Sick of being ripped off by emergency plumbers

kaya

Go on a course or find the stopcock and turn it off then call a "non emergency" plumber next day, or seek help with your OCD?

[Deleted User]

We use British Gas homecare. For £36 a month, I've got plumbing, drainage, heating/boiler and 3 kitchen appliances covered.

They've cleaned out drains, replaced boiler control panels, fixed my built-in oven, fixed my tumble dryer, washing machine, boiler and a problem with my cold water tank.

They don't charge for call outs, all parts are included - it's great since I'm incompetence with all of these things (But I can do most of the electrics). If I look at the annual cost, versus the fixes I've had, I think it's been value for money and it certainly saves me worrying.

PasturesNew

An emergency is so much water you're about to be flooded out of your house. Everything else is plain maintenance, for which you take immediate action (e.g. buckets; wrapping tape round it and changing it every day; only turning water on when you need it for immediate use etc) until a regular plumber can come round at his convenience in the next week or so.

Your instances weren't insurance issues. Insurance is for pretty major disasters, not for regular leaks and drips and things that are 'regular maintenance' of a house.

benjus

Calling an emergency plumber out for a tiny leak is a bit like calling an ambulance for a minor cut. In the case of a minor cut, most people would just put a plaster on it and let it heal; if this is insufficient they would make an appointment to see their GP.

pimento

evoke wrote: »

What I'm after is some sort of home service plan that I could call to get small leaks fixed.

British Gas do one. Competent plumbers are like hens teeth where I live so I pay £5 a month for a service care thing from British Gas. They come out fast and it's a set fee for repairs of £50.