A COUPLE in Royston say the way a gas company dealt with them was a shambles after they were left without hot water for 11 days. Chris and Karen Fuller of Honey Way, have been British Gas customers for the past 23 years, and Mr Fuller says that the com

A COUPLE in Royston say the way a gas company dealt with them was "a shambles" after they were left without hot water for 11 days.

Chris and Karen Fuller of Honey Way, have been British Gas customers for the past 23 years, and Mr Fuller says that the company has shown his family no care.

He said: "They came out to do a service on the boiler and as a result condemned the unit as unsafe.

"I was told that they would be back as soon as they could.

"They didn't come back for 11 days, and in that time we were without gas and hot water. To me that is totally unacceptable."

Mr Fuller says he has lost count of the hours he spent on the phone in an attempt to resolve the issue.

He also had to take time off work.

But Mr Fuller said what concerned him most was the welfare of his family - in particular his wife, who is disabled.

He said: "Because of Karen's disabilities, having hot water and heat is a necessity.

"Some people can cope for a while, but in this case it became quite stressful."

Mrs Fuller said: "I think it's disgusting. I don't really think that British Gas cared about our situation. To be left that long is terrible. It's a shambles."

Helped by his daughter Jade, 18, and son, Alex, 16, Mr Fuller had to chop wood for heat and boil water to wash.

Mr Fuller said: "You wouldn't have thought that this was the 21st century!"

Mr Fuller is now appealing for a reduction on the service charge and the cost of the repairs. He says a goodwill gesture is the least the company can do.

"Ideally I would like a discount, because the way we have been treated is disgraceful. They expect me to pay £524 and for what? As far as I'm concerned I shouldn't have to pay the full amount.

"I will definitely consider taking my custom elsewhere. British Gas needs to take a long look at the way it runs things."

At the time of going to press yesterday (Wednesday) British Gas had not responded to The Crow's enquiries about the situation.