British Gas Homecare 21% Price Hike

Stompa

I've finally had enough.

Against my better judgement I've been using British Gas Homecare 200 for a number of years now. Over the last 5 years my premiums have gone up by 5.5% on average per year.

Just got my latest bill and it's 21% higher than last year. How can they possibly justify that sort of increase?

They've just lost a customer.

deanos

Ive got cover with Swinton, cost me £44.25 for the year, its advertised as £59 but they offered a discount on the phone.

http://home.swinton.co.uk/home_emergency/

IvanOpinion

Are you annually billed? There was a significant price hike last year however they talked about reducing prices in February past.

Do not base your detemrination of the best product on past performance .. look at your consumption and work out what the best product is for you today. The concept of 'talking with your feet' is often more like 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

Don;t allow some of the broker sites to fool you .. it is all in the numbers and numbers can be presented in many different ways to make something look attractive.

Ivan

Stompa

IvanOpinion wrote: »

Are you annually billed? There was a significant price hike last year however they talked about reducing prices in February past.

Paid monthly by DD, but the level of those monthly payments is set by BG annually.

I know there have been significant hikes in the price of gas itself, but was there also something similar for service contracts as well?

IvanOpinion

Stompa wrote: »

Paid monthly by DD, but the level of those monthly payments is set by BG annually.

If they were set this time last year then that would have been prior to some of the increases and therefore you may have ended up underpaying. The new DD may well be trying to not only cover the estimated usage but also include any arrears for underpayment last year. The DD is only a 'contribution' towards actual usage and you may ultimately have to pay more at the end of the year .. or be entitled ot a refund if you have overpaid .. it appears a lot of people 'got caught out' last year because their DD was too low.

I know there have been significant hikes in the price of gas itself, but was there also something similar for service contracts as well?

I know nothing about service contracts.

ivan

bootman

The post was not about the gas prices but the boiler cover. Mine is really expensive now as well. Never claimed. I too am looking for some kind of alternative, for it the gas boiler breaks down.

ariba10

If you can trust yourself not to touch it, it would be better economics to put the money away each month in an interest earning account and draw on it if, and when you need it.

Stompa

ariba10 wrote: »

If you can trust yourself not to touch it, it would be better economics to put the money away each month in an interest earning account and draw on it if, and when you need it.

Yes, I know, I've told myself that many times!

IvanOpinion

bootman wrote: »

The post was not about the gas prices but the boiler cover.

Oops .. I must be having a bad day In my defence I would like to blame on social issues and having a poor upbringing .. why not everybody else does

ivan

Heinz

IvanOpinion wrote: »

I would like to blame on social issues and having a poor upbringing

I'd like to arrange for you to be sent a tax rebate to compensate you.

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It'll take a few days but will be worth the wait.

IvanOpinion

Heinz wrote: »

I'd like to arrange for you to be sent a tax rebate to compensate you.

Please fill in the necessary details below:

Consider it did
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Ivan