Central Heating Maintenance Plans - Any good?

[Bowler]

There’s been a lot of questions on P&P lately about central Heating breakdowns and how it fix.

My CH system has an intermittent problem in the control system. Annoying at times, but something that I can live with

Last week a flyer dropped through my door promoting a British Gas maintenance plan which basically is:

• £7/mth
• £50 excess fee (fixed)
• 24hr/365 Cover
• Unlimited call outs (subject to the £50).
• (Alledgedly) covers the boiler and all controls

I’m sort of thinking that despite having mates (Corgi registered) who can fix my problem for a “drink”, it will still cost me the parts (last time a new PCB in the boiler was needed, which was about £300).

So as I see it

On the upside:

• I get any problem fixed for £50
• Total annual fee is “only” £84
• I’m not relying on mates, by calling favours

On the down

• Probably a 12-month contract
• If I call them out, I’ll probably have to wait days for “an appointment”
• The job will probably be subbed out to a BG contractor
• They may not fix it first time round = repeated £50’s
• I'll probably only find out what is not (actually) covered after I've commited
• The OH thinks this is the way to go (!)

Any views about these plans and specifically the BG plan? Good or bad experiences?

TIA

[TWSTEEL]

Bowler said:

On the down

• If I call them out, I’ll probably have to wait days for “an appointment”
• The job will probably be subbed out to a BG contractor
• They may not fix it first time round = repeated £50’s
• I'll probably only find out what is not (actually) covered after I've commited

Any views about these plans and specifically the BG plan? Good or bad experiences?

TIA

No to all of those.
Money well spent IMO and we've certainly had our money's worth out of them - even on Christmas Day.

[Allanv]

TWSTEEL said:

Bowler said:

On the down

• If I call them out, I’ll probably have to wait days for “an appointment”
• The job will probably be subbed out to a BG contractor
• They may not fix it first time round = repeated £50’s
• I'll probably only find out what is not (actually) covered after I've commited

Any views about these plans and specifically the BG plan? Good or bad experiences?

TIA

No to all of those.
Money well spent IMO and we've certainly had our money's worth out of them - even on Christmas Day.

True words spoken.

We have had them out on new years day etc etc nothing to worry about although we pay monthly for it to be protected and they service it each year as well. So no £50 call out

We did the mates thing before but when they go on holiday for 2 weeks its a pain.

[Hedders]

Why do you guys call them out on bloody new years eve and xmas day FFS?

They are much quieter during the summer months

[Parrot of Doom]

I've had my boiler 7 years. It cost me about £150 for a bloke to repair a leaky valve and replace the diaphragm while he was in there.

Then it had a faulty switch, which cost me £25 to replace myself.

If I'd have gone with the BG plan, that would have been 7 * £84 + 2 * £50.

So about £513 cheaper my way.

[Bowler]

Thanks for the views guys. Something to think about

Parrot of Doom said:

I've had my boiler 7 years. It cost me about £150 for a bloke to repair a leaky valve and replace the diaphragm while he was in there.

Then it had a faulty switch, which cost me £25 to replace myself.

If I'd have gone with the BG plan, that would have been 7 * £84 + 2 * £50.

So about £513 cheaper my way.

Fair point. Mine is also 7 years old, apart from the aforementioned PCB, it's only cost me a few additional visits from my buddy to fix stuff that didn't need parts and service the thing. So using the same logic, I've not spent about £300 to date. But I've got a nasty feeling that I'm due another PCB.....

It's a peace of mind thing, I think, that saves any shocks

[miniman]

Oh dear, here we go with the horribly divided opinions again!

I for one have had much, much more than my money's worth from British Gas, and the peace of mind is nice to have too. If you call them out, they are apologetic if they can "only" get someone out the following day rather than same-day, and they normally have frequently faulty parts on the van. I've also had Dyno Rod out on my BG policy, spotted the blocked drain at 4pm and it was sorted by 4:35.

There will always be winners and losers, and there will be more losers than winners overall otherwise BG wouldn't do it.

[Coco H]

I have a friend who swears by hers. She has added extra stuff - like the roof, windows and avrious other things. They pay about £35 a month for the whole lot and have used it several times no complaint.

I have always wondered if someone would like to cover my victorian house for the same?

[Iain328]

Parrot of Doom said:

I've had my boiler 7 years. It cost me about £150 for a bloke to repair a leaky valve and replace the diaphragm while he was in there.

Then it had a faulty switch, which cost me £25 to replace myself.

If I'd have gone with the BG plan, that would have been 7 * £84 + 2 * £50.

