British Gas Boiler Cover Renewal

fairywishes

After years of being with British Gas and them upping my Homecare 3 I was hoping for some advice.

Like many people they couldn't book my yearly service in due last Oct until the 21st Jan but the contract ends the 13th Jan.
Armed with other quotes I phoned them today explaining they were offering new customers £16 a month for Homecare4 and various other providers were coming in around that price. The most they could reduce it by was by £4 a month so I cancelled but they did assure me my service will still be honoured.

I remember reading once to just cancel and take out a new policy in my husbands name can I ask has anyone ever done this and is it true?  I'm also nervous about getting that service done outwith contract on the 21st Jan incase the engineer does a knock and run.
Everytime I've had a service the boiler breaks within weeks and yet works fine throughout the rest of the year, should I cancel the service?
Thanks in advance.

Alanp

Mil is cancelling her BG service contract soon, see if you can find a local gas safe engineer who can look after your system

twopenny

While I sometimes envy my neighbours their contract I haven't had any trouble finding someone to do a radiator flush, boiler service unlike some trades. They've often fixed something else while they are there. I only had to wait a week.
Leaflet through the door from an experienced guy who was just servicing boilers at 45 pounds oct to dec. He changed over the timer for me while there for 10 pounds and a mug of tea. He came 2weeks after booking and did a cluster of properties. Even answering the phone when on holiday in case it was an emergency.
Both are local and well established. Heating guys seem to be well organised.
Now plumbers is a whole different matter!

ic

Use a local engineer.  If anything goes wrong, BG will just tell you the boiler is beyond economical repair/dangerous and then start pedaling a new one on you at grossly inflated prices.

fairywishes

Whilst I appreciate the advice of popping the money in a pot etc and finding a local engineer (something my husbands wanted me to do for years) this 11 year old boiler which services our 3 level house has needed a repair every year since we moved in 7 years ago.
It just causes me huge stress worrying about it or being able to find someone I can trust who won't rip me off thus why I have a contract.
Of those 7 years we've only not been with BG for a year after they wrongly told us we needed a power flush and they've done all the repairs so far without condemning it.

FashionHeart

fairywishes said:

After years of being with British Gas and them upping my Homecare 3 I was hoping for some advice.

Like many people they couldn't book my yearly service in due last Oct until the 21st Jan but the contract ends the 13th Jan.
Armed with other quotes I phoned them today explaining they were offering new customers £16 a month for Homecare4 and various other providers were coming in around that price. The most they could reduce it by was by £4 a month so I cancelled but they did assure me my service will still be honoured.

I remember reading once to just cancel and take out a new policy in my husbands name can I ask has anyone ever done this and is it true?  I'm also nervous about getting that service done outwith contract on the 21st Jan incase the engineer does a knock and run.
Everytime I've had a service the boiler breaks within weeks and yet works fine throughout the rest of the year, should I cancel the service?
Thanks in advance.

Please don't renew with British Gas.
I've managed to leave my horrific and disastrous contract because they left me with no boiler and very poor customer service. They don't even let you know your appointment has been cancelled...!
I've managed to get a local gas safe engineer to provide me a better service.

Anthony147

fairywishes said:

Whilst I appreciate the advice of popping the money in a pot etc and finding a local engineer (something my husbands wanted me to do for years) this 11 year old boiler which services our 3 level house has needed a repair every year since we moved in 7 years ago.
It just causes me huge stress worrying about it or being able to find someone I can trust who won't rip me off thus why I have a contract.
Of those 7 years we've only not been with BG for a year after they wrongly told us we needed a power flush and they've done all the repairs so far without condemning it

Pretty similar to above.

I just don’t know where this army of local, honest engineers are - Last two jobs job of replacing a radiator (like for like) got quotes ranging from £600 to £1700 yes you read that correctly and servicing of a 3 year old boiler (£270 - £800) so I changed the rad myself and took out one of those home coverage plans that include servicing.

Could just be a London thing and me being cynical BUT work prices and quotes seem more linked to property values and belief it can be afforded than the work required.

SaverRate

Have a look at Homeserve or home emergency cover through your home insurer (doesn’t include boiler service but you can pay homeserve to come out and do it).

fyi Aviva and QuoteMeHappy use homeserve for their home emergency cover. Only thing it doesn’t cover is replacement taps and your water pipe from meter to stop !!!!!! but you can take out a homeserve plumbing policy for 75p a month (there is an excess) to cover this 

twopenny

Who do your neighbours use?
Which vans do you see parked in your area?
If you can see someone with the van go and ask them for their card. Speaking to them even briefly on the hop gives a good idea of character. 
Phoning and asking for a quote and once there, their opinion. Gives you an idea of how they approach their business.
But speaking to people you know who they have and what their work is like is usually best in the first instance.
I even photograph the vans with phone numbers, pass to see how they approach the work. Are they outside smoking and joking or in and out busy with a well equipped van.
You need the opinion of at least 2, preferably 3 and see what they advise. Anyone who is available immediately is not a good bet. They should at the moment not be available for a while.
If you're worrying about this boiler make that your start for asking opinions. Don't say you're worried, just ask what they think and how much it would cost. It should be similar. And expect, ask if they will give you a quote in writing if you think it is reasonable.