Boiler Insurance

TinyF

malky39 wrote: »

Or you could get the ventilation sorted, if that was the issue, will probably be alot cheaper than 2 new fires

Thanks, for that, Malky but as I said I don't really want two vents and the drafts that come with them in my walls. Having said that, I have priced vents and you can buy the appropriate ones for around £16 each and they come with a 'baffle' to slow down the progress of incoming air so that it doesn't enter the house through the vent in a direct draught rush but takes a circuitous route that slows it down.

Builders tend to charge a minimum of at least £100 a day so if you add that to the cost of the vents the price for the two fires I decided on if I do replace, comes to a similar figure. If the builder has to hire a suitable drill to drill the hole size required by regulations it's going to cost me more.

I'm still considering my options.

Biggles

TinyF wrote: »

Alex, the notice says the boiler is 'Immediately Dangerous' because - "Heat Exchanger leaking products of combustion. Gas valve bracket fixing lug has rotted away and dropped".

But you've still only got the word of one engineer for this - a man who wants to sell you a new boiler?

I would still get an independent local guy in; it'll only cost you £60 or so for a second opinion.

TinyF

Thanks, Biggles. It did cross my mind, of course, but I haven't been able to get hold of anyone local who's available. Because Ideal and Homeserve are connected and they're both trying to sell me a new boiler, I've every right to be suspicious. Alex has already said that a 'service' to a boiler actually involves very little but to my mind if there was a potential problem it should have been picked up on one of the annual services I've had from them.

I've spoken with Homeserve again and actually got hold of someone who sounded genuinely concerned that we'd been left without heating and hot water and checked the situation with the Ideal engineers before calling me back. He had no option other than to concur with what he was being told by them but suggested I contacted Citizen's Advice and/or the Energy Saving Advice Service. I don't see what they can do for us but I will be sending details to the Watchdog TV programme as, irrespective of whether the engineer did the right thing or not, there was no compassion involved and we should not have been left without heating and hot water considering our age, poor health and financial situation. In effect, he was saying "I don't give a damn,. I'm doing my job" and his brusque attitude reflected that. There was no "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to shut your boiler and gas fires down", it was a case of "I'm condemning this boiler and I'll be checking your gas fires!".

I've managed to borrow a couple of electric fires from neighbours but the situation is obviously still not ideal (no pun intended).

tonyh66

TinyF wrote: »

Thanks, Biggles. It did cross my mind, of course, but I haven't been able to get hold of anyone local who's available. Because Ideal and Homeserve are connected and they're both trying to sell me a new boiler, I've every right to be suspicious. Alex has already said that a 'service' to a boiler actually involves very little but to my mind if there was a potential problem it should have been picked up on one of the annual services I've had from them.

I've spoken with Homeserve again and actually got hold of someone who sounded genuinely concerned that we'd been left without heating and hot water and checked the situation with the Ideal engineers before calling me back. He had no option other than to concur with what he was being told by them but suggested I contacted Citizen's Advice and/or the Energy Saving Advice Service. I don't see what they can do for us but I will be sending details to the Watchdog TV programme as, irrespective of whether the engineer did the right thing or not, there was no compassion involved and we should not have been left without heating and hot water considering our age, poor health and financial situation. In effect, he was saying "I don't give a damn,. I'm doing my job" and his brusque attitude reflected that. There was no "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to shut your boiler and gas fires down", it was a case of "I'm condemning this boiler and I'll be checking your gas fires!".

I've managed to borrow a couple of electric fires from neighbours but the situation is obviously still not ideal (no pun intended).

can you not get a couple of oil filled radiators as well?

keep looking for a local gas fitter, go to the gassafe website and go through the list of local fitters.

Its pointless buying new fires until you sort the boiler out, your going to need a fitter to put the fires in aswell. the gas fitter will also add vents if they are needed so no need for a builder.

Could you not contact age concern or a similar large charity and see if they have some advice/ trusted tradesman list.

malky39

TinyF wrote: »

Thanks, Biggles. It did cross my mind, of course, but I haven't been able to get hold of anyone local who's available. Because Ideal and Homeserve are connected and they're both trying to sell me a new boiler, I've every right to be suspicious. Alex has already said that a 'service' to a boiler actually involves very little but to my mind if there was a potential problem it should have been picked up on one of the annual services I've had from them.

