British Gas Homecare

Huwbert

Do you have British Gas Homecare? I have it to look after my 15+year old boiler, plumbing, drains and electrics and kitchen appliances (it has been a godsend in the past!). Was quoted £770-odd renewal for the next year, which is somewhat steep! However 1 phonecall and 10 minutes later, got the same cover knocked down to £580! Still a lot of money, but I think pretty good for the cover, and having looked around I don't think I could get the same cover.

Pretty chuffed with that 10 minutes work!

CashStrapped

£48 a month!

Why not open a savings account and put £48 a month aside - within two years you have enough to replace the whole boiler if needs be. Open up a separate savings account and call it house repairs. Within 6 months you will have enough to cover most minor emergencies.

I did the same with my parents about 5 years ago. It is probably saved them two grand+. Just one local call out in that time costing £50

British Gas homecare is a rip off. In fact as your boiler is 15+ years old, I am surprised they fully cover it. Normally they say that if a parts are not available in their warehouse for that model, they will not repair it (even if parts are available elsewhere). Or give a cut off for boiler repairs at 10 years or so. Can't remember what their policy is now.

I'm surprised they have not tried to convince you it is time to replace the boiler yet.

MABLE

Huwbert wrote: »

Do you have British Gas Homecare? I have it to look after my 15+year old boiler, plumbing, drains and electrics and kitchen appliances (it has been a godsend in the past!). Was quoted £770-odd renewal for the next year, which is somewhat steep! However 1 phonecall and 10 minutes later, got the same cover knocked down to £580! Still a lot of money, but I think pretty good for the cover, and having looked around I don't think I could get the same cover.

Pretty chuffed with that 10 minutes work!

I have the same cover as you and our boiler is now 15 years old and we pay about £30 a month. Every year they try raising the price and every year I get them to keep it within the previous years figure.

For the past five years the price has only changed very slightly.

I feel if you had challenged it from year 2 the renewal costs would still be a lot less than the £580.

I would phone them again because I am sure with a bit of friendly persuation they will reduce further. Nothing to lose.

diamond_dave

Hi, I have homecare on a rental property and each year they try and up the price - I ring and complain and lo and behold the price goes back to what we were paying originaly. The only mistake I made to reduce the price was to go for the £50 call out option. Guess what? I had to call them out 1/2 dozen times @ £50 a pop!! He Ho!

Huwbert

They have tried, but I wound't use them to replace the boiler (bloomin' expensive!), and I will replace it when it finally conks out as a lot of work and cost would be involved to do so.

Huwbert

My package has no call out fee, which suits me quite nicely as they have been out quite a few times to sort washing machine problems and replaced two of them

DeborahSt

My landlord has it. The boiler was leaking & lost pressure during December, they came out & patched it up. However, they said it was now too problematic/old to cover so have removed the boiler from the cover entirely.

Huwbert

My case is complicated that I have had a few boiler (simple fixes), kitchen appliance, electrics and plumbing call outs, so like with any insurance, making a claim raises the premium

macman

You simply do not need to insure your drains or electrics. If these are properly installed and maintained then there is very little that can go wrong, and what you are paying in excess premiums would more than cover the call out cost.
Similarly white goods, which are generally very reliable if you avoid the cheap branded ones.