British Gas Homecare

[Deleted User]

Has anyone else had issues with booking an appointment with British Gas homecare? I pay a monthly direct debit but feel like I can’t get the service I am paying for! They are fully booked until May! We cant do week days as we both work full time. If I leave it till May that will mean my boiler has been waiting over 6 months for a service. Has anyone had any success in cancelling and getting money back they have already paid?

tim_p

could you not book a days leave?

WiserMiser

Do they not have any Saturday appointments?

p00hsticks

My understanding is that the Homecare service gives you not only an annual boiler service (at some point during the year) but also breakdown cover.

I can't see you getting any money back just because you haven't yet been able to schedule the service as presumably they'd argue that you've potentially been benefitting from the existence of the breakdown cover, even if you haven't actually had to call them out.

I would imagine that Saturday appointments are in very high demand so in your shoes I'd book that May appointment and if anything goes wrong in the meantime you can call them out as a breakdown but you'd probably have to take a day off work as I doubt they'd be able to guarantee they'd attend for a breakdown on a Saturday.

We've just had our annual service done, with a weekday appointment that I could book for the following week.

Scot_39

If you want the service quicker - arrange a date that is suitable for you and your employers needs.

Its not BG problem that you want a weekend appointment and not willing to use one or part of one (the service itself often takes sub an hour) of both of your holidays. Typically 28 days each per year if PAYE inc fixed hols - why should they refund you anything ?

Perhaps they would provide more slots - if they were to charge a weekend premium for those wanting them.

As to refund - the best you might get is a refund for the service component of the cost - my sister got a credit on following years premium - around just £80 - inc compensation for when they messed up and skipped her rebooked appointment following their first cancellation (and missed others) during post Covid catch up.

[Deleted User]

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81872294#Comment_81872294

I do a 4 day week but no Fridays available either… I’d also rather use my leave to enjoy my time off, not wait for an engineer 😆

[Deleted User]

I work a 4 day week and I still can’t get a Friday appointment… I can’t book in advance as it’s simply just full.

I get I could take a day off, but rather not waste a day to get my boiler serviced…

debitcardmayhem

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81872527#Comment_81872527

So if your boiler breaks on a Sunday you are happy to be without heat and hot water until the next friday?

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81872529#Comment_81872529

Then book an appointment mid week and work the Friday instead.

ButterCheese

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6654075/british-gas-homecare

It's not their fault that you can't do weekdays. My advice would be to take a day off, tell them that you have taken a day off to be in for the appointment, so please can they do everything they can to keep to that day.

If you are that concerned about the overdue service, then phone someone else who can do it on a saturday. Yes it might cost you £100 but at least it will be done.

daveyjp

Cancel and find a local engineer, Homecare is a very expensive insurance you really don't need.