Big British Gas quote to replace heating system...

True_Blues

A bit of history:
My house had an extension many years ago (by previous owner) and for some reason they install 2 hot water and heating systems (2 boilers, 2 thermostats etc…). They need replacing and I want to combine them into one system as the current set up is crazy.

I have had BG cover for years in my previous property and was fortunate that the BG engineer agreed to take on the boilers on when I first moved in and they came out to do the initial service & survey. He only agreed due to our years of loyalty to the BG service and the fact that I promised to have the systems replaced in the near future.

Current situation:
I am now in a position to have the heating system replaced so have started to get quotes. I had a recommended independent guy round last week and am waiting for his quote. I also had BG in at the weekend. The BG sales engineer was great and I have no complaints with him or what was discussed – the only issue is the price, £8,300!!! He did offer a £400 discount if I get back to him within a week.

To be fair, this is more than a standard boiler replacement as we have 2 to remove, a new one to be located in a different location, the 2 systems need to be combined, we have also included a new hot water tank. Even so I cannot believe BG are quoting eight grand. I had in mind £3.5k for the new boiler, £1.5k for the pipe work to combine the systems and £1k to replace the tank. I thought that these would be on the high side so didn’t expect the total bill to come to more than £6k.

Thoughts:
Obviously I am waiting for the independent to come back so that I have something to benchmark the BG whopper and hopefully a cheaper option. I would prefer to have BG do the work as I have their breakdown cover – especially if the engineer comes out and moans about any particular aspect of the installation.

Not sure where to go with this as £8k sticks in the throat, but I would like the peace of mind that I would have BG install with their ongoing cover, however if there is a significant difference then I won’t be able to justify BG’s price just for a comfort factor. I would appreciate any thoughts on the above quote, and experience of getting BG to reduce their quotes without necessarily reducing the scope of work.

All help and advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Canucklehead

True_Blues wrote: »

A bit of history:
My house had an extension many years ago (by previous owner) and for some reason they install 2 hot water and heating systems (2 boilers, 2 thermostats etc…). They need replacing and I want to combine them into one system as the current set up is crazy.

I have had BG cover for years in my previous property and was fortunate that the BG engineer agreed to take on the boilers on when I first moved in and they came out to do the initial service & survey. He only agreed due to our years of loyalty to the BG service and the fact that I promised to have the systems replaced in the near future.

Current situation:
I am now in a position to have the heating system replaced so have started to get quotes. I had a recommended independent guy round last week and am waiting for his quote. I also had BG in at the weekend. The BG sales engineer was great and I have no complaints with him or what was discussed – the only issue is the price, £8,300!!! He did offer a £400 discount if I get back to him within a week.

To be fair, this is more than a standard boiler replacement as we have 2 to remove, a new one to be located in a different location, the 2 systems need to be combined, we have also included a new hot water tank. Even so I cannot believe BG are quoting eight grand. I had in mind £3.5k for the new boiler, £1.5k for the pipe work to combine the systems and £1k to replace the tank. I thought that these would be on the high side so didn’t expect the total bill to come to more than £6k.

Thoughts:
Obviously I am waiting for the independent to come back so that I have something to benchmark the BG whopper and hopefully a cheaper option. I would prefer to have BG do the work as I have their breakdown cover – especially if the engineer comes out and moans about any particular aspect of the installation.

Not sure where to go with this as £8k sticks in the throat, but I would like the peace of mind that I would have BG install with their ongoing cover, however if there is a significant difference then I won’t be able to justify BG’s price just for a comfort factor. I would appreciate any thoughts on the above quote, and experience of getting BG to reduce their quotes without necessarily reducing the scope of work.

All help and advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Hi: regardless of who installs your new system, the boiler will have a manufacturer's warranty...5 years + in many cases. Why pay £££s for additional cover that you don't need. Self insure i.e. put aside the amount you would have paid to BG for Homecare and in the the event that an occasion does arise when the system needs maintenance/repair you'll have the funds.

The independent RGI has been recommended to you by a source you trust?

If you like, post the details of both quotes (full specification) for further comment.

Canucklehead

macman

BG will typically charge 40% more than an independent GSR RGI-the £400 'early sign-up discount' is on a par with double glazing sales techniques. And you'll probably end up with a BG-branded boiler.

True_Blues

Thanks for the swift responses.

Yes - The independent RGI was recommended and ironically enough had been used by the previous owner to maintain the system (small world…)

Agreed about the 'early sign-up discount' - I thought that these type of sales techniques had long gone and wasn't what I would expect from BG.

macman

BG have long offered a £400 'discount'-in reality a small reduction on their already inflated quotes. Why would you not expect this from BG-they're notorious for their dubious sales techniques-you obviously didn't see Watchdog last week!
Have you actually compared the boilers being offered?

True_Blues

macman wrote: »

BG have long offered a £400 'discount'-in reality a small reduction on their already inflated quotes. Why would you not expect this from BG-they're notorious for their dubious sales techniques-you obviously didn't see Watchdog last week!
Have you actually compared the boilers being offered?

No - I didn't see Watchdog - will check out Iplayer when I get home to see if it is still available on Iplayer.

Still waiting for the independant quote. BG offered a 24kw and independant 30kw. Will update with the models when I have them.

Canucklehead

True_Blues wrote: »

No - I didn't see Watchdog - will check out Iplayer when I get home to see if it is still available on Iplayer.

Still waiting for the independant quote. BG offered a 24kw and independant 30kw. Will update with the models when I have them.

24/30 kW open vented or system boiler? Vented or unvented hot water cylinder? What type of property as size does matter? Take a look here for more on CH installations.

Canucklehead

LisaW123

I would get some more quotes. I think BG use sub-contractors anyway.

southcoastrgi

true blue, do a search on here for BG & you will see that not only are they b!oody useless at an install most of their "engineers" are less than useless at servicing or repair, way way too expensive & the boilers they normally fit are cheap own branded & not upto the job

jbainbridge

Talk to your neighbours and find a local plumber you can trust (and who you can't!)

Lgas

most of their "engineers" are less than useless at servicing or repair

Based on what? People don't tend to write threads about good experiences, only bad, and that's why BG get bad press :mad: BG are a MASSIVE company with thousands of engineers, that's an unfair statement to make.