BG Homecare - Is it worth it?
Discussion
Just moved into a new property and for the first time ever I'm actually thinking about maintaining our boiler and CH system (in the old house we had a new boiler installed and then never got round to servicing it !) It's a relatively new system installed in 2011, sealed mains pressure HW, Valiant boiler, dual thermostats (not sure how that works??). The obvious choice would be to go with BG Homecare and at £14.50/mth with £50 excess it seems reasonable, as we'd get an annual service at least, but are these insurance policies generally considered worthwhile?
How much is a new boiler? Been here 12 years and the boiler has been unserviced for at least that. Bit noisy but still does what it's supposed to do.
I suppose like any insurance thing, it's about risk. If it was risky, you'd pay lots as the company are in it to make a profit. So, how lucky do you feel?
I suppose like any insurance thing, it's about risk. If it was risky, you'd pay lots as the company are in it to make a profit. So, how lucky do you feel?
In pure monetary terms? No, clearly it's not worth it. As with all insurance, you are by definition paying more than you would expect to claim on average. If you can afford to pay the worst-case scenario, ie complete replacement, then it doesn't make financial sense to take out cover.
The intangibles are worth considering however. I maintain our BG policy not to cover the financials, but because I'm a complete numpty with this kind of thing and it's worth it to me to have somebody on the end of a phone 24x7 who is contractually obliged to come out and fix things when they go wrong. I've also consistently had very good service from them so I'm happy to pay a little over the odds for the peace of mind.
On the regular servicing front - again it's worth it to me, not to extend the life of the boiler but to make sure that it's safe (principally, carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely to occur with unmaintained equipment and the first you generally know about them is when you drop dead).
The intangibles are worth considering however. I maintain our BG policy not to cover the financials, but because I'm a complete numpty with this kind of thing and it's worth it to me to have somebody on the end of a phone 24x7 who is contractually obliged to come out and fix things when they go wrong. I've also consistently had very good service from them so I'm happy to pay a little over the odds for the peace of mind.
On the regular servicing front - again it's worth it to me, not to extend the life of the boiler but to make sure that it's safe (principally, carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely to occur with unmaintained equipment and the first you generally know about them is when you drop dead).
deckster said:
In pure monetary terms? No, clearly it's not worth it. As with all insurance, you are by definition paying more than you would expect to claim on average. If you can afford to pay the worst-case scenario, ie complete replacement, then it doesn't make financial sense to take out cover.
The intangibles are worth considering however. I maintain our BG policy not to cover the financials, but because I'm a complete numpty with this kind of thing and it's worth it to me to have somebody on the end of a phone 24x7 who is contractually obliged to come out and fix things when they go wrong. I've also consistently had very good service from them so I'm happy to pay a little over the odds for the peace of mind.
On the regular servicing front - again it's worth it to me, not to extend the life of the boiler but to make sure that it's safe (principally, carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely to occur with unmaintained equipment and the first you generally know about them is when you drop dead).
Pretty much this really, had BG cover for about 15yrs now & have no regrets. Have had a few TRV's & a couple of heated towel rails replaced so financially not worth it, peace of mind that they'll come out when local heating engineers won't though.The intangibles are worth considering however. I maintain our BG policy not to cover the financials, but because I'm a complete numpty with this kind of thing and it's worth it to me to have somebody on the end of a phone 24x7 who is contractually obliged to come out and fix things when they go wrong. I've also consistently had very good service from them so I'm happy to pay a little over the odds for the peace of mind.
On the regular servicing front - again it's worth it to me, not to extend the life of the boiler but to make sure that it's safe (principally, carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely to occur with unmaintained equipment and the first you generally know about them is when you drop dead).
Don't have one for our home as I don't see the value. Without the excess (of which I see no point of having) it's ~ £220pa. I would just put that towards a fund for repairs/replacement.
For a place we rent out we do have it (without the excess) simply for peace of mind. The tenant has the number and actually calls BG out themselves. Didn't have the greatest boiler at one point.... went 4ish years with no calls and then in one 12 month period called them out 9 times.
As you have a Valiant you may want to look into their fixed price repair, at which point they also give you 12 months cover included.
For a place we rent out we do have it (without the excess) simply for peace of mind. The tenant has the number and actually calls BG out themselves. Didn't have the greatest boiler at one point.... went 4ish years with no calls and then in one 12 month period called them out 9 times.
As you have a Valiant you may want to look into their fixed price repair, at which point they also give you 12 months cover included.
Edited by Sir Bagalot on Wednesday 30th July 13:07
Sir Bagalot said:
Shinobi said:
Our boiler is a 6 year old valiant, heat cylinder has cracked. Dead boiler with a quote for £3,000 to replace.
Have you called Valiant themselves and queried if they offer a fixed price repair? Shinobi said:
Sir Bagalot said:
Shinobi said:
Our boiler is a 6 year old valiant, heat cylinder has cracked. Dead boiler with a quote for £3,000 to replace.
Have you called Valiant themselves and queried if they offer a fixed price repair? Try Vaillant direct
Or
Homeserve
I suspect the Homeserve 0800 simply gets you through to Vaillant themselves.
You could also try these but I guess they only serve London and surrounding areas.
The advantage of something like homeserve is that you are fixing your costs. Because the service provider is in it for profit, you will be paying more than your share unless you make a claim.
It depends on your attitude to risk. I have my boiler serviced every year by the same Guy. I have also used him for various other jobs about the place. He is busy; routine and non emergency jobs take a bit of time to fit in. However when I had a leaking toilet pan, he came round the next evening and worked late to fix it.
