National Grid capped off supply to old lady.

[Agile]

Well not that old and very switched on but just a totally outdated house.

Gas leak in kitchen so NG just did the usual TOFO procedure!

She calls Agile and I go and have a look at whats going on.

Its Namsags favourite, a New World 51A. Probably an up market cooker in its day.

The oven pilot had got a bit blocked so all I had to do was to turn off all the pilots on the valve at the back of the burners.

Now why could the Nat Grid not do that and avoid depriving her of her cooking and heating and needing to call me out?

Tony

 

[CMairiD]

My current favourite is Siemens failing to purge after a meter swap, leaving old dears with no h/hw.

 

[oilman]

In what way is this a diy question for plumbing heating?

 

[Agile]

The heating for the old lady would not work because the gas supply was off when the Nat Grid man could have left it on!

The question is why did he not leave her with heating and gas rings and grill when he so easily could have done so?

Tony

 

[Onetap]

In what way is this a diy question for plumbing heating?

In that most people will wind up DIYing when the "professional" paid to do it for them turns out to be clueless?

 

[oilman]

The question is why did he not leave her with heating and gas rings and grill when he so easily could have done so?

How would anybody here know? Why do you not ask the person concerned?

In that most people will wind up DIYing when the "professional" paid to do it for them turns out to be clueless?

I do not always agree with Agile, but I would not class him as clueless.

 

[kirkgas]

i think i'm right in saying the suppliers guys are not qualified to work on appliances so they cap the supply and tell customer to contact RGI, i think it is to save them money on retraining their guys and also to negate any liability, the days of guys doing favours for customers at work are long gone due to everyone wqanting to sue everyone else

 

[gaspro1981]

wales and west from down my way do the exact same thing but they are only performing their duties as required
tofo is all they know tony but why would you be disappointed in gaining work and earning a honest crust

 

[ollski]

Now why could the Nat Grid not do that and avoid depriving her of her cooking and heating and needing to call me out?

Tony

Well because they aren't qualified and don't hold the correct element on their gas safe cards...you know Tony, the stuff you are always moaning about

 

[Steve69the69Gas]

To defend the meter guys, they are told that if an app does not light to MIs (after correct purge) then they tell EU to seek an RGI.
Most common is BBUs TCs failing.
They can and do have the correct elements, but don't get paid for work on apps, and invite a world of pain if they take the cover off.
This gives us guys more work does it not?
BTW, if a vunerable person is capped off - alternative heating/cooking is given FOC.

 

[billy bob]

I used to fit meters, I had all relevent qualifications, for boiler, cookers etc, but we were told if an appliance would not re-light in the correct way, we just make safe and leave, giving the customer a number to ring to get the details of local RGI's, it could be something simple, but we were not allowed to touch it.

 

[gas4you]

My tuppence worth

1) They are just an emergency service to make safe
2) They haven't got the time allowed by their system
3) They probably aren't insured for this
4) They musn't be seen to be looking for work

I have much respect for those who work my patch

 

[johnfox]

maybe national grid should add this comment to their safety instruction to customers.
if a gas escape is found on your installation we will disconnect your gas supply and you will need to call a corgi opps gassafe registered engineer,please be prepared for this action.

 

[davebgas]

I think you will find they do say this.... all DN's (distribution networks) do, be it National Grid, Northern Gas Networks etc etc. More to the point, most of the engineers are themselves time served RGI's at one point - many know exactly what is wrong and could fix it in a heartbeat. There are exceptions of course. Their remit is to make safe.
Also, the companies licence to operate as agreed with the HSE and OFGEM prohibit them from carrying out repairs to appliances that cost less than £4 something and that would take more than 30mins, OR, and this is crucial, if they do not carry the appropriate qualification on their card. Which basically is a catch all - to replace a TC you need CEN1 etc.
I don't think its fair to have a go at them, its not the engineers fault and I'm damned sure if one did attempt a repair and god forbid it went wrong, many people on here would be going straight down their necks!

Top and bottom, they are a FREE service there to stop gas escapes... they do this, by capping them off...... thats all they are obliged to do, problem with this...... write to your MP and ask them to take this up with the Energy secretary or OFGEM/HSE

End of rant......

 

[heatingman]

Gas emercency service, make safe, not a free repair service.