Help Link Jonny Ball new boiler

alanobrien

esra wrote: »

Our system boiler (in the landing cupboard) packed in a few weeks ago, no big issue, it's not massively cold in the sunny south (Hampshire).

I've had a few quotes; £2,200-3750 and various options - move it to the loft, go combi (nah) etc.. All seem to want to do different things and all seem to 'omit' things.

Oh yeah, and a load of no-shows, never replied & 2 weeks to send me a quote and can't do it for at least 2 weeks.
What is it with 'the trade' that they do a great impression of can't be arsed/take it or leave it?).

So had Help-Link around today and the guy, who was very affable, said they could do it in a week at most: a Worcester Bosch Greenstar 18Ri in the loft, with a sealed system, Powerflush, Magnaclean AND board out the loft AND put in a light AND put in a loft ladder - £2,800.

Other considerations: 10 year parts & labour, 2 years interest free.

Compared to the other players, not such a bad deal.

I do have cash if we want to pay in one lump but I think Martin would approve of placing the lump sum in an interest bearing account for 2 years.

Anyone got any comments on Help-Link?

Anyone want to make me a better offer?

A decent boiler, the flush and magnaclean would cost over £500 alone. 2 yrs interest free , i am looking for the catch
keep in mind the guarantee is likely to depend on regular servicing but it looks like a very good deal to me given the silly prices people are quoted these days.

deanos

what happens if they go bust i guess the warranty becomes worthless or is it underwritten ?

macman

At least 2 years of that will be a manufacturer's warranty, maybe 5 years.

esra_2

deanos wrote: »

what happens if they go bust i guess the warranty becomes worthless or is it underwritten ?

'Seems' to be underwritten by WB, I didn't ask directly but the guy said that WB would want to see evidence of regular servicing if there were any issues (he also said that they would come and fix it). Will pay by Credit card anyway!

I know the boiler itself I can have for £780 inc. VAT so add £100 for a Magnaclean, £200 for boards, light, loft ladder so that gives them £1700 for fitting.. sounds like a reasonable living for someone.

Anyone got any comments on my fag packet costings?

esra_2

esra wrote: »

'Seems' to be underwritten by WB, I didn't ask directly but the guy said that WB would want to see evidence of regular servicing if there were any issues (he also said that they would come and fix it). Will pay by Credit card anyway!

I know the boiler itself I can have for £780 inc. VAT so add £100 for a Magnaclean, £200 for boards, light, loft ladder so that gives them £1700 for fitting.. sounds like a reasonable living for someone.

Anyone got any comments on my fag packet costings?

Anyone??

It's a lot of money and I hate getting had over for even a fiver!!

keystone

esra wrote: »

and can't do it for at least 2 weeks.

Thats probably beausce they are booked up. If they are booked up then the chances are they are good.

What is it with 'the trade' that they do a great impression of can't be arsed/take it or leave it?)

This phenomenon is not unique to the "trade" as you put it. You find it in many professions but some of us don't do the rest of us any favours in this respect.

So had Help-Link around today and the guy, who was very affable, said they could do it in a week at most:

Always beware the guy that "can start next week". That means he/she/they don't have any work. So why could that be do you think?

Cheers

esra_2

keystone wrote: »

Thats probably because they are booked up. If they are booked up then the chances are they are good.



This phenomenon is not unique to the "trade" as you put it. You find it in many professions but some of us don't do the rest of us any favours in this respect.

Granted but courtesy costs nothing

keystone wrote: »

Always beware the guy that "can start next week". That means he/she/they don't have any work. So why could that be do you think?

Help-Link state that they install 1000s of boilers a year so they have teams presumably moving round the country doing boilers (unlike the 1-man bands doing a boiler at a time).

Cheers[/QUOTE]

Hula_Hayley

Just a little note to say that my husband is currently fighting to get paid from Help-link and after working for just short of a month has only been paid for 3 days work. We have a mortgage and bills to pay and it is really upsetting that he works very hard to take these boilers out and put new ones in whilst help-link get paid but are holding payment from my husband with various different excuses. x

Max2014

Hi,

I applied for a free boiler from Help Link just before Xmas 2013.I rang them in the morning and a Free Inspection was carried out about two hours later(I was amazed how quick they sent somebody out).

I have an old Baxi back boiler with the water boiler upstairs in a cupboard on the landing.

The surveyor that came around asked me where I would like the new boiler installing,so I took him around my house suggesting different places for it to go.He kept telling me it would bump up the price and would lower my success rate for a free boiler.So I asked how about where my water boiler is now? Again he replied oh no it would need scaffolding around my house and the loft would need to be boarded out with a hand rail around the hatch for it to be safe to install the flue on the roof.In the end he said the back bedroom would be best.So I went along with it.He tapped all the information into his tablet and said I don't qualify 100% and somebody will be in touch.

This quotation was for a new boiler in the cheapest location in the house.I have 8 radiators of which they would use instead of replacing them.

I am a low wage earner and claim working tax and child tax credits for one child in education.


At this point I thought fair enough I don't mind paying towards a new boiler after all I cant afford I new one myself.
I waited about a month and decided to give them a ring as nobody had been in touch.

I explained that its been about a month and still waiting for somebody from Help Link to be in touch( I was expecting a case of back log due to Xmas etc).I was told that they where waiting for me to contact them with a full payment of £853.00 towards the new boiler.
I'm no expert on boilers or prices but £853.00 sounded over the top so I asked how much the government grant will be paying towards it and I was quoted £2011.00.
Therefore the total cost would be £2864.00.

Since I thought free or help with a new boiler schemes where for people who cant afford a brand new one I assumed there must be other ways to stretch out the cost.

I asked if I could pay monthly and or what other ways I could pay.
The bottom line was £853.00 paid in full and there are no other options.

So 10/10 for the advert on TV and 10/10 for the same day free inspection but that's all the help I got.

This is the second company that I have tried.The first company was good at booking appointments for a free inspection but never turned up.I rang at the end of each appointment date and they where very sorry and simply gave me another appointment usually about 1 month between each one.


Any ideas would be great.

teddysmum

I've been quoted just over that total price for a new boiler, new radiators, thermostats, controller, magnetic filter, flush, new gas piping, gas fire removed and (my own)new one fitting, toilet syphon replaced and a tap(my own) fitted.