Are BG quotes getting more competitive ?

[hansthebear]

Sometimes

 

[Dan Robinson]

Subject to the same exclusions list that eliminates all the faults likely to occur on a heating system after a boiler and its controlled have been swapped out

About as much value for money as a used tissue.

 

[hansthebear]

I know you dont honestly believe that, but i suppose everybody has to tell their customers something negative about BG otherwise life just wouldnt be fulfilling enough

 

[Dan Robinson]

I shall download a copy of their T's & C's and see if it is any different to the last time I read them.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Not impressed I have to say.

 

[hansthebear]

Cant say im surprised

Plenty of work for everybody thankfully

 

[Dan Robinson]

This is true

But seriously dude... Read it carefully and you'll see that really, the HC package offers very little over and above what a genuine warranty would offer. What is left has fook all chance of going wrong in the period offered.

Coupled with the most basic of statutory warranty offered on the boiler and you are left with very poor value compared to an independant fitting a boiler with a 5 years warranty bundled into the boiler price.

How much is home care 400?


Fooking 'ell. They want £348 a year for my house:

£0 excess,
All of option 2.
Annual boiler service
No additional frills.

So for that over 4 years.....

£1392.....

When, let's face it.... most of BG's homecall visits (that are honoured under the policy) are for boiler and control problems.


Hardly spiffing value is it?

And when the boiler goes pairs shaped after its 7th birthday and they can't be a7sed to go to Plumbcenter for the parts, you might get it replaced FOC as long as limescale hasn't had an effect

But if it makes it to ten years (£3132) then you are stuffed.


£348 a year to look after a 20 year old building on a newish estate?

Thankfully I can look after my own world .

 

[oph]

It also covers the existing system

I dont think dan misunderstands what is included but moreso the fact that people think they are getting such a great deal with it.

Rads dont often split and valves dont often cease to work, then theres the pump and motorised valves. Ok they go wrong but then if you spend wisely and get a boiler through an independent with a long manufacturers warrenty surely this would be the best option!

Why? Because its the BOILER that has the most working moving parts and electronics on it NOT the rest of the system.

Lets say you spend 15-20 pounds per month. Over a year £180. 5 years £900 , 7 years 1260 and thats just £15 per month. You are unlikley to spend that in the next 7 years on the system unless you decide to make changes yourself ie that rad is in the wrong place etc

 

[hansthebear]

Im not going to get drawn into arguments here, but remember your customers will be paying you to service their boiler in order for a guarentee to be valid, so the difference isnt as much as you make out.

Also i cant see any independants or manufactures replacing a system pump/control/motorised valve etc as part of a boiler warranty.

So you are unable to draw like for like comparisons, indeed i see people everyday who have had hundereds if not thousands of pounds worth of work done to their heating system for their 18 pounds a month cover.

Like i said, plenty of work for everybody.

 

[Dan Robinson]

System boilers and combi boilers all have the pumps fitted internally.


Making an allowance for annual servicing still brings the grand total to £2376.

A properly installed boiler and clean system is unlikely to need that amount spent on anything covered by the care plan and with most drainage covered by the water companies free too.....


Hans, I used to run a business that did these care plans. It left a bad taste in my mouth when we ran the numbers from a customer point of view. So we closed it down and advised they put the money into a high interest account of some sort.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Oh the irony.

Just had a bg phone monkey call up, despite not being invited to.


Seems when quizzed the sums don't work with them either for the reasons I stated above. They don't cover underfloor heating either


Knew i should have used a false number. I'm going to be hassled for months now like the last time I did this.

 

[jerrysimon]

Well I wasn't really going to bother replying any more, but what the hell, everyone wants to win an Internet forum argument and I have a little time on my hands

Ok I have lived in my house for 12 years and had a service contract with BG the whole time. I guess over that time I have probably paid an average of £25/month for it so that is £3600. I have never had any charges over and above that.

Currently I am paying £30/month again with no call out charge and that covers everything boiler, plumbing and electrics. This power flush, magnaboost fit is the first extra work I have had that is subject to an additional payment in that 12 years. The new radiators are my choice to take account of the decorating I am doing.

So average cost per year over the last 12 years is £300.

I have my boiler serviced every year which would cost around £100 but thats is included. In the last few years I guess I have called out BG maybe 2-3 times/year plus one or two calls for other plumbing. The electrics is a waste of time, used once I think.

So that leaves £200. Last call out was probably £500 worth of work. When something goes wrong I phone BG and if its in the morning they are often on site the same day definitely the day after even in the middle of winter. I spoke to one of the independents who quoted to fit a new boiler and he said he charges £15/month including annual service but that all parts were chargeable over and above that!

I know that in the last few years BG are not making any money from me hence why they want me to change the boiler. The powerflush and magnaboost clean will hopefully set me up for when I do need to change the boiler (at the moment I plan to use BG to do that) though I hope to get another 3 years or more from this boiler assuming parts remain available.

You do the maths and I will stick with my 20 year old boiler and my existing BG contract

When it comes down to it you are buying insurance (sometimes you win sometimes you lose) and peace of mind.

Overall having looked at the alternatives I remain a happy BG customer. When that changes, I will move to one of you independents. I hope you really are that much better value given how quick many seem to be to criticise BG

Regards

Jerry

 

[nickso]

As the OP says, some win some lose. Even the ones that lose often are there for "peace of mind".

Lets not forget BG take on any old ****e and work on stuff a lot of indy's wouldn't touch. Some of the money I used to spend on some systems was incredible and the customers were quite happy to fleece BG

 

[Nige F]

Well I wasn't really going to bother replying any more, but what the hell, So average cost per year over the last 12 years is £300.



You do the maths and I will stick with my 20 year old boiler and my existing BG contract


Regards

Jerry

Well I first moved into a house with a gas boiler in 1980 - Since then I have had 1 PCB and 1 fan (- in another house ) and now I`ve got a 15 year old BG boiler ( inherited with this house ) And I haven`t spent a penny with BG or anyone else apart from the 2 things mentioned before . And I don`t intend to pay a penny to BG in future so 33 years and counting - you do the maths

 

[jerrysimon]

Yes but I am guessing you do your own servicing and repairs

I think it is advisable at least to get your boiler serviced every year so there is a min of £100/year

Given that, on average it has cost me £200 each year.

Jerry