Tradesmen Entering Your Home.

Mike

Mike

Well-known Member
Location
London
I had to let a man in today to do the Annual Gas Safety
checks, I put him off a couple of weeks ago as was not
feeling to good.

When he called today, I asked why he couldn't wait till
things got back to normal, the answer was that it is a
requirement By Law and if I don't let him in he will tell
the gas supplier to shut the supply off.

So somethings are on hold, but legal requirements are
not, if he was telling the truth.

Mike.
 

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That's interesting.

In my area, we don't have those types of inspections.

These days I would be leary of letting anyone in unless I had some way to assure myself that they were legitimate.

At my apartment complex outside contractors, plumbers, etc... are always accompanied by the manager or a member of her team.

So anyway how did you do?
 
Mike said:
I had to let a man in today to do the Annual Gas Safety
checks, I put him off a couple of weeks ago as was not
feeling to good.

When he called today, I asked why he couldn't wait till
things got back to normal, the answer was that it is a
requirement By Law and if I don't let him in he will tell
the gas supplier to shut the supply off.

So somethings are on hold, but legal requirements are
not, if he was telling teh truth.

Mike.
Click to expand...
Here in Canada, at least in the Province of BC, where we live, there are no such yearly gas checks, however, going one step farther, if it were me on the receiving end of the serviceman's huffing and puffing, it wouldn't be past me to get a hold of the media, and/or your Business Bureau that oversees the conduct and business practices of those servicing the general public, and bring to light the threatening nature of the individual.

Hasn't our world today become such a friendly place.
 
He is doing you a great service. As long as his credentials are genuine (you may call and check) and keep a distance, allow him to do his job. Gas leaks, and bad flues can prove deadly. Friendly co-operation from both parties is required to get the job done.
 
Meanderer said:
He is doing you a great service. As long as his credentials are genuine (you may call and check) and keep a distance, allow him to do his job. Gas leaks, and bad flues can prove deadly. Friendly co-operation from both parties is required to get the job done.
Click to expand...
I agree, too bad the friendly part has been lost somewhere along the way re: the inspector. Not at all professional on his part IMO to start making idle threats over something as petty as appointments. I'm sure waiting a few weeks more wouldn't put anyone in jeopardy, and shame on the gas company for hiring-out tradespeople at this time and backing people up against the wall.
 
Aunt Marg said:
I agree, too bad the friendly part has been lost somewhere along the way re: the inspector. Not at all professional on his part IMO to start making idle threats over something as petty as appointments. I'm sure waiting a few weeks more wouldn't put anyone in jeopardy, and shame on the gas company for hiring-out tradespeople at this time and backing people up against the wall.
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I disagree, it is an annual safety inspection, that is routinely carried out. There is a reason for it. We can't judge the gas company or its employees, based on hearing one side of the story. Some people refuse inspections, to keep dangerous appliances from being red tagged. Dying from a gas leak or explosion, can be as deadly as any virus. The friendly part works both ways.
 
Meanderer said:
I disagree, it is an annual safety inspection, that is routinely carried out. There is a reason for it. We can't judge the gas company or its employees, based on hearing one side of the story. Some people refuse inspections, to keep dangerous appliances from being red tagged. Dying from a gas leak or explosion, can be as deadly as any virus. The friendly part works both ways.
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I absolutely see and understand your point, Meanderer, but I still stand firm in my belief that there is no need for any tradesperson, regardless of what services they are hired to perform, to exhaust such an abrasive manner towards homeowners concerned over their well-being at this time.

In my view the tradesperson lacks people skills.
 
Mike said:
I had to let a man in today to do the Annual Gas Safety
checks, I put him off a couple of weeks ago as was not
feeling to good.

When he called today, I asked why he couldn't wait till
things got back to normal, the answer was that it is a
requirement By Law and if I don't let him in he will tell
the gas supplier to shut the supply off.

So somethings are on hold, but legal requirements are
not, if he was telling teh truth.

Mike.
Click to expand...
After re-reading the OP's post, I realized that the inspector did agree to reschedule in two weeks. When he came back today, the OP asked for an open ended delay. And it is as much a Safety requirement, as a legal one.
 
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Meanderer said:
After re-reading the OP's post, I realized that the inspector did agree to reschedule in two weeks. When he came back today, the OP asked for an open ended delay. And it is more a Safety requirement, than a legal one.
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As the OP eluded to, where are his safety concerns being met related to all of this?

It's high time our governing parties $h*t or got off the pot.

