British Gas Homecare - Free boiler replacement!!!

leonardo

Hi all,

My boiler (Ideal H30 - 6 years old), has been ruled beyond economical repair.

They tried to sell me a new install, cost = £2900. I have their formal quote in writing. They recommended a Wocester Bosch (model 30si) for this house in quote.

After this - I did research.

We infact, do qualify for a free boiler replacement.

We meet all the conditions. Spoke to them - they confirmed, you are entitled to free boiler replacement.

My question:

For the free replacement, they want to use a different boiler than the one recommended in the quote. As my current boiler (ideal HE30) is no longer manufactured, they want to replace it with the closest model (Ideal Logic 30HE).

Ideals boilers , get very poor ratings when I've looked (e.g Which? Gas boilers owners' views score = 59%). It has a low reliability rating (below 60%).

I would like to get a different boiler fitted. I would like to know what my options are, and what my rights are.

1.How could I viably challenge their choice of the replacement ( now an Ideal H30 instead of the Worcester that they initially recommended). (Preferred).

2.If not, how can I get them to make xxxx funds avaliable, I chip in more - to get the one I want- i.e. their costs remain the same ,but, I make up the difference.(Acceptable).

3.If not what approach can I take take, to get them to send me cheque instead for the value of the boiler - I will chip in more and buy a new one myself.(Worst case).

I'm not bashing BG. Nothing like it. Just want to create a win win solution.

Thanks all.

plane_boy2000

Don't think you have any chance of getting a cheque from them as the cost to them will be lower i.e. own installers, boiler bought at trade price.

I would suggest to them that you would like an alternative and would be willing to pay any difference in supplying a different boiler - they can only say no.

Regarding them quoting for a different boiler I'm sure they would just say that it was there recommended boiler, but that your policy covers for a like for like replacement

C_Mababejive

Imagine that. A modern boiler is junk after only 6 years and my trusty wall boiler is still working fine at 32 years old.

ollski

They will probably snap your hand off if you want to pay to make up the difference to a better boiler as they can class it as heating upgrade income. Just beware if it involves lots more work to swap the pipes they will undoubtably want more than just the difference in internet prices between the two.

[Deleted User]

If you have to get an Ideal boiler make sure you get at least a 5 year guarantee. That excludes the Logic HE30 (2 years). My mother had one installed via Staywarm - good idea in principle but the guarantee is only 2 years and it already broke down after 1 year and now again out of guarantee.

Old boilers lasted for years and years. The new ones are built to fail after a relatively short time so companies like British Gas can charge a fortune for fixing them Another Great British Ripoff.

jezebel

How did you know that you would qualify for a free replacement boiler - is there a checklist? I have a strange feeling that as this is the third repair this year that they may write off my trusty boiler and replace it with a new-fangled one - any chance of even a small discount would help as they quoted £4000 last time I asked

ollski

jezebel wrote: »

How did you know that you would qualify for a free replacement boiler - is there a checklist? I have a strange feeling that as this is the third repair this year that they may write off my trusty boiler and replace it with a new-fangled one - any chance of even a small discount would help as they quoted £4000 last time I asked

up to 7 years old and an uneconomical repair. 7 years is from the date on the boiler serial number.