Right before I left on my most recent trip to the US, I received a letter from British Gas. This letter informed me that it was time to schedule my landlord's annual gas safety inspection. I put the letter in the "to do when I get back" pile and went to Boston for two weeks.
I believe it was the day after my return that I received a second letter from British Gas informing me that I had not yet scheduled the gas safety inspection, and it was due to expire on Oct. 6th. Upon calling, I discovered that the earliest appointment I could get was for Oct. 6th - sometime between 12pm and 6pm.
Conveniently, I was recovering from a cold and so had a reasonable excuse to work from home and await the coming of the gas man. The land line rang around 11 am and I ignored it; no one calls that line except for British Telecom trying to sell me more phone services.
The gas man never showed.
The next morning, the landlord's agent called because they had also received a letter from British Gas concerning the inspection. I told the agent that the inspector had not come and that I would call British Gas to reschedule, which I did as soon as I got home from work.
The inspector had been unable to find the property or parking, I was told. Would I like to reschedule and where would I recommend the inspector park? Yes, I replied. I would like to reschedule for the earliest possible date. Next Tuesday morning? Fine. I suggested one or two places that the inspector could park.
Today, I waited all morning and never received a call or saw any sign of the gas man. At 1 pm, I called British Gas. Again, the inspector could not find the property or anywhere to park. The plumber can find parking, the electrician found parking, the inspector who came last year parked somewhere, I insisted. Yes, I would appreciate it if you would send the engineer back this afternoon. Thank you.
Around 3:30, the phone rang. I was prepared. I had google mapped parking in my neighborhood! I recommended High Street, or turning left at the intersection or going straight through the lights! 15 minutes later, another call. It seems the traffic wardens will let gas men park anywhere. Then park illegally right across the street by the school gate!
Once this had been agreed to, I went downstairs to ask the shop keeper to open the basement so the inspector could look at the gas meter. But the shop keeper didn't bring his basement key with him today.
Now I'm irritated. And I KNOW the gas man will be irritated. I have left all the doors open on my way downstairs, and as I go back up, I can hear the gas man coming down looking for me. I turn the corner, point and say,
"I recognize you!"
He also recognizes me, and while I'm still trying to place him, he replies "From rowing." Ah yes. Of course.
I explain the situation. He is not pleased, but agrees to do the boiler safety part of the inspection. This requires him to test every radiator in the apartment. Most of the apartment is presentable. In order for this to be the case, the bedroom is not presentable. I was not anticipating this. Not at all.
He hesitates before swinging open the bedroom door. "Can I go in? Is there anyone sleeping in there?" It could be a) that he caught a glimpse of the completely unmade bed and was confused. or b) that my name had been communicated to him by the customer service rep as Mrs. and he was confused. In either case, I did not think quickly enough to say "oh yes. Someone sleeping. Can we skip this room?" I let him in.
After he had finished inspecting, we officially introduced ourselves and had a brief chatty conversation about rowing.
And then he gave the apartment a failed inspection, because there was no access to the basement gas meter and it constitutes a safety risk for all tenants not to have access to the gas meters.
There must now be more phone calls to British Gas and an email or call to the landlord.
But at least I'm meeting people!
I believe it was the day after my return that I received a second letter from British Gas informing me that I had not yet scheduled the gas safety inspection, and it was due to expire on Oct. 6th. Upon calling, I discovered that the earliest appointment I could get was for Oct. 6th - sometime between 12pm and 6pm.
Conveniently, I was recovering from a cold and so had a reasonable excuse to work from home and await the coming of the gas man. The land line rang around 11 am and I ignored it; no one calls that line except for British Telecom trying to sell me more phone services.
The gas man never showed.
The next morning, the landlord's agent called because they had also received a letter from British Gas concerning the inspection. I told the agent that the inspector had not come and that I would call British Gas to reschedule, which I did as soon as I got home from work.
The inspector had been unable to find the property or parking, I was told. Would I like to reschedule and where would I recommend the inspector park? Yes, I replied. I would like to reschedule for the earliest possible date. Next Tuesday morning? Fine. I suggested one or two places that the inspector could park.
Today, I waited all morning and never received a call or saw any sign of the gas man. At 1 pm, I called British Gas. Again, the inspector could not find the property or anywhere to park. The plumber can find parking, the electrician found parking, the inspector who came last year parked somewhere, I insisted. Yes, I would appreciate it if you would send the engineer back this afternoon. Thank you.
Around 3:30, the phone rang. I was prepared. I had google mapped parking in my neighborhood! I recommended High Street, or turning left at the intersection or going straight through the lights! 15 minutes later, another call. It seems the traffic wardens will let gas men park anywhere. Then park illegally right across the street by the school gate!
Once this had been agreed to, I went downstairs to ask the shop keeper to open the basement so the inspector could look at the gas meter. But the shop keeper didn't bring his basement key with him today.
Now I'm irritated. And I KNOW the gas man will be irritated. I have left all the doors open on my way downstairs, and as I go back up, I can hear the gas man coming down looking for me. I turn the corner, point and say,
"I recognize you!"
He also recognizes me, and while I'm still trying to place him, he replies "From rowing." Ah yes. Of course.
I explain the situation. He is not pleased, but agrees to do the boiler safety part of the inspection. This requires him to test every radiator in the apartment. Most of the apartment is presentable. In order for this to be the case, the bedroom is not presentable. I was not anticipating this. Not at all.
He hesitates before swinging open the bedroom door. "Can I go in? Is there anyone sleeping in there?" It could be a) that he caught a glimpse of the completely unmade bed and was confused. or b) that my name had been communicated to him by the customer service rep as Mrs. and he was confused. In either case, I did not think quickly enough to say "oh yes. Someone sleeping. Can we skip this room?" I let him in.
After he had finished inspecting, we officially introduced ourselves and had a brief chatty conversation about rowing.
And then he gave the apartment a failed inspection, because there was no access to the basement gas meter and it constitutes a safety risk for all tenants not to have access to the gas meters.
There must now be more phone calls to British Gas and an email or call to the landlord.
But at least I'm meeting people!
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