gas man
#16
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: denia - on the Spanish side of the mountain
Posts: 53
Re: gas man
yes i think she s been winding you up!! it s been cold but we ve had no snow on montgo denia side! it s starting to warm up a bit now so hopefully it will be nice by the time you get to denia! are you on the montgo too (denia side)?
#17
Re: gas man
I have a place overlooking Montgo, not too far from Montgomail the local newsagents (hence the avatar).
#18
Re: gas man
Actually the photo I saw was at ground level although I couldn't pinpoint whereabouts in Denia. I just presumed it would have been on the Montgo too but it may have been up the Las Marinas end of town.
I have a place overlooking Montgo, not too far from Montgomail the local newsagents (hence the avatar).
I have a place overlooking Montgo, not too far from Montgomail the local newsagents (hence the avatar).
it is warming up nicely now though
here are a couple of links to Las Provincias with photos of the snow/ice on the beach in Dénia
http://www.lasprovincias.es/v/201102...-20110201.html
http://www.lasprovincias.es/20110131...101310844.html
Last edited by lynnxa; Feb 3rd 2011 at 5:53 am. Reason: adding links
#20
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Orba (Alicante region)
Posts: 24
Re: gas man
Just thought I should post a warning of a company operating around Orba valley just now (Orba is in Alicante province inland from Denia)who are similarly knocking on doors looking for work to replace gas fittings.
On Friday when I popped into see our German neighbours in Orba they had a couple of guys in orange and grey overalls working on replacing the tubing from their propane gas bottles. My neighbours told me they had just rang their door bell, shown their ID and asked to inspect their tubing etc. from their gas bottles. They then advised them that as the tubing was out of date (and the regulator) they must change them. They had all sorts of official looking documentation and ID cards/certificates. My neighbours had instructed them to proceed with work but were then slightly dubious that it might be a scam and asked me what I thought. As I'd heard of such scams I did a Google and found this forum thread. When I approached the main guy suggesting it was a scam he showed me their credentials and suggested I call the police and they'd wait for them to come. I thought he might have just been bluffing but then again I suspected they were not actually doing anything illegal. The problem is more to do with the way they solicit for business and that they probably then grossly overcharge for any work they do (plus suggest other work that you probably don't need done!). I know that the tubing does need changed every 5 years (theirs was well out of date) but the issue is that it's better to choose a reputable company yourself to do such work rather than trust it to these sort of companies who are clearly just looking for work.
As the work had started our neighbours decided not to tell them to stop. They were apparently being charged 120 euros for replacing the tubing, a regulator, and fitting an additional shut-off valve in their kitchen, plus the "certificate” for the work. On checking since I find they are a legitimate company "Mantenimiento y Revisión del Gas SL" with website at http://www.myrgas.es/
Here's pics of their documentation manual cover:
As I said they may well be a reputable company but the issue is that it's better to choose a reputable company yourself to do such work, rather than trust it to these sort of companies who are clearly just knocking on doors looking for work, and may well therefore being overcharging for what they do. As there is NO obligation to use these people I'd suggest do not let them into your property and if you want your gas fittings inspected or repaired I’d suggest you contact a suitably qualified person of YOUR OWN choice!
On Friday when I popped into see our German neighbours in Orba they had a couple of guys in orange and grey overalls working on replacing the tubing from their propane gas bottles. My neighbours told me they had just rang their door bell, shown their ID and asked to inspect their tubing etc. from their gas bottles. They then advised them that as the tubing was out of date (and the regulator) they must change them. They had all sorts of official looking documentation and ID cards/certificates. My neighbours had instructed them to proceed with work but were then slightly dubious that it might be a scam and asked me what I thought. As I'd heard of such scams I did a Google and found this forum thread. When I approached the main guy suggesting it was a scam he showed me their credentials and suggested I call the police and they'd wait for them to come. I thought he might have just been bluffing but then again I suspected they were not actually doing anything illegal. The problem is more to do with the way they solicit for business and that they probably then grossly overcharge for any work they do (plus suggest other work that you probably don't need done!). I know that the tubing does need changed every 5 years (theirs was well out of date) but the issue is that it's better to choose a reputable company yourself to do such work rather than trust it to these sort of companies who are clearly just looking for work.
As the work had started our neighbours decided not to tell them to stop. They were apparently being charged 120 euros for replacing the tubing, a regulator, and fitting an additional shut-off valve in their kitchen, plus the "certificate” for the work. On checking since I find they are a legitimate company "Mantenimiento y Revisión del Gas SL" with website at http://www.myrgas.es/
Here's pics of their documentation manual cover:
As I said they may well be a reputable company but the issue is that it's better to choose a reputable company yourself to do such work, rather than trust it to these sort of companies who are clearly just knocking on doors looking for work, and may well therefore being overcharging for what they do. As there is NO obligation to use these people I'd suggest do not let them into your property and if you want your gas fittings inspected or repaired I’d suggest you contact a suitably qualified person of YOUR OWN choice!
