British Gas Boiler cover

Bullet500

Have used British Gas Boiler cover for years, just had this years annual quote through £316.14. Last year they didn't do a boiler service, i understand circumstances why they didn't, but find it really annoying the policy has gone up in cost, ok its not gone up much, but there is no refund for not doing the annual service, and checking online it annoyingly says we are not due a service yet and they will tell us when we are. I am reluctant to cancel the renewal, in case we had a fault. I have tried phoning them but haven't got the time to wait for ages on the phone. What reliable alternatives are there to British gas, or do i grin and bare it and sign up for another year. Any advice appreciated

jaybeetoo

Put what you’d pay in premiums into a savings account instead and use a local gas safe plumber.  You’ll save a fortune over the long term.

sheramber

 I have been able to chat to someone on the webchat with only a short wait. 
My boiler was serviced earlier this month. It was delayed from January.

madcyclistuk

British Gas and E-On for that matter, are an absolute nightmare. PLEASE folks - don't register with either - you'll only get hurt! :-(
There's been BG boiler insurance, in my property since the boiler was installed in the '80's.
Up until 3 years ago the boiler was VERY reliable - now it ain't. 
BG auto renew your policy without letting you know they've done it and when you ask for a copy of their contract won't give it to you. It took the Ombudsman to get a copy! :-/
If you're a priority customer they used to come out the same day if your boiler was faulty - it's now 5 days, if you're lucky.
You have to telephone them to make the booking as they don't keep accurate records. If you're unable to register as a priority customer then you'll be waiting even longer.
For such a BIG company you'd've thought they'd have decent communication - nope! You're funnelled through their phone lines so could be waiting up to an hour to speak to someone. 
If you have a complaint it takes 5, yes 5 weeks for them to respond. When they do they try to telephone you, even though you've registered as having hearing disabilities! :-/

There is no loyalty bonus HOWEVER - fingers crossed the FCA's guidelines will force them to ensure that the premiums will be the same as the newly insured. It comes into effect in January 2022 - Can't post hyperlink. (!),  but cut and paste - FCA confirms measures to protect customers from the loyalty penalty in home and motor insurance markets - into your browser and that should take you there. ;-)

If you've got an ancient boiler then, if you're on certain state benefits you can attempt to use the scrappage scheme. However E-On REFUSE to acknowledge they have it even though they advertise it (attached)!

As you can imagine, I've taken BG to the Financial Ombudsman, (toothless and useless), so I'm trying elsewhere.
That the Ombudsmen are playing "complaint ping-pong" with my complaints makes you realise they're failing to regulate the industry properly so "sharp practice" even against those less able to complain is thriving.
Which is the reason I'm persevering and voting with my feet, when my BG contract ends - as the only way you're going to hurt such complacent companies like these two is to take your business away from them en-masse - hit their profits!

And, if your boiler does break down, get an independent out - a lot of them are ex-BG and are MUCH happier working for themselves. ;-)

Brie

Please also be careful as these companies sell different policies for different things but often with overlaps.  When I was untangling my FiL's finances after his death I discovered 3 different BG policies all running at the same time.  It took a bit of arguing but they did eventually refund quite a lot of their premiums but it did strike me as them taking advantage of elderly who don't know that they need to compare services and providers.