[jonous101]

My fiance was digging up our drive on Easter Sunday, ready for our block paving when suddenly he heard a hiss. He had cut through the gas pipe under there so called the emergency number on our gas meter. A bloke came out and fixed it (was very rude but that is another story) and said the bill would come in the post.
Since then i've been doing some digging about (not literally) and found that gas meters should be a certain distance under ground, like a few feet, well this pipe is about 8 inches and there was no sand or anything to warn us we were near the pipe it was just surrounded by soil.
Now i've received a letter stating they want nearly £600. I'm reluctant to get in touch with my home insurance about this because i feel we should not have to pay this.
Just wondering if anyone else has had anything like this and if you can offer any advice on where we stand?
Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[ricgem2002]

we had the same problem when digging footings for a extension we built but this one was the electric cable . we got the electric company out to fix the repair and they wanted about£450 .they tried to bill the mini digger company who refused to pay it after showing them photos of how deep (or not in this case) the cable was nothing ever came of it thou

[khurram180]

If you have the mostly optional Legal Expenses Cover for your home insurance then this is by far your best bet.
Arguing over disputed bills with large companies is ridiculously time consuming and frustrating.
On a separate point, how does the gas company know who damaged the pipe? Did you or your fiance sign a job sheet or tell them it was your fault?

[ricgem2002]

read this
HSE expects mains and services to be laid at the depths specified in these publications unless other effective precautions are taken to minimise the risk of third party damage.

• A gas main should normally be laid with a minimum depth of cover of 750 mm in a road or verge and 600 mm in a footpath.
• A gas service pipe should normally be laid with a minimum depth of cover of 375 mm in private ground and 450 mm in footpaths and highways.

However, these depths are only a guide and should not be relied on when carrying out work near gas services or mains. For example, road levelling, landscaping and other changes to ground conditions after a gas main or service has been laid (often decades before) can result in the depth of the ground cover changing over time. Also, gas pipes may have projections coming from them, such as valves, which are not shown on plans and may have less depth of cover than the pipe. also take a look at this http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/ask-an-...&in_page_id=92 hope this helps

[jonous101]

Thank you ricgem2002 - i'm going to get in touch with the National Grid about this as i do not want to pay nearly £600!
Will let you know how i get on.

[Phil-Sheff]

I would stand your ground!

[iansheff]

Can't see how they can bill you, if you were gardening and using a fork you could have gone into the pipe anytime, thats not your fault. When I was doing some digging I found what I assume to be the mains cable to the house only 6 inches deep. When we used to put cables in they were supposed to be 2'6" deep and have a yellow warning tape over them to warn anyone what was below the tape.

[van man]

Hi..
I used to work for the contractors to transco,and we repaired loads of these on private property, 8 out 10 was charged for....

It was all down to the tse if he thought you was to be billed for it.
tse is the 1 that comes out first then rings out the team,

you must have upset him or he must have had a reason to charge you.

if the pipe is not laided at the 350 depth then you may have a chance, photos should have been taken to dispute the claim.

[dink]

Originally Posted by jonous101

Thank you ricgem2002 - i'm going to get in touch with the National Grid about this as i do not want to pay nearly £600!
Will let you know how i get on.

any letters sent always send them recorded delivery, i use to get the we havent recieved them, then you can check who signed for it and what time by going to royal mail online. stopped the excuses then.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by jonous101

My fiance was digging up our drive on Easter Sunday, ready for our block paving when suddenly he heard a hiss. He had cut through the gas pipe

Why didn't you survey the area for pipes and cables first?

[aardvark6535]

While putting down new floor boards for a friend of mine I cut through a gas pipe, I called out "transco" - They were there in minutes, fixed the repair, and did the usual checks only to find the old lead piping was leaking so capped the supply. It probable saved the life of my mate his wife and child. Cost - Nothing, and I was led to believe that that was the standered charge - NOTHING - was told "If we charged, cowboys and some contractors would think twice about phoning us, so the first 30min is Free. Don't pay

[123456A]

We had the same problem - gas pipe 6 inches below the surface and we chopped through it by accident.
There was no charge from the gas board to repair it - 4 vans turned up!

[jonous101]

email of complaint sent, which they've acknowledge by replying. just gotta wait and see now...