Boiler exclusive to B.G question

[magsy01]

Hi.
Has anyone heard of british gas installing boilers exclusive to them?
Bought a new one from them about 5 years ago now.
I found this out when I cancelled my renewal BG contract. I called out a local gas engineer and he tried to get parts but came back and said the boiler company only deal with BG as the boiler is exclusive to them!!

This cant be allowed can it?
Dosnt it go against the competition rules or something.
Does anyone know if I can do something about it? Or who I can complain to.
Thanks for any advice.

M

NB As it happened it had been a few months since I had cancelled so I was able to get a contract with bg at a special rate (almost half of the renewal price!)

 

[CBW]

Afaik BG boilers are just rebadged to say BG - eg BG 330 is a Glow-Worm.

 

[endecotp]

Afaik BG boilers are just rebadged to say BG - eg BG 330 is a Glow-Worm.

As I understand it, “gas safe” tradesmen have to fit manufacturers’ original parts, not generic equivalents, in case the generics are sub-standard in some way and hence dangerous. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)

So the question would be, if it really is a re-badged boiler, are parts for the same boiler with a different name acceptable substitutes or not?

There is clearly a conflict of interests here, but I imagine that a complaint to a regulator would get a “safety is more important” response.

 

[ianmcd]

BG do not make anything, it will be a rebadged boiler, post a pic or tell us what model they are calling it and we will tell you what it actually is

 

[ianmcd]

As I understand it, “gas safe” tradesmen have to fit manufacturers’ original parts, not generic equivalents, in case the generics are sub-standard in some way and hence dangerous. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)

So the question would be, if it really is a re-badged boiler, are parts for the same boiler with a different name acceptable substitutes or not?

There is clearly a conflict of interests here, but I imagine that a complaint to a regulator would get a “safety is more important” response.

BG do not manufacture any boiler

 

[CBW]

As I understand it, “gas safe” tradesmen have to fit manufacturers’ original parts, not generic equivalents, in case the generics are sub-standard in some way and hence dangerous. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)

I’ve just had a look at my spares supplier online, and can confirm that I can order parts for a BG branded boiler, which will be the same part as the rebadged, not generic equivalents. This would be true, if for example you were trying to fit a pcb that looked the same, but isn’t.

 

[endecotp]

BG do not manufacture any boiler

Right. So, Ian, are you allowed to install a part from the same boiler with a different name?

 

[muggles]

Right. So, Ian, are you allowed to install a part from the same boiler with a different name?

Yes, we are. It's the same part so it makes no difference whether there's a BG sticker on the box or not

 

[magsy01]

Thanks for your replies.
The boiler is a Baxi Precision +

 

[ianmcd]

Thanks for your replies.
The boiler is a Baxi Precision +

Thought you said it was a BG boiler ? do you just mean BG installed it ?

 

[muggles]

Rebadged Baxi Ecoblue Heat / Advance Heat. Beware that parts are eye-wateringly expensive. The fan, burner, gas valve, and PCB are all one part. If any one of those components fails, you have to buy the lot, which is very nearly the same price as a new boiler.

 

[muggles]

Thought you said it was a BG boiler ? do you just mean BG installed it ?

BG rebranded some models of Solo & Ecoblue as Precision for a while.

 

[ianmcd]

Right. So, Ian, are you allowed to install a part from the same boiler with a different name?

Many boilers use the same parts, boiler manus dont actually make the parts they buy them in, and assemble the boilers, some parts are unique to a particular boiler, but usually control knobs and facias , gas valves fans etc are used in loads of different brands, PCBs are usually unique to a boiler but not always

 

[ianmcd]

BG rebranded some models of Solo & Ecoblue as Precision for a while.

Yes I know Andrew but if the op knows what the model is why say it is a BG boiler

 

[endecotp]

if the op knows what the model is why say it is a BG boiler

He only said it was “exclusive to BG”.