Boiler insurance

claypath

Hi
My mum, pensioner, is with British Gas and she pays £17 per month for boiler insurance. Can anyone suggest a cheaper insurance for her. This is to service the boiler once a year

Many thanks for any advice
claypath

ollski

What is priority of importance?, whole system covered?, priority same day / next day call out?, 24 hr callout?. There are some a couple of quid cheaper, probably npower / homeserve...read some reviews!

macman

Save £17pm in a savings account and she will have £204pa to cover both an annual service (less than £100) and an emergency call out from a local independent RGI if needed.

tonycarew

macman wrote: »

Save £17pm in a savings account and she will have £204pa to cover both an annual service (less than £100) and an emergency call out from a local independent RGI if needed.

All well and good if the boiler only breaks down say once over the year and whatevever part if required is a less expensive part then this would be prudent money saving.
However if her boiler were to break down frequently over the year and needed expensive parts replacing I would expect the service plan would work out a lot cheaper in the long run.
If it were my mum I'd certainly advise a service plan for peace of mind.

macman

'Only' one a year? Very few people on here with experience of the nationally sold service plans (eg BG or Homeserve) seem to get 'peace of mind' when it comes to actually getting things fixed properly. If the boiler is breaking down more than once year despite an annual service then maybe it's time to consider a new boiler?

ollski

macman wrote: »

'Only' one a year? Very few people on here with experience of the nationally sold service plans (eg BG or Homeserve) seem to get 'peace of mind' when it comes to actually getting things fixed properly. If the boiler is breaking down more than once year despite an annual service then maybe it's time to consider a new boiler?

There may be 'very few' on here, but there are hundreds of thousands out there in real life who must be getting a good service or they wouldn't be paying. Service quality from nationals is jumping forward by leaps and bounds wheras long held misconceptions by some remain stagnant.
If you are a good independent the chances of you being able to respond same day or next day are slim and this is what many elderly need, they don't need the story of how much you are in demand as you are so good and may be able to slot them in some point next month.
A lot of elderly people in particular also like their rads bled, thermostat checked, clocks reset, pressure topped up etc...start calling your local guy out for those when he can fit you in and your 200 is soon gone without any parts fitted.
(just read back, not aimed at anyone specific just general but not going to rewrite!)

Cardew

There must be literally thousands of posts on this subject.

The bottom line is you are paying a large element of the monthly payment for 'insurance'. Only the individual can decide if the 'insurance premium' is value for money.

The problem is that once your boiler gets old and troublesome, BG and the other firms either load the premium, or cancel the contract citing unavailability of spares or some other reason. If all else fails then the CH system suddenly requires a power flush at the cost of several hundred pounds.

However to answer the OP's question, from all the posts on MSE there seems to be no other scheme that is any better. Most schemes just get in a local plumber.

There is no doubt that if you can find a good(and honest) local plumber, they are the best bet.

ihateyes

ollski wrote: »

What is priority of importance?, whole system covered?, priority same day / next day call out?, 24 hr callout?. There are some a couple of quid cheaper, probably npower / homeserve...read some reviews!

Npower - crap

Homeserve are more expensive than BG.... also read their t&C's 2nd last page.... heading of OUR REPAIR STANDARDS

rebrov85

If you are based in Kent, Sussex or Sout London, Swale Heating do boiler cover from £13 a month.