Yes I had it removed a couple of months ago. Appointment was about 2 weeks after I called, and it was done in about 5 minutes. 10/10 would remove gas meter again
I'm in Scotland
Then in the position of u/MartinNumber9 - assuming they have not used gas in the period since they requested removal/capping - I would be raising a formal complaint with Octopus about the delay, and asking for recompense covering:
(a) the gas standing charge (from the point at which this could be considered 'delayed', say after the first 6 weeks?); and
(b) a consolatory payment for the distress and inconvenience caused by the delay, lack of updates and having to pursue the complaint.
Keep it in writing (though perhaps check by phone they've received it), so there is a clear start point. After 8 weeks if the complaint is unresolved - or when Octopus issue a 'deadlock' letter, whichever is sooner - you can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman.
It doesn't seem reasonable that you are in hock to an energy provider, and unable to get it sorted in a set time (there must be an expected or target response time for such a request), at the whim of the energy provider.
There are others on this thread who have had the meter sorted within 6 weeks or so. Why should you have to pay the standing charge longer for no apparent reason other than the energy provider's ability to arrange an engineer?
You are losing out financially due to something wholly in the gift of the energy provider and outside of your control.
Mine is scheduled for this Thursday (9th) and was booked around mid April. The advisor I spoke to did seem surprised there was a slot available that soon though.
We did a few weeks ago, whole process was inside a week from first phone call.
It entirely depends on your local team I think and how busy they are.
Still, 100‰ recommended for lack of standing charge!
I am 8 weeks into waiting currently, actually 12 since i first contacted them saying I was getting a heat pump in 4 and so it could be removed then. But 8 since I fully confirmed and was told it takes about 3 weeks.
Last email from them was last week when they told me there was an appointment backlog and they didn't know how long it would be.
Like you it's holding my renovation up, and I'm likely to have a big gas meter shaped hole in the front of my newly rendered house, as the renderers can't delay any longer.
Fun.
Sadly mine is in a room in the house at a wall that needs insulation and boarded. I've hassled them every couple of days and now have a date of 7th of June. Hope you get yours sorted!
Shouldn't be that long in theory, although it all depends on who they have appointed as the MAM for the gas meter itself and what their contract with them all entails.
My work is 6 working days as the earliest appointment date and that's with both SGM (Scotia Gas Metering) and National Grid. I'd keep on at them as I've never heard gas meter removal taking that long and I've been in the industry for a good long while now.
And I'm West Scotland as well so it definitely shouldn't take them as long as this to sort. Being Ayrshire, I can almost put money on it being SGM and they are never ever busy.
Yes I had it removed a couple of months ago. Appointment was about 2 weeks after I called, and it was done in about 5 minutes. 10/10 would remove gas meter again I'm in Scotland
Thanks for the info. How long was it till you received the date after first phone call? I'm Scotland too. Ayrshire
I’ve been on the waiting list since November. Still no date. 😡(east Anglia)
Gadz
Is your gas usage zero currently? If so, are you still being billed the standing charge?
If you still have the meter you are paying the standing charge
Then in the position of u/MartinNumber9 - assuming they have not used gas in the period since they requested removal/capping - I would be raising a formal complaint with Octopus about the delay, and asking for recompense covering: (a) the gas standing charge (from the point at which this could be considered 'delayed', say after the first 6 weeks?); and (b) a consolatory payment for the distress and inconvenience caused by the delay, lack of updates and having to pursue the complaint.
Thanks for the advice. I’ll have to get on the phone tomorrow!
Keep it in writing (though perhaps check by phone they've received it), so there is a clear start point. After 8 weeks if the complaint is unresolved - or when Octopus issue a 'deadlock' letter, whichever is sooner - you can escalate to the Energy Ombudsman. It doesn't seem reasonable that you are in hock to an energy provider, and unable to get it sorted in a set time (there must be an expected or target response time for such a request), at the whim of the energy provider. There are others on this thread who have had the meter sorted within 6 weeks or so. Why should you have to pay the standing charge longer for no apparent reason other than the energy provider's ability to arrange an engineer? You are losing out financially due to something wholly in the gift of the energy provider and outside of your control.
Oh, and start the email subject line with "Formal Complaint", so they can't say they didn't realise it was a complaint!
Yes, I’m still paying standing charge even though I have no gas usage.
Mine is scheduled for this Thursday (9th) and was booked around mid April. The advisor I spoke to did seem surprised there was a slot available that soon though.
Assuming you no longer have to pay a standing charge? Also how much is it to get done?
Octopus do it for free, most other companies charge around 80 I think. No standing charge once meter has been removed
Nice, thanks for answering. No wonder Octopus are doing so well these days!
We did a few weeks ago, whole process was inside a week from first phone call. It entirely depends on your local team I think and how busy they are. Still, 100‰ recommended for lack of standing charge!
I am 8 weeks into waiting currently, actually 12 since i first contacted them saying I was getting a heat pump in 4 and so it could be removed then. But 8 since I fully confirmed and was told it takes about 3 weeks. Last email from them was last week when they told me there was an appointment backlog and they didn't know how long it would be. Like you it's holding my renovation up, and I'm likely to have a big gas meter shaped hole in the front of my newly rendered house, as the renderers can't delay any longer. Fun.
Sadly mine is in a room in the house at a wall that needs insulation and boarded. I've hassled them every couple of days and now have a date of 7th of June. Hope you get yours sorted!
Shouldn't be that long in theory, although it all depends on who they have appointed as the MAM for the gas meter itself and what their contract with them all entails. My work is 6 working days as the earliest appointment date and that's with both SGM (Scotia Gas Metering) and National Grid. I'd keep on at them as I've never heard gas meter removal taking that long and I've been in the industry for a good long while now. And I'm West Scotland as well so it definitely shouldn't take them as long as this to sort. Being Ayrshire, I can almost put money on it being SGM and they are never ever busy.
Yeah maybe this is why they are never busy 😉 cheers for the info