Worcester-bosch service contract exclusions

Looking at this list of exclusions does this list cover the majority of combi boiler faults so they wouldn't have to pay out for most faults? I was actually looking for just a boiler service from a local company but out of 3 companies contacted via the Worcester website of approved installers and maintainers only one has replied and that one did not answer the question about how long does their service take, as I want a proper service and not a safety check.

Local company quoted £80 plus VAT
Worcester wants £126 but they will include a service in a one year service contract at £188.40 but that is just for the boiler and its controls. I have never bothered with a contract before but the contract is only £55.20 more than their boiler service. I am thinking that if Worecster did it I would get a proper service done as the local company that replied did not answer my question but that might have been an oversight.

My boiler is Greenstar 42CDi installed in May 2008

Not included under this plan:
- repairs arising from scale damage to the boiler;
- repairs arising from damage to the system (defined as radiators, radiator valves, expansion tank, hot water cylinder or above the ground pipe work directly associated with provision of central heating);
- turning on or lighting up the equipment and adjusting switches and controls except following an approved repair under this plan;
- any part not defined in these Terms and Conditions, for example energy management systems, convector heaters, kick space heaters, shower pumps, or immersion heaters or solar panels together with their associated pipework and controls;
- any water pressure adjustments on sealed systems, except those connected with a repair approved under this plan;
- fuel lines to the boiler and the flue systems from the boiler; plugs or cables;
- repairs arising from sludge or blockages;
- unvented pressurised cylinders;

Great innit?

Keep ringing round the locals, you don't have to use WBAIs to service your boiler, any local independent will be fine

Just bouncing this thread as no one has commented on the list of exclusions and whether the exclusions means that the majority of faults would not be covered making the policy almost worthless.

It's not the worst list of exclusions I've ever seen, but at the end of the day you're still paying into a service contract that is most likely only ever going to make money for Worcester. You'd be better off keeping your extra £90-odd per year in a rainy-day fund and getting a reputable local independent to service your boiler

Thanks, for your comments muggles

A proper comprehensive service on a boiler that age (if it's not had any proper servicing before) is not cheap. The parts bill alone could be up to £90 (and that's trade prices).

I generally replace the electrode set, top burner seal, front hex seal, bearing plate, auto air vent, all the condensate trap seals (you can't properly clean them without a full stripdown of the assembly). Add a couple of hours for radiator bleeding, vessel re-charge, trap clean, hex clean and replacement of parts. Finally a boiler safety check and quick check of the other appliances in the property. Add travel and it can be a 1/2 days labour. If Worcester are doing all this then their price is pretty good...I charge more than that. If you can get Worcester to do the service and cover for the first year then go for it but cancel the policy after a year. However, I'd be surprised if it's a full service...seen some really shoddy repairs by Worcester of late. Most insurance work is to do the absolute bare minimum...a very short sighted view. As for T&C of insurance policies....they can exclude a significant no. of faults. Save your money and find a good local gas installer.

Thanks Gasguru for your reply. What you do as part of your servicing is the sort of thing I am looking for when I get the service done but that is the problem. Everyone here talks about getting a good local gas installer but how do I know whether they are good or bad?

I have contacted the 3 closest Worcester accredited installers two of which seem to be based at home. Two haven't replied and the third one didn't answer my simple question about how long does their service take as I want more than just a safety check.

What is done during a boiler service seems to be down to the discretion of the service engineer or insurance company if a service is included in a plan which can't be right. If I take my car in for a service the dealer will have a manufacturers procedure about components to be changed based on time or mileage. My car has a 15 year laid out plan of what is required to be done during each service yet the boiler has no maintenance procedure as far as I can tell.

I have almost decided to go with Worcester direct in the hope that they will be working to some sort of service procedure. The extra money is not important, as I just want a pucker job.

What is done on a service is down to the manufacturer really, although BG and others will probably say different. Apart from the general checks whats is required depends on what is found. If you explain its not been serviced for a while and you want a service and all important seals and probes changing then you will get what you want but it will be costly. We service WB boilers from 45 plus parts(as per WB guidlines) but we normally know the history of the appliance as its been fitted by us.

Forget finding a WAI...it means very little, in fact one WAI I know ended up getting investigated by Gas-safe for seriously shoddy work. Most manufacturers have some sort of "approved" list, it just means you've attended their 1 day course. Much of it entails a hard sell on the manufacturers products. There are no tests or checking of the standard of the individuals work. When it comes to repairs and servicing it's even more pointless...the faults they teach are rarely reflected in the real World.

Look in the manual....it gives a very comprehensive guide to a full service...especially cleaning the heat exchanger etc.

I don't think the list of exclusions is unreasonable, the items mentioned would be excluded in a service by nearly every service technician I know, including myself and some of those responding to this thread.

Gasguru is a very thorough chap (we have worked together in the past) but I doubt you'll find someone of his diligence and experience on the WAI site in Bedfordshire.

The Worcester service techs, if you get a good one, will often strip the unit down and do the spark electrodes, bearing plate etc, and as Geoff says, this lot adds up to a fair bit of money from an independent.

So, if GasGuru isn't available, Worcester are your safest bet.

Ltnman said:

Local company quoted £80 plus VAT
Worcester wants £126 but they will include a service in a one year service contract at £188.40 but that is just for the boiler and its controls. I have never bothered with a contract before but the contract is only £55.20 more than their boiler service. I am thinking that if Worecster did it I would get a proper service done as the local company that replied did not answer my question but that might have been an oversight.

Click to expand...

You say that you just want it done properly and the cost is secondary but then you are clearly collecting quotes on the cost.

Simply you get what you pay for.

Nor is time very relevant. Like Gasguru, I like to do things carefully and properly and to take my time.

I don't see how choosing someone by how long they say they will take is of any help either. Stopping twice to go outside for a 10 min smoke will not be of any benefit to you.

But some RGIs are clever enough to suss out what you are up to and will tell you it will take say 50 min and make sure they are out in 20 !

Tony