British Gas Homecare - Free Boiler Replacement - Choices

[Leonardo]

theres no such thing as a free boiler after all and you have already agreed to their terms by paying them monthly for cover and signing the start up paperwork. Are you expecting them to pay for your gas for the next year as well, you seem to want cake, cream and a free ride home!!!!!!!!!

You've misunderstood.

I've paid my premiums for the cover for years. Boiler broke, they cam and wrote it off. The contract says like for like replacement in this circumstance. Ok - thats fine, after all, I have been paying premiums for 6-7 years.

Now, I want to continue my policy, after the new boiler is fitted. However, they won't do this, unless I get power flush done from them only. Quoted Cost = £800 for a BG powerflush.

Fellow forum members have been clear, this is way way to high (there are no 'special/unique circumstances to the CH system in my house).

So I'm asking, is the BG engineer correct/being-honest - can they corner me like this, or can I find a way to get a third party powerflush done, that cannot then be disregarded by BG. This way, I will continue to pay the premium, the new boiler/boiler-install (and related work) will continue to be covered, ut the powerflush will have been more affordable.

Hope this is clearer. Thanks for contributing.

I'm trying to find a way, to get a third party powerflush accepted, so as to continue coverage, of the new boiler (and related work). There must be a way - I'm asking for suggestions, approaches, information and leads that will create a way forward on this.

 

[TBServices]

Thing is, an £800 powerflush is more to BG than the cost of new boiler and fitting tbh. So they will still be in profit. Plus your extended homecare plan!

I'd take the boiler and cancel the plan. You'll get no warranty but tbh, a new logic is unlikely to break within the next 5 years anyway, so take a chance on it. When it breaks, get another put in its place with the full warranty and you'll get an extra 7 years peace of mind for not much more than the cost of BG's ripoff powerflush.

 

[petercj]

Basically, they'll replace the boiler as they are contractually obliged to. However, after that, in order to continue covering the new boiler, they have said I HAVE TO do a powerflush - cost £800.

No problem, I'll get it done, but from a third party that I choose.

They say, "sorry, we will only accept a BG powerflush as sufficent".

I'm wondering if they can do this. Surely there must be a precedence in U.K law, that prevents them from forcing consumers to use only them. Surely there are Uk PF standards, that would certify the work of third party contractors.

I have a feeling, that 'only accepting, a BG powerflush' may infact be illegal, and/or can be bypassed somehow.

I've paid for an insurance policy, and now the boilers being replaced (as per. contract). I accept that a powerflush might need to be done, but I don't want to risk loosing the warranty cover or homecare cover on the new boiler.

I think there must be a strategy/approach/technique to get the PF done independently and sufficently, so that BG are forced to carry on the cover.

Any ideas, approaches, leads on this please?

BG may have you over a barrel here because they are buying the boiler, and so they are the ones who have the rights to any warranty given. Warranties are given as an addition to statutory consumer rights, and the company providing the warranty can stipulate a wide range of conditions.

BG can't make you have the powerflush done by them, but I think you will find that they can decide whether to pass on the warranty to you, or not.

Do you have any legal cover on your house insurance, if you do, you should be able to get some specific legal advice on this.

Even without the warranty you will have some statutory rights under the Supply of Goods and Services Act, more info on that here...

Citizens Advice - Introduction to letter on Supply of Goods and Services Act - Goods

Something else to be aware of is that if you change the date set for installation and get your own powerflush done, you may find that BG put you back down their list and say they will be unable to do the installation this side of Christmas. They might not pull that one on you, but if you are going to change the date, make sure you have a satisfactory new date for fitting before cancelling.

If BG do say they can't fit the boiler before Christmas if you cancel, you could let them go ahead and get the powerflush done asap after the installation - it's not a good way to do things, but if they intend to drop you in it, it might be a way of getting your heating up and running asap. If they cancel your HomeCare after the installation, then as soon as the powerflush has been done take out cover with another company - Helplink are cheaper than BG for the same kind of cover...

Central Heating & Boiler Breakdown Cover | Help-Link

£800 for a powerflush is an absolute rip-off imo.

I hope you can find a way through this.

 

[TBServices]

Peter, you ever seen a helplink install? AVOID!!!

 

[petercj]

Peter, you ever seen a helplink install? AVOID!!!

The cover would just be for breakdowns on the system - as you have said, a new Logic shouldn't throw up problems for a while.

But if not Helplink, then some other company that does system cover.

If BG say they won't continue cover unless a powerflush is done, and there isn't time to get a third party to do it before the date set for the installation, then I can't see why the OP wouldn't be able to start a new HC contract with BG once he has had the system cleaned. They will have some responsibility under the SoGaS Act during the interim period anyway.

 

[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.