[Shamu406]

It is not really a surge.  What happens when a neutral connection is lost is the 240VAC is unevenly divided depending entirely on the impedance of each load.  Some devices get more than their normal 120VAC, and others less.  A surge is when voltage exceeds nominal limits.  An "open neutral" is what this condition is called and the results can be devastating.  The power protection system I am using claims to protect from an open neutral, but I sure don't want to find out if it actually can.
It would take a rather bulky tester to apply enough load to really give the neutral a good test, but there are designs for such a device on the internet.  I don't connect to but a few posts that I use year after year, so I just plug up and usually cross my fingers :-)
It wouldn't hurt to give Tom's suggestion a try if you are convinced the open neutral was due to their or someone's else's equipment or negligence.
Russ

Try not to snicker too hard at me, but I do have a SurgeGard device and was not using it at the 50 amp hookup at my office. Not sure if it would have helped, but I feel pretty silly right now for not using it.