Npower Hometeam and the like
Discussion
I'm an NPower customer, have been with them just over a year and they are still the cheapest supplier for me with my fairly low usage. I've heard lots of bad things about them but my experience to date has been very positive.
I have a gas combi boiler which is 5 or 6 years old. It is an older Baxi model which isn't too well regarded with people "in the know". It has a couple of minor faults which are annoying but not really worth calling a plumber out for - it sometimes fails to switch back to CH after HW demand has ceased, mostly when it does this it stops burning gas but occasionally it'll burn gas for heating HW when none has been requested.
It is also well overdue a service.
Tentative enquiries have suggested that getting a Corgi plumber in to service and repair is going to cost me £70-100 for the service and then £??? for the repair, one chap seemed to recognise the issue and told me it'd be around £100 if it was what he thought it was. So we're talking £170-£200 +++
Today I've got a letter from Npower offering their "Homecare" package which covers the entire CH system including any repairs, no excess, and a 'free' boiler service for £15/month. If no call out in the 12 month period, they will refund me 50% ie £90.
I've always been of the opinion that I should stick money into an account to cover repairs (and I do, far more than £15/month!) but I'm attracted to the idea of signing up, getting a service done and then getting the small issues fixed early in the new year. Further years will cost me £90/year for the 'free' service (assuming no breakdowns) which is about the same price as Mr Plumber coming out to do a service. If there are further breakdowns, I'm covered.
Is there a flaw in this plan?
I have a gas combi boiler which is 5 or 6 years old. It is an older Baxi model which isn't too well regarded with people "in the know". It has a couple of minor faults which are annoying but not really worth calling a plumber out for - it sometimes fails to switch back to CH after HW demand has ceased, mostly when it does this it stops burning gas but occasionally it'll burn gas for heating HW when none has been requested.
It is also well overdue a service.
Tentative enquiries have suggested that getting a Corgi plumber in to service and repair is going to cost me £70-100 for the service and then £??? for the repair, one chap seemed to recognise the issue and told me it'd be around £100 if it was what he thought it was. So we're talking £170-£200 +++
Today I've got a letter from Npower offering their "Homecare" package which covers the entire CH system including any repairs, no excess, and a 'free' boiler service for £15/month. If no call out in the 12 month period, they will refund me 50% ie £90.
I've always been of the opinion that I should stick money into an account to cover repairs (and I do, far more than £15/month!) but I'm attracted to the idea of signing up, getting a service done and then getting the small issues fixed early in the new year. Further years will cost me £90/year for the 'free' service (assuming no breakdowns) which is about the same price as Mr Plumber coming out to do a service. If there are further breakdowns, I'm covered.
Is there a flaw in this plan?
I've had this offer sent to me as well. Also had a call from npower doing a customer survey, to get round the telephone preferencing, and the end result was trying to get a heating adviser in the door to sell me a new boiler and save money. My old boiler must be inefficient apparently though as we pay £82 per month for electricity and gas I don't see how.
So they will inspect your boiler tell you it's too old, you can't get the parts and here's a nice shiny new one. Oh and they will do finance as well.
So they will inspect your boiler tell you it's too old, you can't get the parts and here's a nice shiny new one. Oh and they will do finance as well.
MJG280 said:
I've had this offer sent to me as well. Also had a call from npower doing a customer survey, to get round the telephone preferencing, and the end result was trying to get a heating adviser in the door to sell me a new boiler and save money. My old boiler must be inefficient apparently though as we pay £82 per month for electricity and gas I don't see how.
So they will inspect your boiler tell you it's too old, you can't get the parts and here's a nice shiny new one. Oh and they will do finance as well.
I can get tonnes of parts for ours, but I'm not allowed to fit or play with it. Mind you, that is probably a good thing So they will inspect your boiler tell you it's too old, you can't get the parts and here's a nice shiny new one. Oh and they will do finance as well.
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