If I can't go for a walk in the forest right now or for a walk in the park, then no gas-man or anyone else has the right to bully themselves into my residence for any reason other than for an all-out emergency, and if our governing parties are going to continue bending the rules to accommodate their own self-serving needs, then maybe it's time society as a whole took to uniting, so we, too, can start bending the rules to accommodate our own self-serving needs, pandemic be damned.
 
I know the engineer, he has been here before and is
normally quite pleasant, the statement about having
the gas turned of was probably a matter of fact thing
that he used often, as he didn't have to think about it.

I had checked elsewhere and was told that it had to be
tested by the 23rd May by law.

Anyway I stayed out of the way.

Mike.
 
Meanderer said:
After re-reading the OP's post, I realized that the inspector did agree to reschedule in two weeks. When he came back today, the OP asked for an open ended delay. And it is more a Safety requirement, than a legal one.
Click to expand...
yes it is actually a legal requirement..... and we all have to have these annual tests . They are a bit of a PITA because it's not always convenient to try and find the time to accomodate them ...but as you say they are there for everyones' safety . The whole test takes about an hour and a half......
 
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I have a 1 BR apt & last week, temps in the high 80s were forecast for this week, so I wanted to have a new filter (which is attached to the central HVAC unit) installed for the AC & test for startup. I had to have WORDS with the apt asst mgr to get it done. She said I had to do it myself or they would leave it outside the door, (once upon a time I could have done it but it goes actually on the furnace & I I no longer have enough flexibility for what’s involved) Final outcome she had a guy come out. Took less than 2 minutes, we both had masks on, I kept 10’ away & all he actually had to touch was the furnace door, which only other maint people have ever touched. Even in good times this particular mgt co philosophy is don’t bother with anything that isn’t totally inoperable, & otherwise tell people things are “normal” when they either know what the prob is & dont want to bother or don’t know & don’t want to bother finding out.
 
Geezerette said:
I have a 1 BR apt & last week, temps in the high 80s were forecast for this week, so I wanted to have a new filter (which is attached to the central HVAC unit) installed for the AC & test for startup. I had to have WORDS with the apt asst mgr to get it done. She said I had to do it myself or they would leave it outside the door, (once upon a time I could have done it but it goes actually on the furnace & I I no longer have enough flexibility for what’s involved) Final outcome she had a guy come out. Took less than 2 minutes, we both had masks on, I kept 10’ away & all he actually had to touch was the furnace door, which only other maint people have ever touched. Even in good times this particular mgt co philosophy is don’t bother with anything that isn’t totally inoperable, & otherwise tell people things are “normal” when they either know what the prob is & dont want to bother or don’t know & don’t want to bother finding out.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, my sister has these same problems with her apt management.
 
Totally understand the risks of gas being either natural gas or propane. have had propane over the years. Will never have either again, feel much safer with electric, when i was looking for my house to buy in town, four years ago, i excluded 3 because of gas services. So, i guess you can call me chicken.
 
Geezerette said:
I have a 1 BR apt & last week, temps in the high 80s were forecast for this week, so I wanted to have a new filter (which is attached to the central HVAC unit) installed for the AC & test for startup. I had to have WORDS with the apt asst mgr to get it done. She said I had to do it myself or they would leave it outside the door, (once upon a time I could have done it but it goes actually on the furnace & I I no longer have enough flexibility for what’s involved) Final outcome she had a guy come out. Took less than 2 minutes, we both had masks on, I kept 10’ away & all he actually had to touch was the furnace door, which only other maint people have ever touched. Even in good times this particular mgt co philosophy is don’t bother with anything that isn’t totally inoperable, & otherwise tell people things are “normal” when they either know what the prob is & dont want to bother or don’t know & don’t want to bother finding out.
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It's sad but true that you don't get many points for being a good tenant and paying your rent on time.

It amazes and frustrates me how much money my apartment complex will spend to redecorate in an effort to attract a new tenant but they won't do a thing to keep an existing tenant.
 
We had an inspector come here in March from the city and he checked the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector and some of the electrical. The manager was with him. He wasn't wearing a face mask as no one was yet.
The plumber who was here wore a face mask and so did I.
 
Butterfly said:
Unfortunately, my sister has these same problems with her apt management.
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I’m in ABQ also & I’d be glad to tell you the name of the property mgt co privately. Then when I went up yesterday with my rent check, she was all over nicey-nice. “Eyes rolling here...”
 
“”Who don’t live there” ? So if the next time the plumbing erupts or the washer won’t spin the clothes or the fridge suddenly stops chilling, I and my walker just have to live that way?
 

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