B.C. man who severed gas line, balked at repair bill ordered to pay $3,400
A B.C. man who accidentally severed a natural gas line and then balked at the repair bill has been ordered to fork over $3,400, despite claiming the FortisBC crew that responded had wasted time "shooting the breeze."
The ruling by the province's small claims court underscores the importance of following FortisBC's oft-repeated TV ad slogan: "Call before you dig."
Ryszard Szczepanski admitted he damaged the gas line back in August 2019, and did not dispute that he failed to contact FortisBC in advance to ensure he wouldn't be interfering with any underground utilities.
He also accepted responsibility for covering the costs of the repair – but refused to pay the subsequent invoice for $3,217, arguing to the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal that the bill was far beyond the "value and time" of the work involved.
"Mr. Szczepanski says that the repair costs were higher than they needed to be because the crew 'took advantage' of the situation to increase their overtime pay," tribunal member Lynn Scrivener wrote in her decision, which was posted online Tuesday. "He says that, despite the length of time the crew was on the site, it only took them about an hour and a half of work to fix the gas line."
Szczepanski said the rest of the crew's time was spent milling around, chatting and breaking for a meal, and that he feels "cheated as a customer," according to the decision.
FortisBC noted the employees were working overtime because Szczepanski cut the gas line on a weekend, and highlighted the complicated nature of responding to potentially dangerous gas leaks.
"FortisBC says that, when there is an emergency situation like the one here, its crew does not know what to expect until they arrive at the site," Scrivener wrote. "The crew attends as a unit even though every member may not be required at all times. It also says that the crew does not decide whether a customer would be billed for their work."
Because a repair was completed and Szczepanski admitted he was at fault, the tribunal determined the onus was on him to prove he was overcharged. Scrivener said he failed to provide evidence that the repair should have taken less time – or that the crew "deliberately slowed down on the job in order to gain the benefit of additional overtime pay."
He was ordered to pay the full repair bill, plus $175 in tribunal fees and $36 in pre-judgment interest, for a total of $3,429.
FortisBC asks that people check in before doing yard work – anything from building a deck to "even just planting a few perennials" – by calling the BC 1 Call hotline at 1-800-474-6886.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.