Cheapest Boiler Cover Discussion

2Sheds

Just been looking into getting the BG service 200 for our 10 year old Vaillant boiler (as due to age other places won't cover it)

Got a local bloke round recently due to a problem, but even though he'd been on a Vaillant course as was on their website list of service/installers he had no more a clue than I did. (I did have 2hrs web research under my belt)

He's due back tomorrow with a part and proposed bill of £135, so we'll see if it works.

After 10yrs I was tempted to buy a new boiler for £800-900, as we saved that by not having a service plan before

Power flushing and the like seems to be the big thing now

welda

I changed from oil to gas Dec 2004, boiler is in an outhouse, to date I have never had boiler serviced, most of the time I fire it up for hot water, probably use for heat off and on during winter period ( I use woodburner to heat principle rooms most of the time) I've know idea how much one pays per annum to whatever company that insures CH boilers, I do know it is a rip off though!

That said, we are only two, different for people with children of elderly parents living with them ect............

yorksrabbit

I very much doubt I'm alone in wishing Martin / MSE could be a little more informative when highlighting apparent "bargain buys".

Today's mention of the Swinton Insurance 'home emergency' plan entirely omits to mention that Swinton operates data harvesting.

Data harvesting is the odious commercial practice of seeking information from prospective customers that is neither relevant to that customer's request nor the provision of a supplier's particular service.

It enables data harvesters to establish detailed personal and financial profiles of individuals with whom they may ultimately have no direct business connection whatsoever.

What they do with that data can never be known because the prospective customer has no knowledge of what may or may not happen to the information after she / he has severed their association with the company -- an association that may have lasted no longer than the time taken to get halfway through the filling-in of an online quotation form and then deciding not to continue.

Swinton's practice is particularly blatant, beginning with an online quotation system for Home Emergency cover that requires the prospective customer to provide her / his date of birth.

Why?

Does a travel insurance provider (for example) stipulate that an online quotation for a week's holiday to Majorca can only be provided after the age of the applicant's central heating boiler has been specified?

Of course not.

Yes, it can be the case that an online prospective customer may be seeking a wide range of services, and so wide-ranging information will be required by the provider so as to tailor those services to that customer.

But as Swinton has a single direct "quote" link from its Home Emergency section, it knows full well that anyone clicking on that link is seeking a price for that type of cover only.

Swinton's justification for such needless prying is as transparent as it is absurd.

For example, you are asked to provide Swinton with your mobile phone number because "this information may be needed to confirm your quote and policy details to you".

Really? Even though you have already provided your home address, your date of birth (huh?), your home telephone number and your email address?

How about: "how do you usually pay for your insurance?"

Justification: "This could generate a further discount on your quote and will help us find the best deal from our panel of insurers".

Rubbish.

If a service provider wishes to remain competitive, it will offer discounts for Direct Debit without ever needing to know how a prospective customer manages her / his financial affairs.

As to the rest of its snooping, ask yourself if, in the event of a burst pipe, the local plumber that you rang replied that he would only come out if you answered the following questions:

What is your occupation?

What industry do you work in?

How many years continuous No Claims bonus do you have for (a) Buildings? (b) Contents?

What is your partner's first name, surname, date of birth, their occupation and the nature of the industry they work in?

Are there approved locks on all your external doors and windows?

Do you have an alrm system fitted?

What month is your car insurance renewal due?

Any plumber or electrician reeling off a list of personal and financial questions as irrelevant as that is to the issue of fixing a burst pipe would be told to take his spanners with him and disappear down the nearest U-bend.

Which is exactly what Swinton Insurance can do with its 'Home Emergency Insurance.'

At a time when the need for robustness of personal identity protection has never been greater, data harvesting remains a threat to every consumer, everywhere.

Martin and MSE should be black-listing outfits like Swinton Insurance.

Not giving 'em a free plug on this site.

:mad:

50Twuncle

Avoid BG - Full Stop
We had a policy with BG for 4 yrs before needing them on an emergency call out (the boiler exploded) - BG would not come out for 24 hours - we had to beg to get someone out - moral avoid BG !!

woslights

toadhall wrote: »

all well and good but what about oil boilers?
anyone know of of a reliable company

I have just joined tincknell fuels boiler insurance plan, i went for the bronze one:j which seemed to do all i wanted and included the service.:T

ksh123

I've been reading this thread and noticed some recommendations for Homecare with the incentive of cashback via Quidco. But i can't find it on the Quidco site
Any ideas anyone?
thanks.

thebuss

My wife and i own a second home in which we rent, could someone tell me the best company To insure our boiler and gas central heating with. I do believe we need a landlords policy-any tips please.
Thanks.

Steve_Roberts_3

thebuss wrote: »

My wife and i own a second home in which we rent, could someone tell me the best company To insure our boiler and gas central heating with. I do believe we need a landlords policy-any tips please.
Thanks.

I'd be interested in knowing this as well, for the same reasons. Anyone?

iwanttobeanonymous

Gerrard_8_lfc wrote: »

Well if your lights are not working you mean all of them due to a major fault e.g. Total power failure. ok you are covered.

one faulty plug or light ? minimal fault. May not be covered

Blocked toilet is not an emergency either.

Again how bad is your "leak" it can be looked at two ways is the leak causing property damage maybe covered This would all depend on what insurer you are with.

Only emergency situations will be a attended with most Home emergency covers the working by the FSA An emergency is something that puts you or your family at risk <---- Important word

Homecare you can have a call out at any point to get a engineers judgement also your services and so on.

You pay for what you get

Care agreements are different from Insurance Plus you may have a excess to pay which is never good.

You can go for the cheaper homecare which is Flexi but it incurrs a £50 excess on a completed repair.

Hope that helps

Gerard does your boss know you're doing this? Can I also ask if you manage to pass your QA when you keep calling it COVER?

Gerrard_8_lfc

What giving a informative answer which is lacking in sales ?


what am I doing wrong ... Sorry "Cover" I mean "Care"

and with my boss whats it got to do with them if I help answer questions in which other people help me in different scenarios e.g. money, finances and shopping.

And yes I pass my QA

and sorry who are you ?