Bristol Water: Plumbing & Drains Cover plan

Ecky-thump

We have just been sent a letter from Bristol Water, whom we are signed up with, telling us that they have been working with British Gas, whom we are not signed up with, to bring us some great new services. We use gas only for our combi-boiler and are signed up with e-on, as they call themselves.

The services on offer is for a Plumbing & Drains Cover at £3 per month. This price is set for one year for new customers to the scheme paying by Direct Debit. What the charge will be after the first year they do not say. There is also a £50 excess to pay on each completed repair. This plan covers any eventuality affecting water supply from blocked drains to a leaking tap, and more.

We have never had any problems with all the houses we have lived in, lucky us you would say, so we are not going to go for this offer.

I am posting this just to let folks know what is happening. It looks as though British Gas have gone in with Homecare Insurance who plague us with all sorts of insurance offers after buying anything in shops. I get this impression from the small print giving a web-link to the terms and conditions where "homecare" is mentioned. I may be wrong, but it looks familiar.

These insurances play on fear. I think that as people are more wary about taking out PPI's firms such as Homecare are looking for new ways to get to us, and this is the latest one - a merge with Bristol Water and British Gas. I hope this gets noticed by all as just another way for them to make money from us. We should all take a close look at our existing home insurance policy, which we already pay for.

ihateyes

Ecky-thump wrote: »

We have just been sent a letter from Bristol Water, whom we are signed up with, telling us that they have been working with British Gas, whom we are not signed up with, to bring us some great new services. We use gas only for our combi-boiler and are signed up with e-on, as they call themselves.

The services on offer is for a Plumbing & Drains Cover at £3 per month. This price is set for one year for new customers to the scheme paying by Direct Debit. What the charge will be after the first year they do not say. There is also a £50 excess to pay on each completed repair. This plan covers any eventuality affecting water supply from blocked drains to a leaking tap, and more.

We have never had any problems with all the houses we have lived in, lucky us you would say, so we are not going to go for this offer.

I am posting this just to let folks know what is happening. It looks as though British Gas have gone in with Homecare Insurance who plague us with all sorts of insurance offers after buying anything in shops. I get this impression from the small print giving a web-link to the terms and conditions where "homecare" is mentioned. I may be wrong, but it looks familiar.

These insurances play on fear. I think that as people are more wary about taking out PPI's firms such as Homecare are looking for new ways to get to us, and this is the latest one - a merge with Bristol Water and British Gas. I hope this gets noticed by all as just another way for them to make money from us. We should all take a close look at our existing home insurance policy, which we already pay for.

British Gas have not gone in with Homecare insurance.
Homeserve used to have the bulk of the water board contracts.
However due to the bad publicity Homeserve have had, some water boards have ditched Homeserve, and it seems British Gas have taken this one over.

The difference between what Homeserve offered and British Gas offers, is Homeserve was Emergency only, which may have been covered by your Home insurance.
However British Gas offers more than just that little emergency.

The letter i believe does not state you MUST take the cover.... its giving you a choice.

Ecky-thump

That's right, the letter was only an offer and we are not going to take it up.

I got the name wrong, Homecare is not Homeserve, but Homecare made it look familiar and I did say I may be wrong about the connection. l still think that this insurance plays on fear, though.

The scheme is a new one on me being as we have been with Bristol Water for many years, and we fail to see what British Gas has to do with plumbing and drains, but that's just me I suppose. Never mind, at least it is not compulsory. Confusing maybe, but not a must-have.

British_Gas

Hi Ecky-thump,

I work for the British Gas Social Media Team and noticed your post - hopefully I can help with an explanation.

I can see why you might not immediately be able to make the link with British Gas and plumbing and drains, so hopefully I can explain a little here about our link. You may have heard of Dyno-Rod when it comes to plumbing and drains? Dyno-Rod is actually a part of British Gas and has been since 2004; it is through Dyno-Road that we can offer a plumbing and drains service.

We offer a range of HomeCare policies that can look after different parts of your home. If you did want any more information about British Gas HomeCare, you can find it all here: http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/boilers-and-central-heating/cover/homecare.html

You’re absolutely right that this is only an option if it’s something that you are ever interested in – I thought giving you that background might help you with wondering what British Gas has to do with plumbing and drains!

I hope that helps.

Hussein
Social Media Team

Ecky-thump

Dear Hussein,

Thank you for that explanation. A bit tenuous it may be, but it is an explanation none-the-less, connecting British Gas with plumbing & drains.

I posted because I believed that the scheme was brand new and that folks on here might like to know about it in a curious kind of way.

I am now told it is from 2004 in connection with Dyno-Rod, who are a part of British Gas. Two things I had not been aware of.

You can be assured that we will not be applying for this service. This will not curtail the publicity we will be sent via Bristol Water about it, though. And without an opt-out tick-box for the unwanted leaflets and mailings it looks set to continue forever. More paper waste.

As posters read this thread it could be seen as an advertisement for your services. It is up to MSE whether to allow this thread to remain.

I apologize if I have caused any stress and/or embarrassment to your company or to MSE in posting this topic.

I wish you well with this new scheme.

Best Wishes

Ecky-thump