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Re: gas man
Repsol did not call us after 5 years ... you are obliged to have your system inspected after that time or they may choose not to continue supplying you with gas bottles. Repsol agency in Pego were surprisingly unhelpful, so we contacted 100% Plumbing who are authorised to do these inspections. They came, inspected and gave us official paperwork to send off to Repsol in Madrid and it is now 6 years since installation and we are still getting gas, so presumably all is well ...
#22
Re: gas man
Repsol did not call us after 5 years ... you are obliged to have your system inspected after that time or they may choose not to continue supplying you with gas bottles. Repsol agency in Pego were surprisingly unhelpful, so we contacted 100% Plumbing who are authorised to do these inspections. They came, inspected and gave us official paperwork to send off to Repsol in Madrid and it is now 6 years since installation and we are still getting gas, so presumably all is well ...
If you use the small cylinders which you can get refills for at any depot then there is no control - you just pay for a refilled bottle - they have no idea what you are going to do with it.
If you have the large bottles for central heating or a refillable tank, that is entirely different. Some friends of ours, who use the big bottles, were recently refused a delivery until they had had the installation re-certified and were without gas for over a week.
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Re: gas man
That depends on what sort of installation you have.
If you use the small cylinders which you can get refills for at any depot then there is no control - you just pay for a refilled bottle - they have no idea what you are going to do with it.
If you have the large bottles for central heating or a refillable tank, that is entirely different. Some friends of ours, who use the big bottles, were recently refused a delivery until they had had the installation re-certified and were without gas for over a week.
If you use the small cylinders which you can get refills for at any depot then there is no control - you just pay for a refilled bottle - they have no idea what you are going to do with it.
If you have the large bottles for central heating or a refillable tank, that is entirely different. Some friends of ours, who use the big bottles, were recently refused a delivery until they had had the installation re-certified and were without gas for over a week.
#24
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: gas man
In 10 years of using large cylinders for CH no-one has ever come to inspect, never had problem with deliveries either. In Sur this week
http://www.diariosur.es/20110221/loc...102211301.html
http://www.diariosur.es/20110221/loc...102211301.html
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Re: gas man
In 10 years of using large cylinders for CH no-one has ever come to inspect, never had problem with deliveries either. In Sur this week
http://www.diariosur.es/20110221/loc...102211301.html
http://www.diariosur.es/20110221/loc...102211301.html
#26
Re: gas man
We just had 2 guys knock on our door a few minutes ago and luckily I was able to access this thread while OH was talking to them on the doorstep.
They were from a company called Colgasa, were wearing grey & orange uniforms and driving an ordinary old car - not a company vehicle. They had lots of official looking paperwork with official green Junta stamps.
They had a look at our gas bottle and said we'd need a new regulator, tube and the compression joint changed to soldered ones. All this, plus a new certificate and an optional extractor fan came to €389!
They said they were only in the area today and would have to carry the work out today. When we said that we didn't have that sort of money on us they saie 'no problem' as they had a machine for credit cards.
In the end we said we didn't want the work done today and they finally left. My OH is off to the ferreteria this evening to buy a new regulator & tube and we'll get our local plumber to come up to inspect and issue us with a new up to date certificate - it'll be interesting to compare the cost
They were from a company called Colgasa, were wearing grey & orange uniforms and driving an ordinary old car - not a company vehicle. They had lots of official looking paperwork with official green Junta stamps.
They had a look at our gas bottle and said we'd need a new regulator, tube and the compression joint changed to soldered ones. All this, plus a new certificate and an optional extractor fan came to €389!
They said they were only in the area today and would have to carry the work out today. When we said that we didn't have that sort of money on us they saie 'no problem' as they had a machine for credit cards.
In the end we said we didn't want the work done today and they finally left. My OH is off to the ferreteria this evening to buy a new regulator & tube and we'll get our local plumber to come up to inspect and issue us with a new up to date certificate - it'll be interesting to compare the cost
#27
Re: gas man
The expiry date will be on the new tube, they are very easy to change and cost about 25 euros (if I remember rightly).
Rosemary
Rosemary
#28
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: gas man
They will be back....don't let them through the gate/door. They are scammers, the gas companies don't cold call.
#29
Re: gas man
Rosemary
#30
Re: gas man
Our certificate was dated 2003 so I guess it's a good idea to get it updated in case of a problem should we need to make an insurance claim?