BG Homecare Plan - Do I Stay or Do I go?

Hotlips_3

Right. I pay £31.50 per month for the '400' Homecare plan via Britsh Gas (this, apparently, covers me for almost anything going wrong in my home). This has just gone up from £25, as I had one engineer call out, which I wasn't at home for (they didn't confirm what day they were coming).

Anyhoo, I apparently now need something called a 'powerflush' - which, funnily enough I am NOT covered for and they have quoted me £580 to do. I had the quote on the 30th August, and after 17 calls to BG, I am finally giving up trying to get an engineer out to come and do the work and am trying to find a local plumber instead.

So, my question to all you moneysavers - shall I continue paying the direct debit (just in case) or shall I cancel and put that money aside and should I need work done, get someone local? AARRRGHHHH!!

Lyndsey_2

I have heard of BG advising people to do this before and quoting large fees for doing so.... one person if I remember got advice from a different company to and were actually advised not to have it done! ( maybe it was on this forum have you done a search?)

I too am thinking about getting rid of the homecare package and I will be keeping an eye on this thread!!

Lyndsey

Hotlips_3

Yeah, I am feeling that BG have lots of issues at the moment and that because my powerflush is not urgent, they haven't bothered. I have spoken to a local plumber today and he reckons I might not even need this flush as the BG engineer who came out didn't actually look at my radiators when he came. I think I might just cancel the DD, as why should they get my money when the service is so awful?

Stormy

I actually value Homecare, although I am only on Option 2 which is central heating and boiler care. I have pretty much good results from it. Being on there less than a year, had a new circuit board, pot (basically the control knob) and new thermostat for my boiler, a new circulation pump, repairs to a leaky F/E tank, new ballvalve and brand new Thermostatic Blend Valve for my hot water. I estimate the components alone have way exceeded the payments this year. Thats discounting labour.

If I were you I would consider downgrading to just the parts of the plan you need.

They always try the "think about a poweflush/upgrade your system". I just say to them I would if I felt it was necessary, I have drained down, and chemically flushed my system myself (using Sentinel X400) and performance is fine at the moment. I think a Powerflush is just an easy money making scheme for them.

I have had much less trouble with Homecare than I have with the utility providing arm of British Gas.

Mike

maka_2

from what i have read so far you are paying £30 + a month for homecare 400 why dont you cancel and start a new for £24.25 a month

seven-day-weekend

Living 1500 miles away from my UK home I find the Homecare 200 (plus Landlords' Gas Safety certificate and a check on my only other gas appliance, a hob) invaluable. I pay just under £25 a month for this.

When I was in the UK, I could never get a CORGI registered person to come out to do the Gas Certificate, which I have to have by law as the house is rented.

Hotlips_3

UPDATE
I managed to find a local plumber, a friend of a friend (highly recommended) as I didn't have any hot water last week (rang BG and they said they couldn't come out for 2 weeks!). So, my plumber comes round and fixes the hot water and checks the system for this so-called 'powerflush'. Turns out, my pump near my boiler was broken and that was the problem as to why I wasn't getting full heating. He fixed the pump and, voila!, heating throughout the house. I was charged £55 for his time. Considerably less that the £550 BG wanted to charge me for a powerflush which wouldn't have worked. Am writing a complaint letter to them this week. Not sure it will make much difference......

victoriaplum1

i have taken out homecare on a system that British Gas havent even looked at they advised me to take it out and that they would send an engineer out to do safety inspection (its costing 19 a month) well they hadnt sent one out up til yesterday and when I rang they said they cant send someone til July! So my safety check cant be done for another 2 months, which will add up to about 4 since they first knew of it. However, I asked about them sending a guy out to quote me for a new system and they made me an appointment for next day (ie today)....funny that.....they obviously put priority where the big money is and not their customers safety. Anyway guy came and quoted me, nice bloke but quote was huge over 4k. I am still in shock!