Cheapest Boiler Cover Discussion

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Cheapest Boiler Cover

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[jogu]

Before your self insure, it's worth knowing that if your boiler breaks down on the first cold day of winter, you'll be in a long queue to get a plumber as British Gas and all the other firms that offer insurance always deal with the customers that are insured with them as the top priority, with everyone else being shuffled to the bottom of the queue.

(Been there, done that...)

[jos22]

Well I tried the Uswitch site on a (less than) 1 year old system.

Not impressed. It failed to tell me that the system was covered by the manufacturer for a further year AND it failed to list the manufacturers cost of providing a breakdown service, which taking into account what is affered by the manufacturer is very competitive.

[Cardew]

Originally Posted by jos22

Well I tried the Uswitch site on a (less than) 1 year old system.

Not impressed. It failed to tell me that the system was covered by the manufacturer for a further year AND it failed to list the manufacturers cost of providing a breakdown service, which taking into account what is affered by the manufacturer is very competitive.

That of course is the problem with all of these comparison sites - be it gas, electricity, phones etc

Their whole motivation is to get you to switch to one of the companies that pay them commission. Thus on any pretext they will 'ignore' companies that don't pay them commission.

[Canucklehead]

Good afternoon: The key is to be proactive i.e. if you have a new boiler installed ensure the installation meets best practice (see http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/...dings/ce30.pdf has a good warranty period and is maintained by a reputable CORGI (To find a qualified installer visit www.trustcorgi.com or www.iphe.org.uk ...preferably use someone recommended to you by a source you trust) Stash the monthly amount you would have paid for cover in a high interest savings account and withdraw funds as required OR do as I have and marry a plumbing/heating engineer

HTH

Canucklehead

P.S. Don't forget to install a carbon monoxide detector

[H Rehman]

A neighbour of mine took out a full service plan with British Gas (BG). BG serviced it to start with. This winter something went wrong with the boiler and it would not fire, the pilot light had gone and it would not kick startagain. BG were contacted they did not come on the same day but come around the following day and told my neighbout the the boiler was very old and the part were for the boiler were unavailable and the BG service man left. Why did they not tell my neighbour at the time of first service that if something goes wrong with the boiler it would be difficult to get hold of the parts. They kept on taking monthly payments knowing well that they would not be able to repair the boiler.

[toadhall]

all well and good but what about oil boilers?:confused:
anyone know of of a reliable company

[Roberta1]

I'm with British Gas Homecare at the moment and am VERY dissatisfied.

Long story of broken appointments, wrong parts ordered, unfulfilled promises...

I am looking to change and need boiler, drains, electrics and preferably kitchen appliance cover too.

Can anyone help? Any recommendations?


Reliability is the key - doing what they say on the tin....

[Lonestar]

I switched to Powergen/Eon from British Gas for boiler and central heating cover as I was fed up with BG missing appts, taking a whole day to turn up after the alloted time etc etc. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Having signed up with Powergen I was promised expert protection etc etc and have now been 12 days without hot water or central heating after 2 engineers diagnosed the wrong parts. Currently waiting for 3rd engineer to arrive with part he thinks it needs. 12 days - with a 6 year old and illness that requires running hot water to maintain basic hygiene. Engineers who don't know what they are doing, call centre staff who don't have ownership of calls/cases so you always get someone different and consequently they don't really take you seriously. Promise after promise of it will be fixed today or tomorrow and it never is. I had to cry on the phone to get an engineer to come earlier than they offered - and even then he had wrong part again. Nightmare.

I am now looking for a reliable local heating engineer who knows my boiler and can help when needed as fast as possible. These big companies lack the personal local factor and so no-one takes ultimate resposnsibility for cases of true hardship etc.

If you want an engineer who knows what he/she is doing first time - don't sign up with Powergen.

Ms Very Unhappy

[GrahamW]

I had the British Gas Homecare 200 policy for the last 6 years (since moving into the house) and noticed the price going up and up. I then called them to ask why its £18 online and why they wanted to charge me about £26 per month for being a loyal customer. I've used them many times as my Potterton boiler is made out of cheese. Many times they have ordered the wrong parts etc but have always got it working. I think most of the boiler has been replaced now.

Anyway, I told them over the phone where to stick their policy and I said I would become a new customer in the new year. However, looking around the HomeCare policy is the most comprehensive cover. Will probably go with them again but at reduced rates. Just checked and you get £40 cashback via Quidco.

