who else took the gamble and didnt switch to a fixed product

Cardew

Dave2112 wrote: »

Re boiler efficiency - I have now found out my central heating is not installed correctly and there is a point where deposits can build up in the pipes. Also I didn't keep the anti sludge stuff topped up (or what ever it's called) as I'd never done so in a previous house. These two problems over time resulted in the central heating getting worse. Now I've had it fixed the heating is superb (and costing less to run) and I shall make sure the system is topped up correctly. But when I've had the boiler serviced they just charged a lot of money to vacuum it and check for leaks with no concept about seeing if the whole system is working properly.

Searching through the internet(before I voiced my opinion on boiler efficiency and servicing!!) I found some good(and independant) sites. These stress the importance of a correct installation of the boiler - there are a load of factors to consider.

However your experience of boiler servicing mirrors that of my own and every person I have spoken to on this subject.

Cardew

welda wrote: »

Speaking to one of my colleagues today who trains/assesses gas appliance installers to their industry standard, my question was, my gas boiler was installed Jan 2005, since this date I have never had it serviced (touching wood, no problems) I asked if he thought I should organise a service, he replied "if it works fine just leave it" My thoughts are, BG service contracts are a con, looking at BG basic level 100 maint/repair @ £9 per month at todays rate, boiler been in place 45 months = £405.00 plus the fact, an annual service does not effect burn efficiency (is easy to check by viewing flame colour) says expert colleague, I keep the £££'s where I like them most, in my account!!

Lets not forget, all boilers come with a one year warranty. If one has a problem within the year, then yes, you may have a duffer if one requires several repairs during warranty period, then there may be grounds to have extra cover. Pumps goes, easy to replace if a proper installation has been done ie: shut off valves at both sides of pump, controls are not expensive clock/timer. As I stated above, IMO these service contracts are a drain on £££ resources. If it aint broke, why try to fix it!

W

He won't be popular with Corgi fitters!

withabix

I went for the SP Fix to 28/2/2011.

According to the price comparison sites, for my gas/electricity usage, I could save £37 per year with Union Energy (whoever they are!!).

The rest all cost more.

Maz

Been in my house for 5 years, boiler installed 18 months before I bought it. I was offered a contract for servicing but quite honestly, I was so skint at the time, I declined their offer.

5 years on, my boiler is still working well and I've had no problems. Coming from a working background where maintenance contracts are considered to be very lucrative, I'm a bit suspicious anyway!

gaggyball

Mercenary wrote: »

I didn't rush to cap. I'm with Atlantic and I get their discount of a month's rebate per utility in November. Not a good time to change supplier.

I also don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire on the wave of public panic :eek: , and then find out I'm donating towards the shareholders Xmas party. I like to keep my options as open as possible.

:beer:
yeah! I get my rebate from Atlantic in December and with £127 coming my way it's not worth changing yet. I'll check out the comparison sites next year.

BexTech

We had never previously capped as we worked out and took the gamble it wasn't worth it and it would be worth riding out the storm, would have been too many months paying over the odds before prices would rise. Luckily maybe the tariffs we chose meant we were a lot better off not capping.

However recently looking at the market and working out the maths, we decided to price fix the electric, but not the gas. The electric there was virtually nothing in it, the price only being extremely fractionally dearer at the time than the cheapest available tariff. The gas however would have to rise by over 80% before it would work out cheaper to cap - and there was no way we were going to pay over 80% more for all those months before the price goes up to over 80%.

[Deleted User]

oil down again and now $111

bring on the `linked` energy prices

cowbutt

1carminestocky wrote: »

The same was being said about housing only a few months ago. NO-ONE can predict the future with any great certainty.

The difference is that fossil fuels aren't - and cannot be - made at the same rate we're using them. New houses can always be built if there's the will and the capital.

Alias_Omega

kittie wrote: »

oil down again and now $111

bring on the `linked` energy prices

and if oil keeps falling, gas & electric prices fall.

all those locked in on 'Price promises' till 2011 will see themselves being charged loads, and when they try to switch, high early termination fee's too..

1carminestocky

I'm assuming the previously on a 'need to know basis' correlation between the price of gas and the price of oil was a figment of an overly active marketing mind at one of the energy companies? They seem to be in a bit of an embarrassing situation - oil prices plummeting but wholesale gas prices rising. Come on, energy peeps, spill the beans, which of these 2 factors influences the price of gas? The one that's increasing at any given time? :rolleyes: