British Gas Maintenance Contract!!!!!!!!!!!

lemontree

Despite paying £300 per year and having called them out as Combi Boiler not working they have advised we pay for a Magnitiser and pressure clean which may or may not find fault. Total price probably £800. What have I been paying £300 per year for!!!!!!
Any advice greatly appreciated.

Tozer

Here's a funny thing. A plumber once told me that if a system is serviced correctly, it should never need a pressure clean....

I don't think a clean will find the fault. I suspect BG are relying on a "standard" excuse.

lemontree

British Gas have carried out the services!!!!!!!!!!

Tozer

lemontree wrote: »

British Gas have carried out the services!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly............

hollydays

how old is the boiler?
I just pay for a yearly service,about £60.
Surely that was your choice to have a £300 package that no doubt includes callouts when you want.

lemontree

Boiler about 10 years old and includes labour and parts also service.

hollydays

Phew that IS a lot of money.Sounds like the the boiler is not the only one who could get pressured and cleaned out!!
Maybe you could find a plumbers forum to ask the question on?

http://www.screwfix.com/talk/forum.jspa?forumID=25

this is the only one I know.
Not sure if boilers come under plumbing though..
Hopefully they will tel you if this is your only option/if you could get it cheaper (amost certainly?)or if you could challenge this diagnosis.

lemontree

Thank you have posted and will let you know outcome.

top_banana

hmmmmmm my parents just had the same.
They have been told they need a power flush / clean - total cost £600.
May not find fault - if you do not have it done they will not cover you anymore, also if you get third party to do it, again will not cover you anymore. GGRRR
BTW, yes their boiler is nearly 15 year old, but they been having British Gas cover for over 23 years and only needed them twice!!!!!!

Ivory_Tinkler

That's a bit steep - I was under the impression that if you took out one of these contracts you were covered for all repairs. We've even had a radiator replaced under our BG contract

pulliptears

How strange....I was told by BG I needed a power flush a few years ago. Cost was £650. asked for a second opinion....engineer number two said Power Flush, cost £450!! they took off a really good pump and replaced it with a cheapo reconditioned thing as well grrrrr

We demanded they took a water sample from the radiator, because we were sure it was just the rads that needed balancing and not a blockage. Grudgingly they did it. What BG didnt know is my OH also took a sample and sent it off. Within 4 days we had the result, all clear.

6 WEEKS later BG finally called and admitted the results of the tests were sent directly to the engineers homes, and in this case the engineer's wife binned the letter!

In the 6 weeks that had passed we had the rads balanced and it cured the problem. We then complained loudly to BG, in the end they paid for the new treament we had put in the system and paid for a pump of equal standard to the one they removed. We then cancelled.

My personal thoughts on BG Homecare is you would be better saving the money you pay them in a jar and finding a good plumber, because when it comes down to it they will tell you "You need a power flush and it isnt covered".

Incidentally, I called to cancel my Mums BG Homecare last month (I didnt realise she even had it!), when they asked why I said because it was too expensive for her as a pensioner, at which point they offered to lower the price! I said thanks but no thanks.