British Gas Homecare - Free Boiler Replacement - Choices

[Roger Welton]

If it were me, Id

1. Get boiler from BG, tell them to stick the power flush £800 is taking the proverbial.
2. If the system is really that bad, then I'd get a local chap (must have friends or colleagues that know someone trustworthy) to power-flush and add magnetic filter.
3. Then use them in the future for servicing and any issues you may (but are VERY unlikely) to have, and bin the home care from BG
4. Enjoy not paying out monthly for something not necessary.

 

[lame plumber]

my comment nothings for free is based on the fact that bg have written the rules, which you have agreed to bide by to get the boiler "free" and if thats what you want then you have to pay for a power flush to continue getting their superior service cover.
My own opinion is, people are better off putting their cash into an account monthly, saving it up and paying a gsr to do an annual service. New boilers come with upto seven years warranty cover, so why on earth pay bg for the same thing? Its no brainer.

 

[petercj]

my comment nothings for free is based on the fact that bg have written the rules, which you have agreed to bide by to get the boiler "free" and if thats what you want then you have to pay for a power flush to continue getting their superior service cover.
My own opinion is, people are better off putting their cash into an account monthly, saving it up and paying a gsr to do an annual service. New boilers come with upto seven years warranty cover, so why on earth pay bg for the same thing? Its no brainer.

As the OP has been paying BG for the HC cover, no doubt he is well aware that the boiler is not 'free' - people often talk of free treatment on the NHS, knowing very well that the treatment is far from free, other than at the point of delivery. It's just an expression.

From what I know of the matter, the OP is not averse to paying to have the system cleaned, it's the cost of £800 he's baulking at - understandably.

A lot of people take out central heating cover so that they have the peace of mind of knowing that if their boiler breaks down during a cold spell they can be sure someone will turn up to fix it without taking advantage of their predicament by charging three or four times the usual rate: "pay up, or freeze, it's your choice!" Not an unusual scenario by any means during winter months.

The OP has paid his installments in good faith and someone has turned up right enough, but only to take advantage of his situation by trying to charge him a totally unrealistic figure for powerflushing. Which may not be an illegal act, but I doubt that anyone with a conscience would see it as a moral one.

So where are the BG fitters now who shout about the "second to none service" provided by BG?

Seems to have gone very quiet all of a sudden.