British Gas HomeCare

[chuckalicious]

Got a leaflet through the door today offering reduced cost plans from BG HomeCare, for boiler /rad/plumbing cover.

I am currently with Worcester Bosch (or whoever they contracted it out to) for boiler only cover on my 5 year old combi.

The price difference and cover level is considerable but as I have always had good service from WB I wanted to check I wasn't jumping into a pile of cack with BG.

Does anyone have any experiences with them for boiler servicing and system repairs? There are lots of old threads but services change so don't want to base this on years old experiences.

Thabks

 

[Magnatrumper]

will aim to get out to you same day if you ring before 1pm and all parts can be sourced next day if required. Not sure anyone else can offer that service...

 

[chuckalicious]

Oh yes, the services offered seem very good. I have however read in the past that BG engineers are really quite bad. But that was a while ago so I don't know of that has changed.

Would hate to sign up to find out they basically don't fix 90% of problems!

 

[gas112]

Make sure its not one of contracts that says you pay the first 50 quid for any call out

 

[chuckalicious]

There is an excess but would need to check if it was for a call out or just for work done.

 

[gas112]

Its per call out from what i have read

 

[HERTS P&D]

'HomeCare 200 from £22 per month' with no excess.

Other cover normally has an excess.

Andy

 

[twgas]

The excess is per fault.
We at british gas have both good, bad and indiferent engineers, no diferent to other companies or indeed independents.

 

[chuckalicious]

So if called out and no fault found, no charge?

 

[twgas]

Not exactly, but why call someone out if there is no fault

 

[chuckalicious]

I have called someone out ij the past for an issue which was intermittent. They couldn't find anything so didn't fix anything.

 

[Phill Peck]

My understanding of it is that if the job is "complete" then the excess is due.

So if an engineer comes out and reports no fault found and "completes" the job then your excess will be charged.
What I would be asking is if you then called them back next month would that excess be due again.

As with every large company you will get some good and some not so good engineers. It's very difficult for anyone to say.
Anyone who's had a bad experience will say Bg are ****e.
Anyone who's had good service will sing their praises.
Same of any company or individual engineer

 

[chuckalicious]

Fair dos. I will take a look at their t&c see what it says.

Thanks all.

 

[twgas]

My understanding of it is that if the job is "complete" then the excess is due.

So if an engineer comes out and reports no fault found and "completes" the job then your excess will be charged.
What I would be asking is if you then called them back next month would that excess be due again.

no, a "repair" is guaranteed for a year. You may be charged for another job with similar symptoms if the actual fault is diferent. Eg. No hot water might need a new valve, a month later you might need a fan on the boiler - 2 faults, 2 charges.

 

[JBPHS]

All I can say is if you are diligent with your money, open an account and put the money there. From a customers point of view, why would you pay someone for something that has not gone wrong. As a businessman it's just consistent turnover. Once you join the scheme, any fault that occurs will naturally make you feel obliged for them to carry out the repair, otherwise the monthly payments would be a waste of money. Remember that the prices advertised are from £XX and are not fixed. BG play the game where 'he who shouts the loudest has the foot in the door'. This doesn't help the independants, where the biggest complaint I receive from customers is that other engineers dont follow up on calls, etc. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good and experienced engineers that work for BG, but quite frankly, these are few and far between.

James.