Boiler Replacement by British Gas £3700

chumbasmum

Hi canucklehead
Yes but I don't think that by looking at this thread I will be able to afford a new boiler for 6 months or even longer. I'm also thinking about whether we would just be better just to use more gas...we would like to have hot water when we need it rather than trying to time how long to have the boiler on....trying to be money saving we often have it for a minimum time and poor dh complains of a cold shower being last one in.
Someone posted that a new boiler is a lot of gas...
Will get a quote and gave a look at figures. Thanks for link though..

BaldPlumber

MajorTom wrote: »

Don't suppose you work in the Hampshire area? Sounds like a good quote to me!!

I'm afraid not, I'm 6.5K miles away from Hampshire at the moment!

Jimbo0007

It seems most of the BG quotes are in the region of £4000 give or take , so it came as no surprise when my quote came in at £4250. Included with the quote came all the standard patter " £400 off if you make your mind up today", etc. etc. It's not all bad, we use BG for our heating cover and domestic appliances and have found them very good but this is excessive . Wise and sensible people will get a few quotes for comparison. Just as a matter of interest I wonder what proportion of their quotes BG turn into contracts.

bargepole

Jimbo0007 wrote: »

... Just as a matter of interest I wonder what proportion of their quotes BG turn into contracts.

Around 32% across the board nationally. Last year 2010, BG installed approx 128,000 boilers / CH systems.

Or, to put it another way, that's 1 in every 11 boiler installations was carried out by BG.

Lots of people here going on about getting cheaper quotes from local plumbers, but where's that local plumber going to be when your new boiler stops working at 4pm on Sunday afternoon? Most likely in the pub, downing his 6th pint of Magners, watching Chelsea v Man U on the big screen - mobile phone turned off.

People buy from BG for the same reasons they shop in Marks & Spencers and not Lidl, or drive a Mercedes instead of a Kia.

But, if all you want to do is scrimp every last penny out of the job, I'm sure there's some Albanian plumber who's got a job lot of unbranded Wickes boilers and can do you a deal for cash.

Canucklehead

bargepole wrote: »

Around 32% across the board nationally. Last year 2010, BG installed approx 128,000 boilers / CH systems.

Or, to put it another way, that's 1 in every 11 boiler installations was carried out by BG.

Lots of people here going on about getting cheaper quotes from local plumbers, but where's that local plumber going to be when your new boiler stops working at 4pm on Sunday afternoon? Most likely in the pub, downing his 6th pint of Magners, watching Chelsea v Man U on the big screen - mobile phone turned off.

People buy from BG for the same reasons they shop in Marks & Spencers and not Lidl, or drive a Mercedes instead of a Kia.

But, if all you want to do is scrimp every last penny out of the job, I'm sure there's some Albanian plumber who's got a job lot of unbranded Wickes boilers and can do you a deal for cash.

Good morning: Folks, compare full specification quotations like for like and use a RGI recommended by a source you trust. Btw...not much trust in BG demonstrated in this thread (and others).;)


HTH

Canucklehead

flossie217

bargepole wrote: »

Lots of people here going on about getting cheaper quotes from local plumbers, but where's that local plumber going to be when your new boiler stops working at 4pm on Sunday afternoon? Most likely in the pub, downing his 6th pint of Magners, watching Chelsea v Man U on the big screen - mobile phone turned off.

People buy from BG for the same reasons they shop in Marks & Spencers and not Lidl, or drive a Mercedes instead of a Kia.

But, if all you want to do is scrimp every last penny out of the job, I'm sure there's some Albanian plumber who's got a job lot of unbranded Wickes boilers and can do you a deal for cash.

From personal experience BGs promise of being there for their customers 24/7 relates to their call centre not an engineer.
I have had cover with BG for well over 20 years and am now cancelling it when this contract runs out in December. The last straw was last month when I phoned at 3 in the morning, was classed as an emergency, and promised for an engineer to visit between 8 and 1 that morning. No show. Or the time I needed an engineer over the bank holiday. I phoned on the Saturday and was told the first appointment was for the Tuesday. Or the time......
BG cover is great when it works but sadly they have let me down too many times for me to have much confidence in them any longer.
And I think that in their advertising they give the impression that they will be with you as soon as you report a breakdown which really isn't true.

BaldPlumber

flossie217 wrote: »

And I think that in their advertising they give the impression that they will be with you as soon as you report a breakdown which really isn't true.

How could you possibly think that this is even a remote possibility? surely you don't expect 100's or 1000's of BG engineers to be standing by to respond instantly to breakdowns, or do you?

flossie217

Of course I don't. Short of having a BG engineer camping on my front doorstep 24/7 I am aware that it isn't possible to have an instant response. I said that their advertising gives that impression. Don't they say something like 'When you need us in a hurry we won't let you down.' When paying £30 a month for emergency cover (I pay for electrics and plumbing cover too) I don't expect to wait 4 days for a callout visit.
My discontent is not with any BG engineers. In the main all have been extremely pleasant and helpful. The majority of my complaints have been with dealing with customer services.
As I said, when the service goes right it is great but for me it is time to move on. I was just relating my experience that's all.

LargeWrench

bargepole wrote: »

Around 32% across the board nationally. Last year 2010, BG installed approx 128,000 boilers / CH systems.

Or, to put it another way, that's 1 in every 11 boiler installations was carried out by BG.

Lots of people here going on about getting cheaper quotes from local plumbers, but where's that local plumber going to be when your new boiler stops working at 4pm on Sunday afternoon? Most likely in the pub, downing his 6th pint of Magners, watching Chelsea v Man U on the big screen - mobile phone turned off.

People buy from BG for the same reasons they shop in Marks & Spencers and not Lidl, or drive a Mercedes instead of a Kia.

But, if all you want to do is scrimp every last penny out of the job, I'm sure there's some Albanian plumber who's got a job lot of unbranded Wickes boilers and can do you a deal for cash.

:rotfl:

Right, so basically what your saying is every independent is useless and installs rubbish boilers? Bet your just the person BG loves to fleece! A good independent is just as good, if not better, than anyone working for British Gas. British Gas prices aren't higher because they do a superior job. They're higher because they've got salesman and call centre staff to pay and shareholders to please.

Being a heating engineer myself, i find some of your comments quite insulting. If your the type of customer BG attracts then i'm glad i'd never have to work for you!

liddsville

bargepole wrote: »

Around 32% across the board nationally. Last year 2010, BG installed approx 128,000 boilers / CH systems.

Or, to put it another way, that's 1 in every 11 boiler installations was carried out by BG.

Lots of people here going on about getting cheaper quotes from local plumbers, but where's that local plumber going to be when your new boiler stops working at 4pm on Sunday afternoon? Most likely in the pub, downing his 6th pint of Magners, watching Chelsea v Man U on the big screen - mobile phone turned off.

People buy from BG for the same reasons they shop in Marks & Spencers and not Lidl, or drive a Mercedes instead of a Kia.

But, if all you want to do is scrimp every last penny out of the job, I'm sure there's some Albanian plumber who's got a job lot of unbranded Wickes boilers and can do you a deal for cash.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8647981

Perhaps your inflated view of British Gas is a little outdated!!!
And yes a pun was intended,not just a pun but an M&S pun!!:)
Could even be an S&M pun,but that may be a little harsh:eek: