Electrical contractor bypassed my meter ?

[homeworker]

Looking for some advice before deciding how to proceed.

A number of years ago I had an extension built with all the electrics supplied by a second CU fitted in the garage. I recently had cause to look closely at the wiring (after a particularly lengthy MeterPlus reading) and have determined that the second consumer unit is connected to the wrong side of my meter.

Now I can see no reason nfor the contractor to do this intentionally so i am trying to establish why this should have happened, genuine mistake ? common practice ?.

Having had the extension professionally project managed and as far as I can remember all signed off (this resposibility I assumed was with the Project management - rather than me the householder) I am really surprised and a little concerned that I find myself in this situation. And where I fully expect to pay for power consumed I am worried that I am liable in any way.

Any professional thoughts and advice more than welcome.

Bob

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Looking for some advice before deciding how to proceed.

A number of years ago I had an extension built with all the electrics supplied by a second CU fitted in the garage. I recently had cause to look closely at the wiring (after a particularly lengthy MeterPlus reading) and have determined that the second consumer unit is connected to the wrong side of my meter.

Now I can see no reason nfor the contractor to do this intentionally so i am trying to establish why this should have happened, genuine mistake ? common practice ?.

Having had the extension professionally project managed and as far as I can remember all signed off (this resposibility I assumed was with the Project management - rather than me the householder) I am really surprised and a little concerned that I find myself in this situation. And where I fully expect to pay for power consumed I am worried that I am liable in any way.

Any professional thoughts and advice more than welcome.

Bob

heres some good advice.....
next time you order donner meat+chips....loads of garlic sauce with onions....just onions mind....lovely that is....

 

[Des 56]

They always harp ojn about the meter and cut out being their property
There should be a warning label stating that the equipment you are concerned about is the suppliers property and any interference with their equipment could render the person liable to prosecution

With that statement in mind and the fact that the block is fed from the cut out with red and black tails,whilst the outgoing to the meter and the remote consumer unit are brown/blue.the obvious and only conclusion a court could make,would be that the set up was wrongly connected by the supplier themselves

Again,with these statements in mind,I would say,the best advise is to heed their warnings and mind your business:smug:
Its their property and their problem.you are expected to know no different

 

[Rockingit]

There's always a second explanation.....could easily be a cock-up by a 3day trained meter changer in a hurry. With that reading, it's probably what - 3, maybe 4 years old?

 

[Knobhead]

Des, take a closer look. The tails have been cut and reused.

 

[Guest111]

if it was me i,d have his wiring checked as well,I mean if he can,t connect something as simple as a set of tails correctly it makes you wonder about the rest of his work!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

if it was me i,d have his wiring checked as well,I mean if he can,t connect something as simple as a set of tails correctly it makes you wonder about the rest of his work!

well i wasn`t prepared to to call it Phil...as i dont know the guy...hense the donner meat thing.....but iif thers anything amis....you remember the liverpool cross?...

 

[Guest111]

well i wasn`t prepared to to call it Phil...as i dont know the guy...hense the donner meat thing.....but iif thers anything amis....you remember the liverpool cross?...

certainly do mate I was there wasnt I,but you know me I just say what I think.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

certainly do mate I was there wasnt I,but you know me I just say what I think.

and well played n all Phil....i`m the same fella....as you know....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

but if anyones interested in the `liverpool cross`...Phils your man.....

 

[homeworker]

There's always a second explanation.....could easily be a cock-up by a 3day trained meter changer in a hurry. With that reading, it's probably what - 3, maybe 4 years old?

Interesting - I never gave that much thought, I don't recall the meter having been replaced since I have lived in the house (1999) so assume that this was perhaps done at the time of the extension being built. Might not have ben the electrician after all ?

 

[telectrix]

last time i saw something like that was on a house that had been converted to 2 flats and there was a 2nd meter before the 2nd CU.

 

[Tuttle]

Do you think that the meter reader could have taken his own photo on his phone? I was talking to a guy from British Gas recently who discovered a bypassed meter and that was what he did. If it were me I'd report it asap without talking to the contractor first.

 

[Spazz]

home worker - your biggest defense is:
Your not a trained electrician, you got a trained electrician in (cert provided) who connected his tails into a box (not provided by the DNO or supplier) and sealed it back up.

You trusted the electrician to do a correct job so you had no reason to check this - plus if you did you would not have known any difference!

As said loads already contact the supplier and you start the ball rolling, better coming from you than a meter reader! keep this thread and all the pictures.
Also for peace of mind get the whole install checked as said above.

 

[Spazz]

Do you think that the meter reader could have taken his own photo on his phone? I was talking to a guy from British Gas recently who discovered a bypassed meter and that was what he did. If it were me I'd report it asap without talking to the contractor first.

Good Point - forget the contractor - he will be inclined to hid his mess up (egg on face), get the supplier involved and then let them deal with the contractor.
You could have a claim here in regards to any work you have to pay out yourself, to get it rectifier.

If you have to pay for it yourself or get fined then contact his body (NICEIC, NAPIT, Elesa, BSI) and explain to them, they will help you through it.
Same as if you have to go to court (doubt it will come to this) use your house insurance and claim against his insurance.

Good luck and keep us informed

 

[Mr.Ian]

The meter reader might just have noticed that the meter isn't sealed, but it needs sorting, is it best to report it? or is it better to just get a fully qualified spark in to sort it first with all relevant forms filled in then report it?
I wouldn't worry too much about a big bill, they might send one out to you (how they're going to estimate it i've no idea) but you can just gradualy pay it off as i'm sure they can't demand the full amount as one payment.