British Gas sold 86 year old pensioner £3k boiler

mymatebob

I doubt it

It is just people expressing their opinion that maybe the person wasn't ripped off.
And age has nothing to do with it - mental faculties yes.

1carminestocky

Let's see what BGs top brass think when they read the OPs letter (which hopefully threatens approaching the press/watchdog etc). If they think they have nothing to hide and their actions are entirely honourable then of course they will reply as such. We'll see...

Cardew

darktrader wrote: »

I don't know Perhaps I'm missing something, but I find it hard to see BG as a latter-day !!!!!! Turpin robbing 86 year old people just because they are easy prey.


As for BG specifically, I have only ever had good and professional service from them. ...

darktrader,

Surely the BG salesman is the culprit here, with some of the blame going to the fitter.

I have had a similar warning notice issued to me several times by BG and it is couched in terms that would cause alarm to many people.

All it would have taken is a word by the fitter to reassure the lady that it was nothing to worry about and the boiler was perfectly safe.

Certainly the saleman should have advised the lady that it simply wasn't necessary to fit a new boiler. You don't need to be a psychiatrist to pick up if a person is 'confused' and a suggestion to the lady that she might like to consult a friend/relative might have been in order.

I certainly do not 'knock' BG - as some might testify! However if a firm wants to keep a good reputation and the trust of customers(many who remain with BG out of loyalty) then the firm should not adopt the practices of discredited double glazing salesmen.

1carminestocky

I would suggest most people remain with BG out of apathy as opposed to loyalty but that's going off-topic...

darktrader

Cardew wrote: »

darktrader,
Surely the BG salesman is the culprit here, with some of the blame going to the fitter.

Culprit and blame. That's only applicable if you agree that some "crime" (criminal or moral) has taken place. Now, it may have. But I, personally, do not have sufficient facts before me to judge. Have we heard from the Salesman or the Fitter?

I am sure that if the lady in question has been "robbed" in any sense of the word someone within BG will sort it out, amicably.

DirectDebacle

darktrader wrote: »

Ah, didn't think it would be long :rolleyes: Been a while since I posted here. How quickly I forgot the "rules."

A good rule to follow would be to ensure you understand a thread before posting on it.

She signed up for Homecare 400 this summer and when the boiler service was carried out received a "Safety Warning / Advice Notice" note - not immediately dangerous, not at risk, but not to current standards. This worried her (as she thought the system was dangerous) and arranged to have BG supply and install a new boiler for a cost of £3000. This to replace the existing boiler which was only 8 years old and already a high efficiency combi boiler.

Note the B.G. engineer did not advise that the boiler should be replaced on safety or any other grounds.

Despite this she was still worried that it was. It appears B.G. did nothing to assuage these fears but instead replaced a boiler that one of their engineers had already confirmed was safe, not at risk and therefore in good working order. If it had been otherwise he would have disabled it.

The issue is not whether or not the engineer acted properly, it seems he did, or even the fact that the boiler was replaced. The issue is quite clearly the subsequent conduct of B. G. after being contacted by the customer for reassurance.

Another good rule would be to use terms and expressions you understand.

Ageism, like sexism and racism refers to an act of dicrimination because of someones', in this case, age. Only your posts have a hint of this prejudice creeping into the thread.

Neither was she 'robbed'. Robbery is theft from any person and immediately before or at the time and in order to do so uses force or puts or seeks to put any person in fear of there and then being subjected to force.

This does not seem to have happened in this case.

As you say there are two sides to every story. I am sure B.G. will be able to show that they did everything possible to persuade this old lady that there was no necessity to replace her boiler. I am sure that they will point out that the engineers report stated as such but despite every effort to give her piece of mind and alternative options, she insisted, probably forced them under threat of switching supplier, that they fit a new boiler.

DirectDebacle

Farway wrote: »

I remember similar outrage when some banks refused to discuss products with older people unless another, younger, adult / relation was present

Seems you just can't do right for doing wrong

Probably the same younger adults who are now busy re-claiming mis-sold PPI they took out with their loans.

darktrader

DirectDebacle wrote: »

A good rule to follow would be to ensure you understand a thread before posting on it...
Another good rule would be to use terms and expressions you understand...

You must forgive me that I do not possess your level of intellect or understanding.
And my inability to simply accept others opinions and views at face value.
And my deplorable lack of venom when attcking BG or other large utilities.

:beer:

loobylou2

1carminestocky wrote: »

Of course I am going to be accused of having it in for utility company employees posting on here again but I frankly don't care. I do note that the one person who has thanked darktrader's post IIRC works for BG. By inference, that means they see absolutely no problem with an 86 year old woman being sold a vastly overpriced boiler installation on the premise that her current boiler was issued with a "Safety Warning / Advice Notice" note - not immediately dangerous, not at risk, but not to current standards. Just an illustration of why YES I do have a bee in my bonnet about these utility company workers posting here in defence of their companies/the industry (and NEVER declaring their financial interest). With a few notable exceptions on here, these people, like the organisations they work for, are in it solely for the profit/commission/salary. Disgusting.

I work for BG and am not ashamed to admit it, I'm proud of my job ( work in gas billing not services unfortunately) and do it because I like helping people not because I earn a large salary. I don't unfortunately and I live in a council house before anybody asks!!!! However I agree with the OP and think she should contact BG to complain because the company does have a policy which says that salespeople should not target elderly or vulnerable people. If I'm ever processing a sale for someone who is elderly I always make sure that they understand that they are entering into a contract and that they have a cooling off period after agreeing to the sale so it does sound as if the OP has cause to complain on this occasion if she thinks that her aunt has been coerced by the salesperson into having something she does not necessarily need!!!! I'd give services a call and ask to speak to a manager to see what they say!!!!

DirectDebacle

loobylou2 wrote: »

However I agree with the OP and think she should contact BG to complain because the company does have a policy which says that salespeople should not target elderly or vulnerable people..... I'd give services a call and ask to speak to a manager to see what they say!!!!

Thank you for clarifying B.G. policy on the elderly and vulnerable. Also good of you to come on here and declare yourself. Well done. Wish there were more like you.