Comhairle Secures £60,000 for Stornoway Scottish Gas Customers

27August 2003

Following successful intervention by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Trading Standards section, Scottish Gas have agreed to a £60,000 write-off for island gas consumers who were wrongly charged for their gas usage, it emerged yesterday.

Stornoway customers had contacted the Comhairle’s Trading Standards department to highlight the problems experienced with their gas pre-payment meters, who in turn quickly expressed their concerns to Scottish Gas. Scottish Gas thus acknowledged that this situation arose through no fault of the customers and agreed to cease pursuing the alleged debt, which was in excess of £60,000.

Investigations revealed that 91 (ninety-one) Stornoway meters were programmed with the incorrect calorific value, with the result that the meters were passing twice as much gas as the customers were entitled to from their purchases. Rather than paying for their ongoing gas consumption, the Stornoway customers were in effect accumulating an incorrect outstanding balance. This outstanding balance has now been withdrawn from accounts.

Angus Nicolson, Chairman of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Environmental Services Committee added:
“This error has shown the value of the service offered by the Comhairle to be paramount. To achieve a write-off of £60,000 for 91 people is a significant success for all involved and an indication of the professionalism and efficiency of the Trading Standards section.”

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk