British Gas boiler service plan rip-off

ihatebarclays_2

British Gas have found a new way to rip customers off... sign people up to an "annual" boiler service plan, but then leave 18 months between services, which is not "annual" in any reasonable sense of the word.

We made the mistake of signing up to this for another year in August, despite a huge price hike. We have been with them for some years and they have always come and serviced the boiler once a year in August or September. So imagine our surprise when we tried to book a service and were told they would not come until late February. This will be 18 months after our last service, and would mean we would have gone (nearly) two whole winters without a service, and no service during 2024.

Obviously, most people want their boiler serviced once a year, before winter.

Now they have our money and some small print to fall back on (which according to them means that they could in theory leave almost two years between "annual" services) we have no choice but to cancel and lose some money, or cross our fingers during the winter and hope the boiler is OK.

I think they are well out of order marketing this plan as an "annual service" when it is nothing of the kind. If they take my money every 12 months - which of course they do - then they should service my boiler every twelve months. British Gas will not be getting another penny of my money. If you want you boiler serviced once a year, do not touch this company with a bargepole.

mebu60

It is not a 'new way'. They were doing the same about 10 years ago to an elderly lady until I sorted all her paperwork (saving >£5k pa in the process on overpaying, duplication, etc etc so not just BG).

Local independent is the way to go for boiler service. 

ihatebarclays_2

mebu60 said:

It is not a 'new way'. They were doing the same about 10 years ago to an elderly lady until I sorted all her paperwork (saving >£5k pa in the process on overpaying, duplication, etc etc so not just BG).

Local independent is the way to go for boiler service. 

Doesn't surprise me. Though it's the first time it's happened to us. I still have the T&Cs from 2016 and it said specifically there that an annual service meant just that, an annual service. They have now changed this to any time within the contract period, which theoretically could mean a between-services gap of anything from one week to two years.

housebuyer143

This is poor because to ensure your boiler warranty remains valid, then you need an annual service. Imagine paying BG to do this, they fail to and then you lose your 10 year boiler warranty 😑 

MikeJXE

British Gas 

What’s new ?

kempiejon

? I think you're missing a trick, British Gas regularly offer me discounts, this time I paid £59 for cover including the service. I booked for and got the service in August, the cover will run for 12 months and renew at something like £300. Except I'll cancel like I usually do. I have taken and cancelled this offer a few times in the past 7 years. My local heating guy wants £100 for a service and safety check and subs for BG, in fact that's how I found him.

badmemory

Then once it is out of warranty if anything goes wrong they condemn it & say you need a new one at yet another extortionate price.

northernstar007

mine is due end nov, i got it last year on black fri deal £163 for full heating sys inc rads &pipes
they have offered it £231, had no breakdowns, sys 7 yrs old worcester bosch
its due its service 1st week dec, questions i have shall i go idy hope no breakdowns, see if they will bring the price down, and how to get it for £59

housebuyer143

northernstar007 said:

mine is due end nov, i got it last year on black fri deal £163 for full heating sys inc rads &pipes
they have offered it £231, had no breakdowns, sys 7 yrs old worcester bosch
its due its service 1st week dec, questions i have shall i go idy hope no breakdowns, see if they will bring the price down, and how to get it for £59

If you have a Worcester warranty, then I don't see the point of paying BG homecare. Most boiler companies, if out of warranty also have a one off payment or monthly payments (for 1 year totalling around £300) if something goes wrong and they guarantee to fix it in that price or they give you your money back. I know Baxi and valiant do it. I would prefer to pay that if it does break out of warranty, rather than give BG my money.

northernstar007

ive seen that offer on the worcester site, but how quick can they come out on a breakdown, as with bg within 48hrs

Scot_39

ihatebarclays_2 said:

British Gas have found a new way to rip customers off... sign people up to an "annual" boiler service plan, but then leave 18 months between services, which is not "annual" in any reasonable sense of the word.

We made the mistake of signing up to this for another year in August, despite a huge price hike. We have been with them for some years and they have always come and serviced the boiler once a year in August or September. So imagine our surprise when we tried to book a service and were told they would not come until late February. This will be 18 months after our last service, and would mean we would have gone (nearly) two whole winters without a service, and no service during 2024.

Obviously, most people want their boiler serviced once a year, before winter.

Now they have our money and some small print to fall back on (which according to them means that they could in theory leave almost two years between "annual" services) we have no choice but to cancel and lose some money, or cross our fingers during the winter and hope the boiler is OK.

I think they are well out of order marketing this plan as an "annual service" when it is nothing of the kind. If they take my money every 12 months - which of course they do - then they should service my boiler every twelve months. British Gas will not be getting another penny of my money. If you want you boiler serviced once a year, do not touch this company with a bargepole.

It's nonsense.  Regardless of what the T&Cs say.

When did this to sister, phoned in a complaint and got over £100 off renewal.

As "they missed a  service".