British Gas Homecare renewal price hikeGas Homecare renewal price hike

Hasbeen

endurium wrote: »

Thanks, I hadn't spotted that.

Unfortunately also in conditions

The Terms & Conditions of our HomeCare agreements state -

“If you or we cancel a current agreement and you then buy an equivalent product supplied through British Gas Insurance or any associated British Gas Insurance partnership twice or more within a three year period, or within 3 months of cancelling your existing agreement you will not be eligible for certain benefits such as an introductory pricing offer”

They do not want existing customers renewing at a lower price

endurium

Hasbeen wrote: »

Unfortunately also in conditions

The Terms & Conditions of our HomeCare agreements state -

“If you or we cancel a current agreement and you then buy an equivalent product supplied through British Gas Insurance or any associated British Gas Insurance partnership twice or more within a three year period, or within 3 months of cancelling your existing agreement you will not be eligible for certain benefits such as an introductory pricing offer”

They do not want existing customers renewing at a lower price

Hmmm, I've never seen that practice before, usually with most insurers you can cancel and re-buy at a "new customer" price without any caveats. Makes me wonder if BG's terms and conditions contravene any fair contract or consumer rights regulations?

Hasbeen

endurium wrote: »

Hmmm, I've never seen that practice before, usually with most insurers you can cancel and re-buy at a "new customer" price without any caveats. Makes me wonder if BG's terms and conditions contravene any fair contract or consumer rights regulations?

It does appear bad practice from BG.

Also it appears that if agreement is in OH name and it ends, they will not let you take out a new contract in your own name.

Lorian

I am in the same boat. being quoted £20.22 per month to renew. online quote with all the correct details for boiler etc results in £12.50 per month quote.


I spoke to someone in their call centre who offered to reduce the renewal to £17.xx a month but that they won't do the £12.50. When I said I'd just sign up for a new policy she said if it was within 3 months of my current contract ending then the new contract would be cancelled. what a rip off.

Lorian

I rang again. After politely trying to get the first-year discounted price and failing, I was offered a 15% discount, and on further pushing finally a 20% discount, which I have begrudgingly accepted. That's about half the discount new customers get in yr1.

jem16

Lorian wrote: »

I was offered a 15% discount, and on further pushing finally a 20% discount, which I have begrudgingly accepted.

So what did you have to do to get them to give you 20% off?

MABLE

We have been with them for about 5 years for the 400 cover and every year they try to increase it. Originally £360 and this covers electric, plumbing and heating etc. We now pay £370 a year and have received good service over the years so reasonably happy.

One thing I have found when negotiating a reduction it can depend on who you speak to. I have often been quoted a revised figure and phoned again and managed to get further reductions.

johnbhoy10

jem16 wrote: »

So what did you have to do to get them to give you 20% off?

Interested in this too if you're about???

Made my annual call to them today and guy knocked off 12% without me even asking. Being with them for donkeys years and from memory this seems to the norm from previous years. Didn't push for extra discount today but have in the past and hit the proverbial brick wall!

The 3 months 'new customer' clause is interesting as i thought it would have been longer. If i was to cancel cover full stop think May/June would be the time to start the 3 months rolling. Still risky with 2 kids in the house.
Another concern about doing this is if i leave is there any chance they refuse to take you back on, even with no changes to your system???

Reason i ask is that i've had the old sludge in system clause thrown into my 200 agreement when they replaced a leaky rad a couple of years back. Of course, i knock back the kind offer of a 'power-flush' every year.

I'm not into the call-out/excess policies but have noticed Shield with SSE (6 months free) and also Central Heating Care with Npower. Both are quite a bit cheaper and include annual service and no excess/call-out fee.

The problem with going with them is you'd obviously be stuck for a year as they'd want paid for annual service if you leave early and i've no experience of cover with either of these companies.