Help! Jersey Gas Problem

~Cheryl~_2

Hi all,

I hope you guys can give me some insight or advice on my problem. From December 17th my boiler wasn't sending out hot water so we had the gas company come round to have a look (we are in Jersey, hence Jersey Gas) and they said it was the thermostat so they came back and changed it.

About a week later the same problem happened. We weren't getting any hot water (well, it started hot and then went luke warm then cold) so we called them again (assuming that since it was the same problem we should call the same people because they knew it had already happened once). The second time the engineer said it was the diverter valve. So he changed it. I asked him flat out "if this doesn't work, what then?" and he replied "I'm 99.9% sure that this is the problem but if it isn't, just give us another call." So... a couple of days later the same thing started again. We called them. The same guy came. "Oops, sorry. Forgot the TURN the valve ON." Grrr.

A few days later, same thing happened again! So, we called them again. This went on from December 17th until the end of January because of holidays and the fact that my husband and I both work so they could only come on certain days (cold showers for over a month in the freezing cold weather and snow!). The last time they were meant to come out, they never showed. We called them and they had booked us in on the wrong day! This was my husbands only day off so this meant that we would have to wait another week to get it fixed! Thankfully my husband was able to pop home for a bit while they fixed it the next day. It turned out that it was a part that they would need to order, well 2, so it would be another week anyway. A diverter (£167.57) and a sensor (£26.62) and they had to come back and fix it a week later.

Basically, my husband and I are shocked that they have charged us for all three visits and parts when they didn't fix the problem the first or second time. I have spoken to Trading Standards here in Jersey and they said that I'm not an expert so I don't actually KNOW if it was the same problem. But I do know that it was the same symptoms, so I can deduce from that that the problem remained after the work had been done. They also said that although the problem wasn't fixed, they still provided a service so I'm liable! I retorted "if I asked someone to come to my home and build me a cabinet and they plastered my walls would I be liable for that bill too!" and that's when he gave me the "they're the experts" bit...Hmph.

I would just like to know what you all think of this. Should we just pay the £473.95 or should I contest this? I am happy to pay for the final bill that actually fixed the problem (£167.57 part + £26.62 part + £66 p/hr labour + £7.81 g.s.t.= £268) but the other £205.95 is what I'm asking about (the first two call outs and parts).

Would appreciate your opinions and any advice!
Thanks!