British Gas service contract rip off?

Savannah02K

I wonder if anyone can advise on this? I had a new boiler installed in May and as there is a two year guarantee I cancelled my British Gas service contract. I had been paying around £23 per month since it started again in Feb, i.e. I'd paid £69. As on these accounts you pay charges over 8 months but get cover for 12 months, in my mind that means although I only paid three months charges, I actually paid FOR four and a half months cover. I was therefore expecting to get about £23 pound back. However, they've only paid me £7.68. When I queried this the customer service rep didn't seem to understand my argument at all and said 'that's what the computer has worked out is due to you.' I've written and complained but it seems as though they're operating one rate for charging and another rate for rebating. Has anyone else encountered this and if so, what was the result? Thanks folks.

Magentasue

Was there a notice period? In other words, did you actually have five and a half months' cover?

Gerrard_8_lfc

When Is your renewal date ? not when the boiler was installed your actual contractual year.

If your renewal date is in feb and your boiler was installed in may your refund is correct as the DD you pay is 3 weeks in arrears and 1 in advance. And Im assuming your on the standard hc 200 ?

Without any other BG products ?

elektra

Is paying over 8 months a new thing or an option when you take out contract? I pay over 12 months

bryanb

elektra wrote: »

Is paying over 8 months a new thing or an option when you take out contract? I pay over 12 months

I reckon it's designed to confuse people. (Seems to work)

duggie1982

I work for BG and the 8 month rule is because many years ago you could not pay over 12 months. The standard monthly payments are now over 12 months but if you joined a while back it would be over 8 months. The computer generate the pro rata refund so should be correct.

P.S. Also depends on when in the month the contract started and when it finished.

bryanb

duggie1982 wrote: »

I work for BG and the 8 month rule is because many years ago you could not pay over 12 months.

Is that because years used to be shorter?

duggie1982

bryanb wrote: »

Is that because years used to be shorter?

Yip thats the reason:rotfl:

SwanJon

one other thought could be that the monthly fee covers the annual inspection and the repair cover, so not all of the £23 would be for repair. I
If you'd already had the annual service they'll take that out before woirking out a rebate.

duggie1982

SwanJon wrote: »

one other thought could be that the monthly fee covers the annual inspection and the repair cover, so not all of the £23 would be for repair. I
If you'd already had the annual service they'll take that out before woirking out a rebate.

You would think we would do that but we dont, unless your in the first year of contract