British Gas do I have to buy a new boiler from them?

Canucklehead

buzzy_bee wrote: »

Thanks sorry for delay in getting back .... my boiler is a Potterton Prima 50F

Appreciate that a new good quality boiler will come with a manufacturers guarantee, what the Homecare 200 agreement with British Gas gives over and above that is cover for the whole central heating system, which does add peace of mind, though it is fairly pricey

Hi... a typical central heating system seldom needs repair. You can have your RGI will check out the CH system as part of the annual boiler service . Btw...spares for your boiler are available.

HTH

Canucklehead

bengasman

buzzy_bee wrote: »

what the Homecare 200 agreement with British Gas gives over and above that is cover for the whole central heating system, which does add peace of mind, though it is fairly pricey

The only thing the rest of your system could possibly go wrong on, is leaks ( which will not happen after correct install of a new boiler ), pump if external and unlikely to die soon on a clean system ( should cost no more than £150 supply and fit any way ) and valve, if external ( only the motor is likely to go which can be replaced for under £100 )

That means you are paying about £200 every year for unlikely faults that in a worst case scenario would only cost a bit more than one year's insurance, and from then on should easily last 5-10 years.
On top of that, during the most likely time in the year for boiler breakdowns, BG often take a week to a fortnight to finish the repair, where both possible faults can easily be done by a local guy the same day. ( BG have just been forced to withdraw an add insinuating they guarantee to repair you boiler in 24 hours because it simply isn't true )
That is not fairly pricey, that's extortionate. But hey, it's your money.

buzzy_bee_3

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi... a typical central heating system seldom needs repair. You can have your RGI will check out the CH system as part of the annual boiler service . Btw...spares for your boiler are available. HTH Canucklehead

That's good to know about the spares. :beer:
Have had radiator thermostat valves sticking, the electronic timer thing pack up, a new pump and a new extractor fan over the past umpty umpth years, but agree that a local chap could fix those for me. Though I now know how to sort the sticking thermostat valve myself.

British Gas play on the 24 hour cover all year round to give "complete peace of mind" and its sods law that if something is going to pack up it will do it at a weekend or on a bank holiday when the weather is freezing!! I do take your point about paying £200 + for that is steep.

British Gas used to "maintain" my old gas fire, but since having it replaced a local firm give it an annual check for a fraction of the cost. I have spoken to them about boilers in the past, they would "look after me" but not offer 24 hour 7 days a week cover. The decision will be made when I have a new boiler fitted and I'm more than inclined to go with a local installer where you get a much more personal service.

Lgas

bengasman wrote: »

BG often take a week to a fortnight to finish the repair, where both possible faults can easily be done by a local guy the same day.

What are you basing this on please? A fortnight? Absolute rubbish. The vast majority of parts are available next day and the engineer books in the re-visit him (or her!) self.

ollski

bengasman wrote: »

The only thing the rest of your system could possibly go wrong on, is leaks ( which will not happen after correct install of a new boiler ), pump if external and unlikely to die soon on a clean system ( should cost no more than £150 supply and fit any way ) and valve, if external ( only the motor is likely to go which can be replaced for under £100 )

That means you are paying about £200 every year for unlikely faults that in a worst case scenario would only cost a bit more than one year's insurance, and from then on should easily last 5-10 years.
On top of that, during the most likely time in the year for boiler breakdowns, BG often take a week to a fortnight to finish the repair, where both possible faults can easily be done by a local guy the same day. ( BG have just been forced to withdraw an add insinuating they guarantee to repair you boiler in 24 hours because it simply isn't true )
That is not fairly pricey, that's extortionate. But hey, it's your money.

This post is a joke right?, it's nonsense on virtually every point!

mcculloch29

My experience with British Gas Homecare wasn't a good one. A four year old boiler was recorded by them as being over ten years old and they pestered me to replace it. I waited 18 months for an annual service which was cancelled twice with less than 24 hours notice, the third time they simply didn't turn up.

When I got a new boiler and system with two years service included, and rang to cancel the agreement, they told me that they would continue to service it instead! No, you won't I told them and finally, after humming and hawing, they agreed to cancel....

I'm really not sure what kind of a fool they had me down for. I can't help wondering if there was a 'GULLIBLE' note on my file....

bengasman

Lgas wrote: »

What are you basing this on please?

Feedback from customers.

bengasman

ollski wrote: »

This post is a joke right?, it's nonsense on virtually every point!

With all due respect dude, your view is biased.
I've had dozens of people complain about bad service from BG, and I can back up every statement I made.

nickp8

BG Homecare are terrible from the experience we have had with them. Since then we have used Homeserve who IMO are alot better.

bengasman

nickp8 wrote: »

BG Homecare are terrible from the experience we have had with them. Since then we have used Homeserve who IMO are alot better.

I am clearly not a fan of BG, which should means something when I say that I rate BG are still the better of the two, and by a margin at that.