Scottish Gas Maintenance

whizzing

I've just realised what a poor deal I am getting from my gas maintenance. We decided to get central heating maintenace after we had some trouble a couple of Christmases ago. Last year I paid £176, but this year the renewal is very strange. It shows the cost as £198 less a low call out discount of £18 giving me a bill of £180. That seems a reasonable increase but if something goes wrong and I need to call them out (the purpose of having it) I will lose this discount. Is this worthwhile having?? I don't normally have maintenance but this is one that worries me.

Cardew

There have been countless threads on this subject(do a search) with very mixed opinions on the wisdom of having this plan(BG).

For some the service is excellent; others dreadful.

Most people treat it as a form of insurance - but like any insurance the majority of people will pay more in 'premiums' than they will get back in benefits; but some do very well.

I think most people would do better if they could find an honest, reliable Corgi plumber who will turn out at unsocial hours - as well as carry out an annual maintenance/safety check. The trouble is most of us don't know such an animal.

Skiduck

you're local Corgi registered plumber should be charging about 60 quid for an annual service, obviously parts and repairs will be seperate. IMHO service contracts for new boilers from BG are not worth it, but on older models, you may get more than you pay for: the same as health insurance,; a waste of money if you are feeling great.....

Cardew

Skiduck wrote:

you're local Corgi registered plumber should be charging about 60 quid for an annual service, obviously parts and repairs will be seperate. IMHO service contracts for new boilers from BG are not worth it, but on older models, you may get more than you pay for: the same as health insurance,; a waste of money if you are feeling great.....

Agree with most of that.

However it should be remembered that the BG scheme covers the whole CH system - not just the boiler. Most of my problems over the years have been for other items - pump, thermostat, cylinder etc.

Skiduck

pump, thermostat etc are not big jobs for any decent plumber, however a cylinder change will cost.

It's all about weighing up the risks at the end of the day.

spspyrou

I took out one of BGs gas maintenance with mixed feelings as soon as my combi boilers warrantee expired. I pretty much went for the cheapest option, but did so as pretty much everything I buy these days seem to break down within weeks of the warrantee expiring - anyone else notices that?
Anyway, having had all sorts of problems with plumbers when I first moved in I didn't fancy the chasing. Low and behold, the boiler stopped working last week, the engineer came 2 days later and while the job was only small (a stuck valve/micro switch or something) it was fixed pronto.
In my earlier years I would not have been bother if this job had taken a week or so get sorted, but with 2 kids I can’t help but feel that it was worth the money. That’s not to say it worth it for everyone, but if you want to avoid some hassle then it certainly worth considering…