Thoughts on British gas services

julybride

I have paid British gas about £20 a month for 2 years to service my boiler and to cover repairs, I'm starting to wonder if this is really worth it.

Any thoughts on if it is worth while? am i going to be regretting canceling it if my heating goes?

Are their others that offer a similar service at cheaper rate?

All comments greatfully recieved

Davidboy

Well what you are paying for is insurance. The fact that you will not be without heating for very long.

I know in my area, there is a local guy who offers the same sort of thing as 3* but cheaper. Ask neighbours if they use anyone.

For me, I could not bear to be without CH, as it is our only form of heat. I am afraid it is down to you as to whether you want to take the risk of not being insured or not, sods law and all that!!


D

headcovers

Did you see the report that BBC Watchdog did on British Gas Homecare agreements? It was pretty condemning and I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near them after having seen it.

The textual synopsis is on the BBC Watchdog website. If you didn't see the programme I really recommend you read it :eek:

Davidboy

Yes Headcovers I did see watchdog, but I have to speak as I find and have called BG for boiler problems and Plumbing problems and never had a problem. Any big organisiation is going to have a share of customers where things have gone wrong.

But I think what Julybride is asking is whether there is an alternative. Now you may consider that not having any boiler cover is a risk worth taking, but when it does break down who do you call. Boggit and Leggit from yellow pages. Have you seen Rogue Traders with Matt Alright? Have you seen the call out charges these plumbers charge then the hourly rate? How long will it take these guys to come out, I bet it happens on the coldest winter day, and of course they are all busy!!

Like I said, my suggestion would be, ask around, see if a local plumbing company with a good reputation offers the same sort of cover as 3*. Or stay with BG, Or no cover. The choice is yours.


D

grumpyoldgit_2

:mad: :mad:
GRRRRRRRR.......... British Gas - read on (extract of letter of complaint)
November I went to use my domestic hot water immersion heater and on switching power on found it shorted out at the mains board, I investigated and found signs of water leakage at the point where the immersion heater thermostat enters the domestic cylinder. I isolated the power supply, turned off the water supply and called British Gas believing that my cylinder and immersion were covered by my 3 star care agreement as part of the domestic heating system.

Eventually a British Gas Engineer came and on arrival told me that the immersion was not covered and that all he could do was plug the water leak – I even provided him with a plastic bung to do the job! It seems the British Gas Engineer based his judgement on 2 factors:
1. He did not carry spares for such work
2. The item in question was electrical and not plumbing
Although I was firmly of the view that the items were covered I could understand his first point but not the second as in the past I have had electrical zone valves replaced by British Gas Engineers under this same agreement!

Nevertheless he was adamant that this was the case. The British Gas Engineer left me a partially completed ‘Work Request Voucher’ (copy attached) and left saying he would ring again next day to confirm that the repair was not covered. The following morning the British Gas Engineer did ring and spoke to my wife – he told her that as he suspected the work was not covered and that we should now “call a plumber” to effect the repair.

I contacted a plumber who visited to assess the problem and he agreed to try and replace the immersion element and thermostat. He returned the next day with his apprentice and I watched as he tried to remove the faulty immersion unit – as he tried to turn the lock nut the tank neck moved and we concluded that it was locked solid – he heated the thread, tried any number of other spanners all to no avail it was obvious even to my unpractised eye that the tank was weak (due to age) and any further effort to remove the lock nut would result in ripping off the neck of the tank.

We had no alternative but to obtain and fit a replacement tank, immersion and thermostat as there was no way to use the hot water system without it, (it had already been off for 3 days by this time). The work was completed and took virtually all day as the plumber had to work in very restricted space and cut and re-fit numerous heating pipes etc to get the new tank in place. I have retained the worn out immersion heater, thermostat and hot water cylinder for your inspection if you deem it necessary – they can be viewed by prior appointment at my address, as can the new cylinder and fittings.

I enclose a copy of the final invoice received from my plumber for the sum of £529. (copy attached).

Bottom Line they eventually paid me just £348.28.

I had been a member of homecare for 10 years - no longer
Robbing !!!!!! - beware

GoG

italiastar

"Useless!!!"

headcovers

Davidboy wrote:

Yes Headcovers I did see watchdog, but I have to speak as I find .....

My post was directed at julybride actually, not your good self, as I was wondering whether she had ever had call to use her service and if not she needed to be aware of the possible problems she might face.

Yes, I have seen Rogue Traders and I was not suggesting that she have no insurance, just that she should consider other people's experience with BG, when considering whether to continue with BG or move elsewhere. I personally have cover for my combination boiler for the very reasons you quote.

djohn2002uk

I have had BG 3* service for almost 30 years and the only complaint I've had in that time is one missed appointment, which didn't happen to be any inconvenience because I'd forgotten he was comming anyway. And I've had a fair number of callouts in that time including a new HW Cylinder, programmer, zone valve and various repairs to the boiler and rads. They've kept my system running well and still got the same boiler.
As for the Immersion Heater problem. Anyone can see that it isn't covered under "Boiler and Central Heating" as it's not part of either and not something that I have ever considered to be covered. So, to condemn BG for not repairing something that isn't covered seems unjustified to me. Perhaps I should have tried to get them to replace my shower last year, it's connected to the heating system just as much as an immersion heater.

littld

I think they are v. good in my experience.

But it makes sense to pay up only when you need to. If you can't afford to pay £20 per month, ring them and stop it.

If you have a problem, call them up and they'll often start the scheme again which covers the call out and fix. Simply pay for 12 months and then cancel again.

grumpyoldgit_2

djohn2002uk wrote:

...............As for the Immersion Heater problem. Anyone can see that it isn't covered under "Boiler and Central Heating" as it's not part of either and not something that I have ever considered to be covered. So, to condemn BG for not repairing something that isn't covered seems unjustified to me. Perhaps I should have tried to get them to replace my shower last year, it's connected to the heating system just as much as an immersion heater.

You have missed my point THE IMMERSION AND TANK WERE COVERED as part of the heating system (look at their literature again) - even BG admitted that!!!

My dispute was about why no coverage in an emergency situation in winter - and the fact they would not pay for the full cost of eventual repair - read your agreement!

It's people like you "not something that I have ever considered to be covered" that let them get away with stiffing those of us who believe they will do the right thing when we need them - why else would we pay up?

Enjoy your cold shower

GoG

julybride

Thank you everyone, this is interesting, comments are kind of reiterating my confused state. I've heard good and bad of BG and now read the article, but at the same time i've heard good and if something does happen to my heating i could at least do with out the hefty call out charges to start with.

Oh well for the time being i am to stay with my cover as the added bonus is they can provide my gas saftety check certificate which i need for my tennants at no additional cost (under the plan i'm on) and that could cost £100 alone from some CORGI registered gas person. May re-evaluate in th enew year.