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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Gas man late? You could be entitled to £30 compensation | Gas man late? You could be entitled to £30 compensation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It's the bugbear that troubles millions of householders - the gas man who doesn't turn up when promised. | It's the bugbear that troubles millions of householders - the gas man who doesn't turn up when promised. |
| But under little-known rules that came in last year, customers are entitled to claim £30 whenever a meter reader misses his or her four-hour time slot. | But under little-known rules that came in last year, customers are entitled to claim £30 whenever a meter reader misses his or her four-hour time slot. |
| Furthermore, if the energy supplier doesn't pay within 10 days, the customer can claim an additional £30. | Furthermore, if the energy supplier doesn't pay within 10 days, the customer can claim an additional £30. |
| The rules came to light after British Gas admitted being late no less than 12,000 times last year. | The rules came to light after British Gas admitted being late no less than 12,000 times last year. |
| As a result it had to pay out £1.1m in compensation, according to the regulator Ofgem. | As a result it had to pay out £1.1m in compensation, according to the regulator Ofgem. |
| British Gas paid affected customers - most of whom were small businesses - the £60, plus £30 in additional compensation. | British Gas paid affected customers - most of whom were small businesses - the £60, plus £30 in additional compensation. |
| The gas man cometh - or not: The rules | The gas man cometh - or not: The rules |
| Punctuality 'crucial' | Punctuality 'crucial' |
| British Gas says it pays compensation if one of its engineers misses a time slot by as little as one second. | British Gas says it pays compensation if one of its engineers misses a time slot by as little as one second. |
| The only exception to the rules is if an engineer is late "due to circumstances beyond our control". | The only exception to the rules is if an engineer is late "due to circumstances beyond our control". |
| It is not thought that delays due to heavy traffic is a legitimate excuse. | It is not thought that delays due to heavy traffic is a legitimate excuse. |
| British Gas is not the only supplier that has been missing appointments. | British Gas is not the only supplier that has been missing appointments. |
| In the final three months of 2016, Scottish Power's employees were | |
| late to more than 25% of their appointments. | |
| Its records show that more than 4,000 customers were affected in the months running up to Christmas. | Its records show that more than 4,000 customers were affected in the months running up to Christmas. |
| Those customers should have received automatic compensation within 10 days. | Those customers should have received automatic compensation within 10 days. |
| "It's crucial that suppliers keep appointments on time, and make amends when things go wrong," said Martin Crouch, Ofgem's senior partner for improving regulation. | "It's crucial that suppliers keep appointments on time, and make amends when things go wrong," said Martin Crouch, Ofgem's senior partner for improving regulation. |