British Gas say I need a new boiler - best deal advice please

Victors_Bruvver

BG are in my opinion rip off merchants. We live in a fairly new flatted development all with Worcester-Bosch boilers. One unlucky neighbour decided from the outset to go with BG Homecare and when the boiler recently became noisy, she was told, over the phone that she should not worry as it was noisy fan. In the end she called out Worceter-Bosch and they had to renew the heat exchanger and also service the boiler along with an annual service contract which cost her about 12.50 a month. The total cost for visit, parts and annual service no more than £300. I don't know if anyone saw the news item on the BBC a few weeks back of the old boy who had to have his boiler replaced by BG at a rip off price and also have the added insult of having a wall mounted boiler literally just off the floor. Poor old sod has to get on hands and knees to get to the controls!

Buy a Worcester-Bosch from one of their recommended installers and you will be very surprised. By the way I am no way connected with WB, just a happy customer.

daveybuk

mike_the_bike wrote: »

What spares do you need and please give the precise model number and i''ll have a look on the net for you.

BG have told me spares unavailable for a boiler and I managed to source them

Thanks Mike. The only detail I have at the moment is that the boiler requires a gasket.. number 1/28170/0. The engineer seemed to think that would be the main requirement, although he was initially hoping to get hold of a couple of other things too. I've tried the manufacturer and searched a few websites myself without luck - but then I'm no expert.

To everyone else, thanks for the heads-up re: BG. To be fair on them, the boiler is awkwardly placed and there is a 6 to 7 metre flue, which is boxed in and runs across the lounge to an outside wall. That may explain some of the even higher than normal price as some minor building work is required too. I've already had a recommendation for a reputable local firm, so I'll certainly be trying them and a couple of others before doing anything more.

daveybuk

Oh - forgot to mention. I've been a Homecare customer for about ten years. The sales guy told me today that the only circumstance in which the policy would have paid for a new boiler was if it was less than seven years old and, most importantly, had been installed by British Gas.

So really, unless you've had your boiler installed by BG, it seems a pretty pointless insurance policy when it comes to a major breakdown.

Gorgeous_George

For the want of a shoe, a horse was lost,

GG

Gorgeous_George

daveybuk wrote: »

To everyone else, thanks for the heads-up re: BG. To be fair on them, the boiler is awkwardly placed and there is a 6 to 7 metre flue...

Do not be fair to them. They are not fair to you.

GG

daveybuk

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

Do not be fair to them. They are not fair to you.

GG

Interesting you should say that. Strangely, the Glowworm Flexicom 15hx High Efficiency Boiler that they want to charge £1054.56 for is less than £600 including VAT on three separate websites I have looked at.

I thought I must have missed something, like the fact they'd included the flue.. but no, that's another £405.

The discrepancy on the boiler alone outweighs the "discount" they were giving me as a loyal customer.

Canucklehead

Good morning; Sorry you haven't been able to source the part. As an aside...lots of misconceptions floating around MSE , again, about the time required and the costs associated with installing a new condensing boiler. Many MSErs have found the following website an excellent source of info... http://www.miketheboilerman.com/newboilercost.htm

If you end up having to replace the boiler, get 3 full specification, written quotations from CORGIs recommended to you by a source you trust.. If you can't get recommendations you can find qualified plumbers who are also CORGI at www.iphe.org.uk. You can check a CORGI's qualifications here... www.trustcorgi.com Further info on the installation and specification of gas central heating systems is available from the Energy Saving Trust http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/ce30.pdf

If someone can slap in a boiler very cheaply over the course of one day then I doubt the customer will getting a condensing boiler installed according to 'Best Practice' and manufacturer's specifications ( these are usually available from the manufacturer's website for download).

HTH

Canucklehead

daveybuk

Some very useful advice. Thanks again.

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning; Sorry you haven't been able to source the part. As an aside...lots of misconceptions floating around MSE , again, about the time required and the costs associated with installing a new condensing boiler. Many MSErs have found the following website an excellent source of info... http://www.miketheboilerman.com/newboilercost.htm

If you end up having to replace the boiler, get 3 full specification, written quotations from CORGIs recommended to you by a source you trust.. If you can't get recommendations you can find qualified plumbers who are also CORGI at www.iphe.org.uk. You can check a CORGI's qualifications here... www.trustcorgi.com Further info on the installation and specification of gas central heating systems is available from the Energy Saving Trust http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/ce30.pdf

If someone can slap in a boiler very cheaply over the course of one day then I doubt the customer will getting a condensing boiler installed according to 'Best Practice' and manufacturer's specifications ( these are usually available from the manufacturer's website for download).

HTH

Canucklehead

mike_the_bike_2

I'm going to have a look later to see if anyone has the gasket...

But..before anyone jumps on me from a safety point of view...I realise a gasket is a critical component from a safety point of view ..regards monoxide/gas leals etc..It is also or should be a relatively cheap component

If you have the old gasket it could easily be used as a pattern by a specialist company to make you up a new one up..thats the route i'd go if I can't get the part

daveybuk

mike_the_bike wrote: »

I'm going to have a look later to see if anyone has the gasket...

But..before anyone jumps on me from a safety point of view...I realise a gasket is a critical component from a safety point of view ..regards monoxide/gas leals etc..It is also or should be a relatively cheap component

If you have the old gasket it could easily be used as a pattern by a specialist company to make you up a new one up..thats the route i'd go if I can't get the part

Thanks. Worth considering - though the engineer did have a list of parts that he wanted to get hold of.. the gasket just being the main one, I believe. I may have to bite the bullet on this one I guess, but I'm happy at least that I won't be rolled over by BG.

They wanted me to have a Glowworm boiler. But a different Corgi engineer told me others should be suitable, and recommended Worcester-Bosch.Any thoughts?