Boiler and Central Heating Service

shopndrop

We have never had our boiler and central heating serviced in the house we have been in for 9 years so think it is about time we had it done. Am I better to sign up to an annual contract with someone like British Gas or just find an independent Corgi registered person. Are these annual contracts worth the money?

Sand_Man_2

Hi

What you will find with this annual contrat deals it that you will need to have your boiler to an acceptable level. They will not just take you on especially as you have not had your boiler serviced for the last 9 years as it to high risk for them.

So you may find that you have to spend lots of money to get it so a acceptable level before they take you on. In my opnion, you are better off now just getting is serviced reguarly by a independant plumber.


i hope that your boiler was electric as it was very dangerous for you not to service your boiler for the last 9 years. You could have easily suffered or died from carban monoxide posioning.

espresso

shopndrop wrote: »

Are these annual contracts worth the money?

Surely you have proved to yourself over the last nine years, that they are not worth the money! You obviously have one of the more reliable boilers, so simply find an independent heating engineer to check your system, not BG.

shopndrop

espresso wrote: »

find an independent heating engineer

As I have not used an independent person before, not sure what I need to looking out for. Should they belong to a trade organisation or can I just pick someone from Yellow Pages who gives the best quote?

shopndrop

Sand_Man wrote: »

Hi

You could have easily suffered or died from carban monoxide posioning.

I do have 2 carbon monoxide detectors in the house but just hadn't thought about getting it serviced until it came up in a conversation at work about how much it is with British Gas.

kitchen_buff

Average cost for service £80 to £100. Annual contract from Grittish bass they now charge £50 per call out, they never used to. Look in yellow pages or yell.com for local corgi boiler engineer

espresso

shopndrop wrote: »

As I have not used an independent person before, not sure what I need to looking out for. Should they belong to a trade organisation or can I just pick someone from Yellow Pages who gives the best quote?

Check for suitably qualified engineers here or as you say in Yellow pages.

Cardew

There have been scores and scores of posts about this subject; and the BG scheme in particular.

As espresso states they are not good value - any of them.

However most of the people who have the BG service use it as some form of insurance. It has proved useful, particularly for my family when I have been working away from home.

If you can find a reliable honest plumber, who will turn out at weekends and holidays, that will obviously be the best solution; but many of us can't find one.

My wife was 'ripped off' twice(by different plumbers) when the kids were small and I was abroad so we have had the BG service ever since. When we have called on their service it has been excellent; but others have posted they have had the opposite.

keenoncash

Please think twice about BG service contract and don't be misled the TV ads. I think to get same day call out you have to 'phone before 9.30 and for next day before 12.30. We have very seldom had next day on our 3* contract and are going to change after v. poor service. Our worst experience so far:

25th Oct 8pm reported boiler breakdown
1st appt. given for Sat.27th Oct between 8am-1pm; cancelled about 10am that day
2nd appt. Sun 28th Oct 8am-6pm; cancelled Sun. morning.
3rd appt. Mon 29th Oct 8am-10. Engineer turned up!! Identified problem, offered to fix (under contract so free) or £500 of one the BG's boilers. Opted for repair and-
4th appt. Tues. 8am-12 noon. No-one turned up, no-one 'phoned. I called engineer but he had received part. At 4.30pm after I had called Customer Services for 2nd time have 5th appt. tomorrow 8am-10am to fit 2 of the 3 parts needed - but at least we'll have some heat.

We have been without heat for 5 days now. Fortunately, we have hot water and, because BG response time is slow, we have bought an electric radiator. Fortunately, we do not have elderley people or young children living with us but no-one at BG has bothered to check. Sorry to rant so much.

Farway

Have a look here http://www.checkatrade.com/ for independant recs by cutomers of trades, plus maybe you county or local council site has a list of reliable trades, mine does so could be yours does to

lwt2006

keenoncash I've had much the same experience as you - we've had no hot water or heating for 6 days now and we DO have children in the house. The call centre people offer sympathies but do nothing except 'pass on the details' because our repair will take a while.

They are supposed to be coming tomorrow, but why am I sceptical?