Any thoughts on British Gas Home Electrical Cover?

MarkBargain

Does anyone have any experience of British Gas offer a Home Electrical Cover?

I have moved into a house with fairly old wiring, although it a safe and working. I noted that British Gas offer a Home Electrical Cover product for just £2.08 a month (£50 excess). This covers:

• Repairing (or replacing if need be) electrical wiring, fuse-boards and broken, damaged or faulty electrical fittings inside and outside your home and outbuildings.
• Priority call out if you completely lose power or light.
• Accidental damage.
• Parts and labour.[2]
• Unlimited call outs per contract year.
• Up to £1,000 (including VAT) for gaining access

In principal that sounds great, as even ten years of cover would only be £250 and that is a fraction of the £3K to £4K rewiring would cost. HOWEVER, I am always wary with insurance products like this in case firms wriggle out of paying for one reason or another.

jessmist

I have the british gas homecare 400
with that i have central heating/boiler cover,home plumbing,drains & electrical cover. this package doesn't have the £50 excess.
When ever i have used them for the electrical cover they have always been excellent.

rs65

MarkBargain wrote: »

In principal that sounds great, as even ten years of cover would only be £250 and that is a fraction of the £3K to £4K rewiring would cost.

It isn't go to pay for your house to be rewired though.

It is for necessary repairs.

Also, read the exclusions such as:-

These exclusions plus ‘General Exclusions’ apply (see section 7).
The following are not included in your Agreement:
• Repairing controls, pumps, detectors, timers and programmers.
• Repairing or replacing the mains supply up to the fuse box.
• Repairing the parts of the power supply between your Home and the outbuildings on your property.
• Repairing or replacing wiring encased in rubber or lead.
• Repairing accidental damage to the main electrical consumer unit
or fuse box.

MarkBargain

jessmist wrote: »

I have the british gas homecare 400
with that i have central heating/boiler cover,home plumbing,drains & electrical cover. this package doesn't have the £50 excess.
When ever i have used them for the electrical cover they have always been excellent.

Is that £14.03 a month? £168 a year is quite a lot to pay, although I note it inclues a boiler service which is worth £50 or £60. That product isn't for me, as I have a new boiler with a 7 year warranty.

MarkBargain

rs65 wrote: »

It isn't go to pay for your house to be rewired though.

It is for necessary repairs.

Also, read the exclusions such as:-

These exclusions plus ‘General Exclusions’ apply (see section 7).
The following are not included in your Agreement:
• Repairing controls, pumps, detectors, timers and programmers.
• Repairing or replacing the mains supply up to the fuse box.
• Repairing the parts of the power supply between your Home and the outbuildings on your property.
• Repairing or replacing wiring encased in rubber or lead.
• Repairing accidental damage to the main electrical consumer unit
or fuse box.

Yes, I read through those. It does include "Repairing (or replacing if need be) electrical wiring, fuse-boards and broken, damaged or faulty electrical fittings inside and outside your home and outbuildings." though so may be worth taking for the small cost involved.

Archergirl

Is that £14.03 a month? £168 a year is quite a lot to pay, although I note it inclues a boiler service which is worth £50 or £60. That product isn't for me, as I have a new boiler with a 7 year warranty



But the warranty may state that it has to be serviced

MarkBargain

Archergirl wrote: »

Is that £14.03 a month? £168 a year is quite a lot to pay, although I note it inclues a boiler service which is worth £50 or £60. That product isn't for me, as I have a new boiler with a 7 year warranty



But the warranty may state that it has to be serviced

It does, and I get it serviced every year by the local plumber who installed it for around £50 a time.

silvercar

We have the electrical cover. It is surprising the little things that go wrong that are included. Twice I have had dimmer switches that have failed replaced free of charge and one light fitting changed. That is 3 call outs, which I guess would have cost £50 each time.

(My policy doesn't have an excess, not sure a £50 excess would make it worthwhile.)

Robin9

We took out the Homecare for my MIL 93 years young - best thing we did. Now we have just one contact.

Response has been brilliant

MarkBargain

silvercar wrote: »

We have the electrical cover. It is surprising the little things that go wrong that are included. Twice I have had dimmer switches that have failed replaced free of charge and one light fitting changed. That is 3 call outs, which I guess would have cost £50 each time.

(My policy doesn't have an excess, not sure a £50 excess would make it worthwhile.)

It sounds good. It is possible to choose no excess for an extra £1 a month or so, which is probably worth it.