Unhappy with British Gas

markNjane

In Feb 2007 my boiler died a death....I contacted British Gas for a quote...A sales adviser was promptly despatched.

I got the new boiler on finance with British Gas through GE money...I was'nt happy with the interest rate but, the British Gas adviser, advised me to make regular over payments to reduce the interest.

I'd no reason to disbelive I couldn't do this because I did the same on my mortgage etc and of course, he was representing British Gas wearing the badge and tee shirt.

Low and behold, on contacting Ge money to make an over payment, I was thus told it was not permitted on my account....I then read the smallprint (if only I did that in the first place instead of trusting a British Gas representive ) on the terms and conditions and it was indeed true.

Today 20/02/2012 I called customer relations at British Gas..I explained what there sales adviser told me..ie; make overpayments to reduce the interest...The British Gas customer relations officer said 'you can't prove that's what he said, it's your word against his' I then said, surely your department must of had other complains because I couldn't of been his first..she said, 'failing on having your meeting taped, you have no chance of being compensated'..thus the conversation desended into reciminations.

Please advise.

Cheers

Pound

The customer service agent pretty much hit the nail on the head. From their perspective they don't know what was said, you could be making up a pack of lies to get out of the interest for all they know.

Unfortunately it's your responsibility to know what you're signing and double check what you've been told.

markNjane

I accept that....but, Im telling the truth, I was lied to. I can't be the only one this sales adviser hit on without complaint.

the 'agent' didn't even want to know this guy's name in the event her checking there had been other complains filed against him.

Yes, I should of checked and double checked the smallprint but, like those fortunate souls who did likewise with there payment protection plans, looks as if I won't as lucky.

System

have I got this right you replaced your boiler in Feb 07 and 5 years later you have tried to make an overpayment? How many more years have you got left on this loan? I would think if you are near the end of its term it wouldn't make much difference anyway

mattyprice4004

There's no centralised database they can just check for one salesmans complaints.

Your word against theirs, this isn't going to be an easy one to win. Doesn't matter if you're telling the truth or not, there's no proof unfortunately.

markNjane

I got 5 years left on a 10 year loan..theses are the plans British Gas are/were selling at the time..you see, this is why i had reservations on taking it out...the British Gas adviser convinced me otherwise..I still owe £3000 on a £3487 loan..not a payment missed....it was never my intention to go full term...my mother offered to loan it to me instead..i wish now i took her up on the offer..too late now..lessons have been learn't..don't trust the big nationals..they are all snakes

fluffnutter

Mine's not the most useful advice at this point but it may help someone who's thinking of replacing their boiler... boilers are expensive purchases. You're absolutely mad to buy without getting quotes first. British Gas are notorious for overcharging. I bet a local plumber could have installed a similar boiler for half the price that BG charged, perhaps even meaning that no loan was required.

maninthestreet

markNjane wrote: »

I got 5 years left on a 10 year loan..theses are the plans British Gas are/were selling at the time..you see, this is why i had reservations on taking it out...the British Gas adviser convinced me otherwise..I still owe £3000 on a £3487 loan..not a payment missed....it was never my intention to go full term...my mother offered to loan it to me instead..i wish now i took her up on the offer..too late now..lessons have been learn't..don't trust the big nationals..they are all snakes

What APR are you being charged? Were you 'persuaded' to take out PPI as well?
Unfortunately, it's not what the 'sales adviser' says to you that counts, it's what the contract states.

fluffnutter

maninthestreet wrote: »

What APR are you being charged? Were you 'persuaded' to take out PPI as well?
Unfortunately, it's not what the 'sales adviser' says to you that counts, it's what the contract states.

In practice I agree. In theory however, what you're told can materially form part of that contract. It's just incredibly difficult to prove, and you're a fool if you don't read the small print.

macman

markNjane wrote: »

I got 5 years left on a 10 year loan..theses are the plans British Gas are/were selling at the time..you see, this is why i had reservations on taking it out...the British Gas adviser convinced me otherwise..I still owe £3000 on a £3487 loan..not a payment missed....it was never my intention to go full term...my mother offered to loan it to me instead..i wish now i took her up on the offer..too late now..lessons have been learn't..don't trust the big nationals..they are all snakes

5 years into a 10 year loan of £3,487, and you've only paid off £487?! How can that be? What's the APR?
And that's on top of an inflated price in he first place-BG typically charge 40% over what a local independent GSR RGI would charge. Around £2000 would be an average.
By the time this is paid off you'll be due for a new boiler if it's one of BG's Baxi specials.
The rep was most probably a freelance agent who will be long gone.

macman

markNjane wrote: »

I got 5 years left on a 10 year loan..theses are the plans British Gas are/were selling at the time..you see, this is why i had reservations on taking it out...the British Gas adviser convinced me otherwise..I still owe £3000 on a £3487 loan..not a payment missed....it was never my intention to go full term...my mother offered to loan it to me instead..i wish now i took her up on the offer..too late now..lessons have been learn't..don't trust the big nationals..they are all snakes

5 years into a 10 year loan of £3,487, and you've only paid off £487?! How can that be? What's the APR? What's the total cost of the loan?
And that's on top of an inflated price in the first place-BG typically charge 40% over what a local independent GSR RGI would charge. Around £2,000 would be an average.
By the time this is paid off you'll be due for a new boiler, if it's one of BG's Baxi specials.