illegal gas workers - real stories from the
victims of illegal gas work
The victims of illegal gas work are a heartbreaking
reminder of why we need to use a Gas Safe registered
engineer.
Ceredig’s story:
In December 2006 Pensioners Margaret Eileen Powell, 72, and
Thomas Gwyn Morgan, 74, were found dead at Mrs Powell's Brecon
home. Twelve days earlier self-employed gas engineer Tongue had
serviced her gas boiler and had inadvertently left it in a lethal
condition.
Despite being a registered (then CORGI-registered) engineer,
Tongue's registration for that type of boiler had lapsed three
years earlier. He was jailed for three years after being found
guilty of manslaughter.
Ceredig (brother of Thomas Gwyn Morgan) said:
Two families have suffered here as a result of illegal
gas work. Incidents like these could be prevented if people protect
themselves by using a Gas Safe Registered engineer.”
Barbara’s story:
In September 2007, Barbara had a new boiler installed by a local
gas fitter claiming to be registered. The boiler installation
cost Barbara nearly four thousand pounds but slowly problems with
the central heating began to emerge. After calling him back a
number of times Barbara’s son-in-law called a plumber friend to
give an independent professional opinion. It was discovered that
there were a number of faults putting her at risk from unsafe gas
work.
Barbara said:
I trusted him because he claimed he was registered. I
can’t believe someone who was so charming could be so
deceitful”
Despite having been proven to carry out illegal gas work,
subsequently being investigated by Gas Safe Register, and being
served a prohibition notice by HSE, he continued to advertise in
the local newspaper, offering his ‘friendly reliable service’. He
used a fictitious registration number and falsely stated that
he is “Gas Safe registered”.
Lisa’s story:
Lisa and her partner took up rental of a caravan in West Sussex
in Spring 2009. Shortly after moving in Lisa started suffering from
headaches and nausea and one week later the couple noticed the
smell of gas. After notifying their landlord he arranged
for someone to come out and investigate. Having been made aware of
Gas Safe Register by a friend Lisa asked for the man’s Gas Safe
Register ID card. He replied
I work for myself. I’m not Gas Safe Registered because
it would cost me £2,000 and then your landlord couldn’t afford me
and problems like these wouldn’t get fixed”.
Dubious about the man’s level of competence, Lisa rang Gas Safe
Register and an inspector was sent out. The Gas Safe Register
Investigations Officer found a number of dangerous faults
throughout the property, including the majority of air vents from
the cooker and the gas fire being either filled with foam or
blocked. The property was extremely unsafe resulting in the couple
having to leave and move back with relatives.
Jan’s story:
In 2007, Jan decided to have an LPG gas fire put in her dining
room. A gas fitter working as an operative for a registered
business quoted them for the fire installation on behalf of the
business, and then had a word in her ear that he could do it
cheaper as a “foreigner”. Wanting to save money and believing
he was registered privately Jan chose him for the work.
Soon after the installation, Jan began having terrible heavy
nosebleeds and severe headaches, both of which were a mystery to
her doctor. Jan then started noticing a blackening of the brickwork
on the fireplace. After contacting a different engineer, a
full investigation revealed the gas fire fitted badly and had many
dangerous faults. Like most people, Jan assumed the fitter was
registered and able to work privately because he was registered to
work on jobs under another business. He was in fact working
illegally.
Anne’s story:
In 2004, Anne bought a house that needed a new heating system
and gas fire. She knew she needed a gas fitter who was (then
CORGI) registered, and thought the person she found was qualified
to do the job.
When Anne returned from work on Good Friday the following year,
she found her 14 year old daughter, Alex, lying on the floor
outside the bathroom. She checked for a pulse and saw the
bubbles around Alex’s mouth (caused as she had struggled for
air). The emergency services came and realised immediately
that it was CO poisoning.
Anne ultimately discovered the person who fitted the gas fire
was working illegally and was not qualified or registered to carry
out work on gas fires. He was prosecuted and received a
two-year sentence for manslaughter.
Anne said:
He took my daughter’s life, and he took my life away.
My message to anyone who wants gas work done in their home is never
to use an illegal gas fitter and to always check the fitter’s card
to make sure that he is Gas Safe registered to do all the work you
need doing.”
Jenny’s story:
Jenny’s property suffered damage during the floods in June
2007. In need of a builder her neighbour recommended someone
who could ‘do it all’. He seemed a genuine nice guy and his
paperwork said he was CORGI registered so Jenny appointed him. His
building work seemed good so Jenny recommend him to her sister in
law who needed a new boiler. A few months later, her sister
in law returned to her house to find the ceiling had fallen in –
her gas boiler was at fault. A (then CORGI) inspector visited and
condemned the boiler, noting pages of faults.
Following the inspectors visit Jenny had him check out her
property where he found a gas leak. The new floors had to be taken
up in order to trace the leak and the property soon looked like it
was falling apart. The insurance company wouldn’t take
responsibility as Jenny had booked her own builder. It turned
out all his paperwork was fake and he had apparently been warned
about it in 2001. He had taken advantage of Jenny’s confused and
distressed state after the flooding and left her £1300 out of
pocket.
Tell us your story
Have you experienced unsafe gas work or carbon monoxide
poisoning?
Your story will help tell others how to be gas safe.
Share your
experiences with us.