British gas Home care

[illmonkey]

Any good?

Got an old boiler, worried about it failing. Only problem is that its over 7 years old they wont replace it if its beyond economical repair.

Thinking of the £9 plan, which gives a yearly service and parts and labour.

[motco]

Homeserve also do maintenance/serving plans.

[TWSTEEL]

I've got a daughter who is disabled and I've got the whole package including domestic appliances. Because of her disabilities we can't afford to be without appliances or services and they've been brilliant.
Three years ago the central heating pump failed on Christmas Eve and was replaced with a temporary one on CHRISTMAS DAY! The permanent one had to wait another three days. I asked the engineer why he wanted to work on Christmas Day - he volunteered for all the public holidays as he was single and a mad keen golfer who took all his leave at once for continental golfing holidays.

[Catherine197]

We plumped for this earlier in the year and cancelled it after 3 months.

We had been led to believe we were getting an annual service, but it transpired it was only a safety check.

Edited by Catherine197 on Sunday 31st August 14:48

[groomi]

I can refer you to this thread which should tell you all you need to know to make a fully informed decision.

[Chrisgr31]

In my view it all depends on the age and reliability of your boiler!

My parents, my inlaws, and us all have the British Gasboiler and central heating system plan. For me its the best thing since sliced bread and I'm quids in. For my parents and in-laws its not such a good deal as they haven't had any breakdowns!

However in the last 4 years we have had the heat exchanger replaced twice, two radiators replaced, the control module replaced twice, the reserve tank replaced, and various other bits and pieces replaced which meant that the only original part of the boiler was the case!

British Gas engineers were to be found gracing our kitchen on average 10 times a year, frequently on bank holidays or weekends. In fact they were out so often we know them all by name, and how they take their tea and coffee!

The rub is that some engineers are better than others, and we eventually just used to ask for them by name, so we got one we knew could actually get our system going again, without trying to sell us a brand new system for around £2,500 as several tried!

When one of the good guys visited by parents recently to do the annual safety check (which includes a service if required) he said that in theory I'm suppossed to tell you the boilers inefficient, you'd save gas by having a new one, you should have a dedicated means of ventialtion to the room etc, but theres no point. Its an old house, with ill-fitting doors, there's no double glazing, and the savings in gas are nothing compared to the cost of a new boiler!

Earlier this year, when the boiler packed up again, British Gas offered to replace our boiler for cost price and no chanrge for labour. My suspicion is that it wasn't quite cost price but I spoke to a friend who installs them privately and he said he's charge £500 more than British Gas were charging, so we know have a shiny new boiler fitted for £1,300 inc VAT.

So as far as I am concerned British Gas Service care is fantastic, but don't mention Homeserve to me, they sorted out a drain problem ............................................eventually!

[illmonkey]

Thanks for the advise guys.

groomi, i actually replied on the topic! The one off service was great, but im unsure about the monthly plan.

If it includes a inspection/service then its well worth it.

I wont bother covering rad's, pipes etc as they are not that expesive to replace. But a boiler can cost alot to fix.

[Ferg]

Chrisgr31 said:

.....you should have a dedicated means of ventialtion to the room etc, but theres no point.

[Chrisgr31]

Ferg said:

Chrisgr31 said:

.....you should have a dedicated means of ventialtion to the room etc, but theres no point.

Well they have survived for other 20 years without it! Modern houses with double glazing, decent exterior doors etc won't have good ventilation, many older houses are full of draughts!

[Ferg]

Chrisgr31 said:

Well they have survived for other 20 years without it! Modern houses with double glazing, decent exterior doors etc won't have good ventilation, many older houses are full of draughts!

Indeed. It's called adventitious air. My point is that if the boiler requires ventilation by the book then anyone who is servicing it and abiding by the BS MUST ensure it gets it. There is an allowance for adventitious air and if that's disregarded the guy is a fool who is trusting other peoples lives to his opinion....

[AndrewTait]

I've had British Gas cover the heating at my last 2 houses (current house is rented, so not my problem), and have found them great.

First one, I had a contract with another company, (I won't name and shame them!!!) who did not use their own engineers. Took them 8 visits over 3 months, to eventually sort out what started out as a minor leak, but ended up Ping rusty water all over the kitchen worktops, and included having no hot water or heating over Christmas, with a 2 year old and a 6 month old baby in the house.

Soon after this, the boiler stopped working again, called British Gas, to come and fix it, and to take out a maintenance contract with them. They came and had it fixed within 4 hours from the call.

I then moved house, and the hot water didn't work properly (boiler didn't always fire up). Again got B.G. to come and fix this problem, and took out a maintenance contract. They came and fixed that problem, and found 3 others with it, and more or less replaced the whole boiler, all for the cost of £300.