I thought replacing an old boiler would save me money not cost more

hubb

Ok, It's a long story but they are not cowboys. Just very busy and I think we have been put to the back of the que. The engineer has all his certificates and did a fine job. Because he was recommended by a friend and they bent over backwards to get it installed we felt it would be awkward not to pay them as most of the work was done bar the thermostat, Isolation switch and that stuff you put in your radiator water to preserve them. usually I wouldn't pay up front but this was exceptional circumstances but obviously a lesson I have learned. I am sure they will come back. As he is a friend of my mate and also a friend of my relative, It would be silly of him to do this. I have told them this has happened and they both say it isn't like him to not be reliable. perhaps we should start getting more assertive and go to the shop in town but I don't like confrontations.

BTW- False alarm on the fuel usage on the boiler. I rang Southern Electric and they tell me that it works out about £9 a week for gas and £9 a week for electric.

macman

So is the installer GSR then? Did you check out his registration? If so, why (over a month) later have you not received the paperwork?
I think you are being much too easy going over this.
And it's a sad fact that many of the disputes that arise on this board are as a result of employing friends (or friends of friends) to do a job that they are not necessarily competent to do.
And cash payment speaks volumes.

hubb

So what can we do about it ? Probably nothing. He ignores our messages.

macman

Why nothing? I already suggested what to do. Put in in writing by registered post, stating the complaint and giving him a deadline by which to remedy it.
But if he has a shop/office, then go in and see him first. You don't need to have a 'confrontation', you're simply asking him to provide what has already been paid for.
You've not confirmed if he is GSR, but if he is, you can report him to them for failing to certify the install or register the warranty. If he's not GSR, then your next stop should be Trading Standards, as he's breaking the law.
If you are unwilling to do any of that, you'll simply have to get someone else in to complete the required work. And since it's highly unlikely that they will be willing to certify someone else's work, you'll possibly have no warranty.

hubb

I will ring him. It's all been texting so far as I know he gets busy. It just feels awkward as it's been left too long. Partly my fault. To be fair, he ended up losing out as the job didn't go to plan because they didn't envisage the problems mentioned above. They did a lot more work than agreed and they fitted a combi at no extra charge. They didn't make as much as they thought and stayed very late. Thats why I have not been pushing it too much.

macman

Texting-forget it. Ring him up, go into the shop, if necessary put it in writing.
Why do you say they fitted a combi 'at no extra charge'? They only fitted a combi to avoid replacing the tank. The combi was the easier option, but not necessarily the best option for you.

hubb

It was more expensive to fit a combi than replace a tank. BTW- I got £110 for the old tank and copper pipes. They actually told me to take them and get the money. Why wouldn't a combi be a good option ? Most people I know have them.

macman

I didn't say a combi wasn't a good option, it totally depends on your requirements and bathroom facilities etc as to which is more suitable, not a matter of better or worse. But my point was that you originally specified a conventional boiler, and now you have a combi. If you'd wanted a combi, that's presumably what you would have specified at the outset.

hubb

Well we would have opted for a combi if we had enough money so we have what we wanted really.

hubb

Yes, they do have an address in town. It's a shop as well as a business. There is a timer on the boiler which we use.