Boiler Cover with British Gas - Advice Please...

[Deleted User]

I've had boiler cover with BG for about five years after our boiler was installed in September 2015.  Year after year, the annual service has been getting later and later.  The last service was on 23/12/2019 after they couldn't get me booked in for months.  They are now not providing routine annual services until April.  Is this the case for all gas engineers? Are they able to do annual inspections or are they only allowed to do emergency repairs?  Or is this just BG?

csgohan4

I would ditch BG and self fund. They don't provide a new boiler after your boiler reaches a certain point, plus their service is patchy

For their premiums I could buy a new boiler every 4-5 years

TELLIT01

British Gas lost hundreds, maybe thousands, of engineers a couple of years ago either by making them redundant or good engineers voting with their feet and leaving.  Consequently they simply don't have enough to provide the service they did some years ago.  Many have complained about delays in the annual boiler service, and BG responded that 'annual' means at some point in the period of cover.  That means that it's possible for a boiler to be serviced on Day1 of the first year of cover and on the final day of the second.  Therefore effectively 2 years between services.

The good thing about BG cover is that includes call out, parts and labour.  Over the years I have actually had pretty good value considering that almost all the guts of my boiler had to be replaced after about 6 years resulting in a virtually new boiler.  It took them ages to completely sort the problems because one issue would be masking another so there were multiple visits and many parts replaced.

[Deleted User]

TELLIT01 said:

British Gas lost hundreds, maybe thousands, of engineers a couple of years ago either by making them redundant or good engineers voting with their feet and leaving.  Consequently they simply don't have enough to provide the service they did some years ago.  Many have complained about delays in the annual boiler service, and BG responded that 'annual' means at some point in the period of cover.  That means that it's possible for a boiler to be serviced on Day1 of the first year of cover and on the final day of the second.  Therefore effectively 2 years between services.

The good thing about BG cover is that includes call out, parts and labour.  Over the years I have actually had pretty good value considering that almost all the guts of my boiler had to be replaced after about 6 years resulting in a virtually new boiler.  It took them ages to completely sort the problems because one issue would be masking another so there were multiple visits and many parts replaced.

I managed to speak to customer services today. Basically they said the same about the potential time between services, which I find absolutely shocking.  As we are about 6 months into the policy and the time period since the last service, I will stay with them till renewal and then leave, with the hope I've had an annual service by then.  Apparently, they've said that if (for what ever reason) I don't get an annual service they will only refund me £65, as this is how much it costs for one!  I feel the service received has very much definitely gone down hill over the years.

Hasbeen

Would think a lot of people pay for cover. Not so much for the kid on service, but for actual breakdowns?

sarah234

Sorry, I've not got any advice but I've got a question. 
Does this invalidate your boiler warranty? I thought warranties insisted you get it serviced annually but it you are months overdue because of British Gas appointment availability, does it make your warranty void?

csgohan4

I've had boiler servicing and repairs in a timely manner during this time from a local company I use. Personal preference I guess

Browntoa

I've just swapped after a free years BG homecare cover as wanted £400 despite no call outs . Out interest I went on the bg app to pretend my boiler was not working , earliest slot was the 18th march . 

Now with a local company with same day or next day call out promise and very good reviews ( I've used them in the past as well ) 

Service is not a necessity , normally used to upsell additional equipment or services

[Deleted User]

sarah234 said:

Sorry, I've not got any advice but I've got a question. 
Does this invalidate your boiler warranty? I thought warranties insisted you get it serviced annually but it you are months overdue because of British Gas appointment availability, does it make your warranty void?

I had my boiler installed by BG and only found out last year when I tried to extend the warranty (as my parents did but wasn't installed by BG) and was told by Worcester Bosch that the boilers didn't come with a warranty with BS as they give you free home care cover, so unable to extend.  I was absolutely shocked by the response.  As for invalidating your warranty, as far as they are concerned with their terms and conditions, they can do an annual service at any point during the contract but I would check your warranty terms and conditions if this is ok, I know that because of the pandemic, some have extended it by upto six months.

csgohan4

MrsBrownBear said:

sarah234 said:

Sorry, I've not got any advice but I've got a question. 
Does this invalidate your boiler warranty? I thought warranties insisted you get it serviced annually but it you are months overdue because of British Gas appointment availability, does it make your warranty void?

I had my boiler installed by BG and only found out last year when I tried to extend the warranty (as my parents did but wasn't installed by BG) and was told by Worcester Bosch that the boilers didn't come with a warranty with BS as they give you free home care cover, so unable to extend.  I was absolutely shocked by the response.  As for invalidating your warranty, as far as they are concerned with their terms and conditions, they can do an annual service at any point during the contract but I would check your warranty terms and conditions if this is ok, I know that because of the pandemic, some have extended it by upto six months.

My vendor had a boiler installed by BG, they Worcestor doesn't cover warranty for this scenario and the warranty from BG  is dependent on having an active continuous BG subscription. No thanks. 

If I need a new boiler, would rather go to an approved installer, so I can get an extended warranty and not be held to ransom

cattom

I don't bother with any of those service plans where by you pay so much a year or month, and every things covered. 
I just have a registered gas engineer who comes here once a year in the summer, services the boiler, makes sure every thing working as it should. £80. job done.