My advice is to find a tradesman you trust, get your boiler serviced every year, and establish a relationship with him. A good tradesman will look after their regular customers in an emergency.
It depends on your attitude to risk. I have my boiler serviced every year by the same Guy. I have also used him for various other jobs about the place. He is busy; routine and non emergency jobs take a bit of time to fit in. However when I had a leaking toilet pan, he came round the next evening and worked late to fix it.
My advice is to find a tradesman you trust, get your boiler serviced every year, and establish a relationship with him. A good tradesman will look after their regular customers in an emergency.
We have it for our 25 year old glowworm mk2 'dinosaur' boiler. Its an old trooper but we have had a couple of bits go recently which they have managed to replace without any issues. They keep telling me its on limited spares and soon it will break and there will be no parts but this thing is bloody reliable and a simple design. Eveyrone i have spoken (visiting engineers) to have said the the modern stuff just wont last as long and are more complex.
I'm going to keep it going right till the bitter end and BG can worry about the parts
I'm going to keep it going right till the bitter end and BG can worry about the parts
I had it in the last house for around 25 years and claimed maybe £200 in bits from them over that time. Then I had a diverter valve letting hot water to the radiators in Summer instead of just hot water to the tank, BG said no problem but you also need to have a powerflush at £450 then inhibitor etc. I said no thanks and replaced it myself (an easy job) then cancelled the contract. My son had the same response when he had a different fault on his.
Since moved and put in a new WB system boiler with 7 yr warranty and unvented system tank.
Btw we were quoted £1600 for just a replacement boiler, not combi.
edited to add the £1600 wasn't from BG of course probably nearer £3000 from them.
Since moved and put in a new WB system boiler with 7 yr warranty and unvented system tank.
Btw we were quoted £1600 for just a replacement boiler, not combi.
edited to add the £1600 wasn't from BG of course probably nearer £3000 from them.
Edited by rongagin on Thursday 31st July 16:11
I have the basic cover with a £50 excess.. It costs about £11 a month.
It covers boiler only, if I have any issues with plumbing I'll fix that myself. I'd not know where to start with fixing a boiler.!
I get a yearly service for that 100 odd quid too, not that they seem to do much :-/
Well worth it IMO for piece of mind that someone will come out if needs be.
It covers boiler only, if I have any issues with plumbing I'll fix that myself. I'd not know where to start with fixing a boiler.!
I get a yearly service for that 100 odd quid too, not that they seem to do much :-/
Well worth it IMO for piece of mind that someone will come out if needs be.
Worth reading this and talking to your solicitor - http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/public/guides/publi...
We bought our house in April 2013 and so this was one of the questions I asked my solicitor was whether chancel liability could still apply.
My understanding was that the diocese had to register the liability by October 2013 with the Land Registry. If they hadn't and the property was subsequently sold, chancel liability no longer applied - i.e. anything sold after October 2013 that doesn't have a liability registered is exempt.
Given we bought before this date, we took the insurance for £100 or so.
We bought our house in April 2013 and so this was one of the questions I asked my solicitor was whether chancel liability could still apply.
My understanding was that the diocese had to register the liability by October 2013 with the Land Registry. If they hadn't and the property was subsequently sold, chancel liability no longer applied - i.e. anything sold after October 2013 that doesn't have a liability registered is exempt.
Given we bought before this date, we took the insurance for £100 or so.
LordHaveMurci said:
deckster said:
In pure monetary terms? No, clearly it's not worth it. As with all insurance, you are by definition paying more than you would expect to claim on average. If you can afford to pay the worst-case scenario, ie complete replacement, then it doesn't make financial sense to take out cover.
The intangibles are worth considering however. I maintain our BG policy not to cover the financials, but because I'm a complete numpty with this kind of thing and it's worth it to me to have somebody on the end of a phone 24x7 who is contractually obliged to come out and fix things when they go wrong. I've also consistently had very good service from them so I'm happy to pay a little over the odds for the peace of mind.
On the regular servicing front - again it's worth it to me, not to extend the life of the boiler but to make sure that it's safe (principally, carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely to occur with unmaintained equipment and the first you generally know about them is when you drop dead).
Pretty much this really, had BG cover for about 15yrs now & have no regrets. Have had a few TRV's & a couple of heated towel rails replaced so financially not worth it, peace of mind that they'll come out when local heating engineers won't though.The intangibles are worth considering however. I maintain our BG policy not to cover the financials, but because I'm a complete numpty with this kind of thing and it's worth it to me to have somebody on the end of a phone 24x7 who is contractually obliged to come out and fix things when they go wrong. I've also consistently had very good service from them so I'm happy to pay a little over the odds for the peace of mind.
On the regular servicing front - again it's worth it to me, not to extend the life of the boiler but to make sure that it's safe (principally, carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely to occur with unmaintained equipment and the first you generally know about them is when you drop dead).
Now I've had quite a few call outs over the years, so its easily paid for itself, £500 of hot water tank, £few humdred for 3-way valve, more for boiler circuit board, more for a gas leak at the boiler.... more for a mains pipe bursting in the kitchen.... more for a new thermostat... so I've been really unlucky, but that home care took care of it all, I'm quid in up until now, and will be for a few more years.
Of course I could have 20 years without a single failure now, so it wouldn't be worth the money, but the peace of mind it worth every penny for me, knowing I wont have to phone around 20 plumbers trying to get them to come and look etc...
On the call-outs, they've patched or fixed the problem on them all quite quickly, I think I had to wait a few days one winter because they were really busy but then so would was other plumber / heating technician.
It also includes your yearly service for the boiler.
I'm probably just about to get a house to rent out, and I'll be getting the landlord cover on that too.
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