£4647 for new British Gas boiler? are we being conned? please look at price breakdown

pennypinching77

My elderly parents had a leak from their boiler which some cowboy gave them less than two years ago and so decided to call BG engineer out.

Since he came on Fri 11th Dec, they have had no hot water or heating he convinced them to signed up for a new boiler on finance so end price would be 6.5k

When Mum complained re no heating etc, he sent another bill the next day for £700 to fix the current boiler he had messed about with.

Can anyone look over this and tell me if this is extortionate or the going rate as have no idea. The sums obviously dont add up.

Boiler and essentials breakdown
£949.00 Baxi precision + ErP x1
£196.93 carry out part p electrical connec including main earth
£208.95 install standard horizintal flue terminal x1
£174.33 connect condense wasre pipe to suitable external waste pipi or drain using frost proof pipe where nec x1

we will replace your existing boiler with a new boiler in present location. we will supply and install the basic pipework to connect your boiler. Any additional work needed will be discussed and itemised on your quote separately.

System additions
£211.98 install gas pipe work 22mm x 3mtrs length x3
£74.54 clear route for installation x2
£56.11 additional work (labour only )x1
£4901.91 Total gross inc vat

Discounts
£189.80 20% off your boiler winter warmer discount
£65.00 HSA authorised discount valid for 7 days from quote date tmrw[
£254.80 total discount


£4647.11 Total price inc VAT

Work due to start 21st Dec for two days. If they go ahead - Dad is VERY stubborn and just wants it done. Can they charge more if dont complete in those two days.

Also, does coming with a guarentee mean they wont charge if you have further problems with it i.e call out fee.

I dont trust them one bit especially after turning the boiler off to force their hand, but who else is there to use besides British Gas?

ANY helpful advice appreciated.

SailorSam

I can't remember exactly now 'cos it was 5yrs ago, but i think i paid about £1800 for my Ariston boiler, it came with a 5yr guarantee. The last time i had a service the guy said they now gave a 7yr guarantee, When you consider how much it would cost each year to have breakdown cover, getting 7yrs with a new boiler is a great deal.

SailorSam

I've been to dig out the receipt £1850 and it was Feb 2012

pennypinching77

Did you have to pay a call out fee for the service.

Mum said it would be guareenteed for just a year but I think she must be mistaken for the price given.

Marktheshark

The leak should be a simple fix for a competent engineer on a two year old boiler.
British Gas are the Kwik fit of the boiler world.
They get commission for selling add ons or new systems.

Dad needs to be sat down and have it explained that "just done" means empty bank accounts and very quickly, the quote will escalate quickly once they are in the house.
Intervene and call them a heating engineer, you mat find the boiler has a very simple fault such as a leaking compression joint and is not a cowboy dangerous about to blow their house up wreck the salesman posing as an engineer told them it is.
Get it fixed by someone competent and Boot British Gas in to touch.

On the £700 demand, I would inform them as they failed to fix the leak, they are getting nothing as the service was not provided.
The contract can be cancelled by sending a recorded delivery letter dated and signed as they have 14 days cooking off period on any contract signed in their home.

SailorSam

Yes i have to pay for an annual service about £75 or my guarantee would become void.
I've got a receipt here for the breakdown cover on my old boiler and i was paying £165 a year. So i remember thinking i'd be saving 5 times that over the guarantee period.
British Gas do have a reputation for being expensive and not as good as you'd think. There are quite a few old threads here om Mse talking about boilers

pennypinching77

Thank you Mark

My Dad attracts con artists as he just goes along with everything thats said.
The boiler was put in 2 years ago but it is a potterton and looks used to be honest.
I called in a trusted engineer before but he mentioned about cowboy jobs he noticed througout the house and got Dads back up.

So close to Christmas its a nightmare.

Agree about escalating costs, dont think two days are enough and the fact it mention pos additional work is just an open door really.

Marktheshark

It is always the same tale, you always need a new boiler and expensive service package.
Just call an engineer and get the boiler fixed, it might be a simple fix and work for years.
They do this truck all the time, they should be ashamed, cutting heating off and putting the hard sell on old people, as I said they want commission, the last thing they are looking to do is fix the problem.
£200 to connect the mains LOL !
Really.

pennypinching77

Just checked, Homecare 400 is free for first year only but cant find anywhere in paperwork how long the guarentee is for.

If its new should it not come with at least a 5 year guarentee?

macman

'Who else is there beside BG?' There will be perhaps dozens of local independent RGI's who can quote you for a boiler install: BG typically quote 40% more than they will.
Why £200 to install a power supply when the existing boiler must already have one? Ludicrous. And why does it need a new gas supply routing in, if it's a similar rating?
The boiler may well come with a 7 year warranty, but this is a manufacturers warranty and most reputable boiler manufacturers offer similar warranties these days if you use their approved RGI's. However this is not an emergency repair service, if that is what you want-they won't come out next day, nor on a weekend or evening,
If the existing boiler is just 2 years old it should be under warranty, so check with the manufacturer before you waste thousands on a new one. Was it installed by a GSR RGI and registered for the warranty? if so then Dad will have the paperwork.

SailorSam

Penny don't know whereabouts you are but these are the people who did mine.I've just clicked on 'installations' and see some boilers have 8yr guarantees, others 10yrs

http://www.ronlawheating.com/