So about £513 cheaper my way.

Had mine 7 or 8 years as well & its cost me £350 for a new main board, £160 quid to get a leak fixed & another £300+ for new burner, ignition board, ignition kit & thermistors etc..... So probably would have been slightly ahead with a BG scheme but with much less aggravation & less need to "find" chunks of money when it goes wrong. My boiler is currently working properly - which is EXACTLY the right time to take out a BG scheme & I shall be doing so this week I think.

I'll never, EVER buy nother Baxi/Potterton product again.

[Rubin215]

My parents have a scheme through Scottish Gas which costs £12 per month.

No callout fee, no labour charge, no parts cost and an annual service included.
They have had several callouts, from a weeping radiator valve to a pump replacement in the boiler without any charge.

It also includes a home emergency cover scheme which has just proved its worth when their drains stopped up.
Dyno-rod were there that same day, cleared their whole system with a power jet type thingy, then came back the next week with a camera to make sure there were no hidden problems.
Unfortunately, their main pipe is cracked, so this has to be dug up and replaced; again though, fully covered by the policy.

Well worth it.

[Bowler]

miniman said:

Oh dear, here we go with the horribly divided opinions again!

I’m not trying to create a pissing contest about what’s best. I recognise it's a “to each their own” situation, so I’m just after opinions about the plan under consideration.

Iain328 said:

I'll never, EVER buy another Baxi/Potterton product again.

Mine’s a Potterton too…

The thing is with these is that they’ve put a load of control electronics into the design and when they go wrong that’s when the aftermarket prices kick in (££)



I don’t normally go for these type of plans, as I use the logic of “banking” the money not spent, often resulting in a credit when work needs doing. But, with the combination of the age of the system, the cost of the parts to fix, a £7 monthly premium (the price of a couple of beers) and a fixed £50 repair charge, it almost pays for itself if things are getting old and reaching the end of their life.

Almost a no-brainer?

[Jon C]

Hi Guy,

I am on the lookout for something similar. Dont suppose your leaflet has a handy weblink, as 7 quid a month sounds reet good value?

Cheers

Jon

[Bowler]

Take your pick matey...

http://www.britishgasboiler.com/homecare-from-brit...

Cheers

G

[King Herald]

Parrot of Doom said:

I've had my boiler 7 years. It cost me about £150 for a bloke to repair a leaky valve and replace the diaphragm while he was in there.

Then it had a faulty switch, which cost me £25 to replace myself.

If I'd have gone with the BG plan, that would have been 7 * £84 + 2 * £50.

So about £513 cheaper my way.

Unless it goes bang on Xmas day/

Our CH went crazy last month, wouldn't turn off, and the house was up to 29C for two days. Wifey called BG and they sorted it out. I was away working at the time, which is why I find the £25 a month a good deal. it also covers drains, electrics, water leaks, plumbing etc.

When we had our khazi block solid one bank holiday Monday, a couple of years back, BG sent Dynorod round within two hours, and a young guy spent his afternoon getting soaked with all sorts of unmentionable detritus from our toilet pipes.

[snx]

Rubin215 said:

My parents have a scheme through Scottish Gas which costs £12 per month.

No callout fee, no labour charge, no parts cost and an annual service included.
They have had several callouts, from a weeping radiator valve to a pump replacement in the boiler without any charge.

It also includes a home emergency cover scheme which has just proved its worth when their drains stopped up.
Dyno-rod were there that same day, cleared their whole system with a power jet type thingy, then came back the next week with a camera to make sure there were no hidden problems.
Unfortunately, their main pipe is cracked, so this has to be dug up and replaced; again though, fully covered by the policy.

Well worth it.

Yep, had similar and worth it.
Don't rely on mate's as they won't turn up on Xmas Day as they'll be on their 2nd/3rd drink and bellied up with turkey

[ACEparts_com]

What's the powerflush thing they (looking at the terms and conditions of the BG website) seem to request payment for on the initial "service"?

[miniman]

Bowler said:

miniman said:

Oh dear, here we go with the horribly divided opinions again!

I’m not trying to create a pissing contest about what’s best. I recognise it's a “to each their own” situation, so I’m just after opinions about the plan under consideration.

That comment wasn't aimed at you, it was just a reference to the reaction when this question has been asked in the past which is usually, shall we say, divided

[Scraggles]

getting a corgi friend to service it later in the year like may sometime, he was a tad busy over xmas, but it is 3-4 years old and no service yet...

non corgi friend tweaked the water pressure a bit and sorted out the rads