Domestic & General - This HAS to be a scam!

DJMC

Boiler "insurance" in place from D&G but found out the other day it only covers repairs up to £1,500 and NOT where a boiler is condemned.

So, you call D&G, they send out their repair man. He condemns or writes off the boiler as unrepairable and they quote £1,650 to replace it when the local gas engineer is quoting £1,200!

That's what's just happened to my business partner.

Here are the relevant clauses:



I would hazard a guess that in order to get out of paying ANYTHING, D&G's engineers condemn EVERY boiler they get called out to?

In this case, if the boiler had been repairable for, let's say, £1,450 that's £1,450 out of D&G's pocket whereas if they simply condemn/write it off they pay nothing!

Actually, they have offered £300 cash settlement, less the £80 still due in premiums over the next 4 months.

Am I being unfair to D&G? Has anyone actually had a repair carried out instead of a "write-off"? Is this perhaps an "unfair contract" also, in that it allows them total control over whether a boiler gets written off without any 3rd party engineer involvement?

I guess I could sue them, but on what grounds? Most wouldn't, and that's what they rely on... misty waters!

Faith177

I've been with D&G for years on a variety of policies (granted not boiler) that have similar limits or exclusions and always found them to be very helpful and upfront.

Even had a repairer list a part as something else so it would be covered.

DJMC

Faith177 wrote: »

I've been with D&G for years on a variety of policies (granted not boiler) that have similar limits or exclusions and always found them to be very helpful and upfront.

Even had a repairer list a part as something else so it would be covered.

Did you report the repairer to the insurer for insurance fraud?

FutureGirl

Where does it say that if it's written off they won't pay?

The clauses you've stated say if it's written off they'll give you vouchers/cash to get put towards a new one...

dacouch

As future girl has said it says that if it's not repairable they will in effect pay you the £1500 that you have cover for less any remaining premiums and any previous claims.

That seems reasonably fair to me.

It sounds like your friend has already received £1200 in claims payments prior to this claim

teddysmum

It's just saying that they won't pay out more than the boiler will cost to replace (which makes sense).


If they give a voucher, presumably you are free to use the independent gas fitter, as the latter are generally cheaper than big names.

csgohan4

your friend isn't telling you the whole story, how much in parts and labour have they already cost the company already?

DJMC

dacouch wrote: »

As future girl has said it says that if it's not repairable they will in effect pay you the £1500 that you have cover for less any remaining premiums and any previous claims.

That seems reasonably fair to me.

It sounds like your friend has already received £1200 in claims payments prior to this claim

No, never made a claim before.

This is the point. On the face of it you think you're insured for £1500 but if written off it's whatever they feel like offering. £300 in this case.

It's ONLY if it IS repairable that they will pay up to £1500, and that may never happen so that they only ever have to offer a paltry sum.

pinkteapot

D&G repaired our oven with no hassle - they didn't write that off. *shrug*

These sort of appliance policies aren't insurance like car insurance or house insurance. They don't usually cover full replacement cost. They are usually policies to cover repair bills, up to a certain amount. I've always found their description of what type of policy you're buying clear enough. Up to you if you decide to take it out or not. You're free to read the T&Cs before buying a policy.

Similarly, but not provided by D&G, our boiler broke down twice last year and was fixed both times by our house insurance Home Emergency cover, which only provides covers for boiler repairs up to £500. Both times it needed a replacement part, both times worth less than £500, so they did the repair.

Personally, I haven't seen any evidence that appliances always get condemned/written off with these policies.

DJMC

Well the claim is finalised. Turns out the maximum D&G will pay for a repair is £305. The £1,500 is the total per annum, not per repair!

So, in this case my business partner was "lucky" to get the full £305 toward the total cost of £1,200 to replace the boiler.

What a CON. A big FAT con.

rudekid48

DJMC wrote: »

Well the claim is finalised. Turns out the maximum D&G will pay for a repair is £305. The £1,500 is the total per annum, not per repair!

So, in this case my business partner was "lucky" to get the full £305 toward the total cost of £1,200 to replace the boiler.

What a CON. A big FAT con.

So your "business partner" didn't read what they were buying but went ahead and signed up anyway, and you think that is a con?