra food costs
Lost unpaid wages
Loss of amenity
Damage to your property (actual cost of painter decorator plus carpentry to either box in pipe or redo) get estimates from local painters and gas fitters.

THEN DAMAGES
Add on Compensation for the inconvenience, mental stress etc.

Take your time, negotiations take a while, a few weeks, tell them to email you not telephone you.

Mention ombudsman, and seeking legal advice somewhere in your communications.

Don't agree anything until you get the estimates. I've had a four room flat decorated and it cost 2k so £500 might cover it for the decoration. That's how poor their offer is!

@Yoyo2021 contact your HR and ask for the gross pay you lost along with a breakdown of what that would mean in pension deductions etc.

This then sets out the real financial loss they can’t argue with.

Hi Tipping,

Yes, they emailed today saying they want proof. I've told them why is it now a month on they are asking for proof as I am now on annual leave.

I've also looked at my bank and they still haven't refunded me the 140.00 for finding someone to board up the pipes for me.

😡

@Yoyo2021 Im HR/pay and I know payroll can do this.

The best example of when we do this is if you are sadly injured in a car accident and it was not your fault. If you are off work sick we will help you reclaim lost salary from the insurance company. Honestly just ask HR/payroll and explain what it’s for and they will provide it.

@Yoyo2021 what you need to do is set it out like an invoice e.g.

• £140 - boxing in pipes
• £500 - gross salary
• £25 - paint to restore skirting board/walls to original condition
• £100 - purchasing take out etc. as no gas to cook with
• inconvenience for x days without gas/hot water e.g. £25 per day. Exclude days in hotel and acknowledge these.

Once you have the full total send it to them with a request to pay in 14 Calendar days. On day 15 send a letter before action, again giving 14 calendar days. Then lodge a claim with small claims court.