I've spoken with Homeserve again and actually got hold of someone who sounded genuinely concerned that we'd been left without heating and hot water and checked the situation with the Ideal engineers before calling me back. He had no option other than to concur with what he was being told by them but suggested I contacted Citizen's Advice and/or the Energy Saving Advice Service. I don't see what they can do for us but I will be sending details to the Watchdog TV programme as, irrespective of whether the engineer did the right thing or not, there was no compassion involved and we should not have been left without heating and hot water considering our age, poor health and financial situation. In effect, he was saying "I don't give a damn,. I'm doing my job" and his brusque attitude reflected that. There was no "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to shut your boiler and gas fires down", it was a case of "I'm condemning this boiler and I'll be checking your gas fires!".

I've managed to borrow a couple of electric fires from neighbours but the situation is obviously still not ideal (no pun intended).

I do have to point out that if your boiler is deemed to be immediately dangerous, you would be left without heating or hot water, you age does not come into account. As mentioned should you of refuse to let the engineer cut off your boiler he would hav contacted national grid who would cut it off in the street then charge you decent amount to reconnect when your boiler is deemed as ok. The engineer was doing his job and being responsible as is require by gas safe. An ID situation cannot be left as it posses a risk to your life. I agree that you should maybe get another company to check the boiler but there is a good change if its ID its ID.
On the fires the engineer was also being responsible considering what his job is. You boiler had been cut off so obviously your next option for heat was your gas fires so he is making sure that they are safe. He deemed them to be At risk, this means there is a potential risk if the appliance is continued to use it may be dangerous. He has to advise you of this an leave the appropriate paper work and label. You are quite entitled to continue using your fire but you know the the risk if you do and you are the one then taking the responsibility if any injury or fatality were to occur. The engineer is no longer responsible and cannot be held accountable for anything that happens should you keep using the fires.
Yes the attitude of the engineer could have been alot better and maybe his explanation of what he was doing aswell. But he was doing what is required of him.
Personally i dislike when people use the term condemned, as this can be taken in different connotations. Using the ID and AR terminology and explaining the situation clearly usually helps the customer to understand the situation more easily

TinyF

Thanks for your input, Tony, and your suggestions.

Malky, that's part of the point. Age and health should come into it. We shouldn't have been left in the situation we were left in without some offer of temporary heating. This particular engineer knew he had the power and he used it without any consideration for who he was dealing with and if my protestations can help towards making a change to how that power is used and a change to how future affected people are cared for after the event then I'm going to make my voice heard somehow.

Alex1983

Whatever his attitude and no matter who you had to fix your boiler the same outcome would of come. It can’t be left on because your circumstances. As harsh as it is, it’s not safe it’s going off, I hate that part of my job, even more so around Xmas. When I worked for a big national company we would leave fan heaters in this situation but could do nothing for hot water.

malky39

Alex1983 wrote: »

Whatever his attitude and no matter who you had to fix your boiler the same outcome would of come. It can’t be left on because your circumstances. As harsh as it is, it’s not safe it’s going off, I hate that part of my job, even more so around Xmas. When I worked for a big national company we would leave fan heaters in this situation but could do nothing for hot water.

Agree with this, part and parcel of being Gas Safe is just that being safe, an the company I work for always offer to leave a fan heater with the customer in this situation.

HomeServe_company_representative

Hi there

Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.

We’re committed to offering a seamless Customer experience, from when you call us to make your claim right through to when our engineer visits your home. We care very much about our Customers and their experiences which is why we’re keen to understand what happened on this occasion.

What you've described sounds out of the ordinary and we’d like to address your service issue. So we do so please send your policy details to the email address at the top of our profile page and we’ll be in touch.

Kind regards,

Leah
Here To Help Team

Nick_C

£28 a month insurance? Wow!

I pay £50 a year to have mine serviced by a local guy. It's only 5 years old. As time goes on, I expect I may have to pay for a few parts. When it reaches the end of its useful life, I'll buy a replacement on line and get my local guy to fit it.

A like for like replacement would currently cost £825 plus installation