[shreky2511]

i recently cancelled my BG homecare 200 after the letter for renewal had the word inspection on it several times and not the word service.
I used to wotk for BG and about 2 years ago there was talk of annual safety inspections instead of services.
I recently took out Swalecs shield cover for £15.50 a month and recieved a cheque for £50 to redeem in 3 months time off my gas/electric bill. i Know its a welcome gift but even after that the monthly premium will be less than i was paying BG.

[Ken68]

Cheaper surely, Shreky to self insure. Blimey £15.50.

[zoebel]

A word of warning to anyone with a Norwich Union Home Emergency Policy coming up for renewal...they charge renewing customers 25% more than new customers. New customers are being charged £7.95 per month and renewing customers are being charged £9.95 per month.

To get round this simply refuse to renew and become a "new customer". I did and saved 24 pounds a year.

How does Norwich Union think it can get away with this?

[jaffacat]

we are in the same position with BG, we have a young son so dont want to be without the option to call them out if necessary.my BG contract due for renewal, is there anywehre else better to go?
Im going to look on Quidco, if I do renew with them I will go through there to get money back.thanks lisa

[zoebel]

I think for what you get (eg annual service) British Gas is hard to beat, but they do charge new customers less than existing ones.

You may be an existing customer but your partner is not. Therefore don't renew your account but get them to apply as a new customer. You will get the very best new customer rates and have continous cover.

Don't forget to apply online as you get a £1 per month "discount".

Next year don't renew again and start it in your name this time.

[smashem]

[/qoute]Why did they not tell my neighbour at the time of first service that if something goes wrong with the boiler it would be difficult to get hold of the parts. They kept on taking monthly payments knowing well that they would not be able to repair the boiler.[/quote]

British Gas policy is to tell a customer when their boiler becomes RSL(reduced spares list) so that they know that there may be a chance that their boiler can not be fixed. They will then suggest that a new boiler would be a better option & offer to quote because the cover they are getting at the present time may not value for money. This also applies when a customer is first taken on contract. My experience as a BG engineer is that most people take that risk & go on cover hoping that if a part is ever required it wont be on the can't get list. The can't get list means that BG parts centre at leicester does not have it on the shelf, so you may be able to get it elsewhere say Ebay where a ex gas engineer is having a clearout of his old spares.
I've always found that a customers will always want to change their car before a boiler even though the car is 3 years old & the boiler is 20!!!!

[abugintheground]

My mum has home emergency cover as part of her bank account, and yet she is still paying nearly £30 a month for British gas homecare 400. I suggested that she cancelled the british gas policy but they talked to me about the two things covering different things.
What is the true difference between the two?
Also, the Lloyds cover requires you to arrange an annual service. I asked BG how much it would cost for them to just provide this, and they quoted £32 a month for our two boilers. (We have a Worcester condensing boiler for heating/kitchen hot water and an AGA Rayburn for domestic hot water) I can't believe this is the cheapest option.

Any advice?

[zoebel]

Cancel the British Gas contract and just pay for the Home Emergency cover, but make sure you read all the small print first.

British Gas are having a laugh, no way does it cost £384 per year to service 2 boilers. If you want, you could go down to the 100 option with British Gas which is £12 a month a includes an annual boiler service.

[Cardew]

Originally Posted by zoebel

Cancel the British Gas contract and just pay for the Home Emergency cover, but make sure you read all the small print first.

British Gas are having a laugh, no way does it cost £384 per year to service 2 boilers. If you want, you could go down to the 100 option with British Gas which is £12 a month a includes an annual boiler service.

I have had the BG servicing plan for many years and always found them to be excellent.

The problem with BG is that if you have 2 boilers(as I have) they treat it as 2 complete systems and charge as such; even though it takes just one annual visit.

I have written to BG and tried everyway to get them to charge for less than 2 full systems but they wouldn't budge.

The costs have almost doubled in 7 years and this year they wanted £462 after discounts(includes plumbing and drains - Homecare 300)

So reluctantly this year I have cancelled the contract and will get any repairs carried out on an 'as required' basis.

[sparky61]

I received a call from BG a few weeks ago to ask if I was going to renew my cover, I said I was going to compare prices before deciding. Yesterday, they rang again and I said I was still looking at cheaper options, the lady asked if I would like her to try and get a cheaper quote, she came back with 10% discount.