Boiler installation problem. What to do?.

[propertydev83]

Comparisons with other estimates, references, portfolio.

All these things, I guarantee you would have had you choose another firm.

3 or 4 estimates with references etc should have shown that £1700 for that boiler and conversion was going to be a recipe for disaster.

References are not the same as online reviews.

I've always thought references could still be faked, but I do agree they are more meaningful than online reviews.

The original prices I had were between £2660 and £2800. But that was for a top end boiler, and included flushing and connecting the central heating system.

The lower price was later quoted because of the engineer recommending Heatline if on a budget, and because the central heating was not going to be connected yet. In hindsight though, even that approx £1000 drop could have been a warning sign.

In any case, references and portfolios to be considered in future. Don't be a dickhead again.

If you haven't paid him and he won't answer the phone I'd be arranging to have the boiler removed so he can collect it and a proper boiler fitted instead by a decent fitter.

Did I mention the Intergas will run without the heating side connected

Tony has already given you a price

I don't think even Tony can save me.

But right now I don't know what will happen. No I haven't paid a thing yet. I'm gonna see if I can get the work inspected in the hope someone else will then be prepared to carry out the remedial. It doesn't seem worth ripping it out when what has been done with the boiler part of the installation seems to be decent on its own, without all the other ****.

Too bad I didn't get the Intergas though, maybe.

 

[Dan Robinson]

The original prices I had were between £2660 and £2800. But that was for a top end boiler,

From the same person?

 

[propertydev83]

Nope, I had 3 quotes and they were all in that range. The one who I had decided to use dropped the price when informed the CH won't be connected until a later date and when I chose the Heatline.

 

[Razor900]

We are always bickering amongst ourselves over what the best boiler is but we all agree heatline are somewhere near the bottom of the food chain.

Seriously if you can get rid I would!!

 

[propertydev83]

We are always bickering amongst ourselves over what the best boiler is but we all agree heatline are somewhere near the bottom of the food chain.

Seriously if you can get rid I would!!

It's a tough decision if it means starting over. Need to sleep on it.

I know buying cheap isn't always cheapest in the long run. But I've done alright for myself over the past 6 and half years with a combination of living as if on a shoestring budget, always finding things for the best possible prices, a ridiculous amount of hard work, gaining experience and knowledge, doing as much as possible by myself, plus a little bit of luck and good timing. I had absolutely nothing before, whereas now I'm in a reasonable financial position...

With some things there has to be a balance though. Buy cheap, buy twice. Sometimes quality does matter. I've had a few lessons. This is probably the worst to happen so far...

Anyways, after two days stessing I need to get back to reality, cover that roof hole, and just deal with this as and when in the background. I've got some urgent flat roof details to finish and a missing garden fence to replace which have both been neglected as a result.

Plus a new tumble drier belt I'm trying but failing to stretch around from the drum onto the motor. I need a bit of steel pipe!

 

[DP]

OP, your plight sound genuine enough and you have been left high and dry by this cowboy

Give the installer last and final notice stressing urgency that work be completed by say end of day after which you will not be liable as you will be looking to have the work completed by someone else. Keep a copy of notice/ call for future reference. At some point he will come calling to collect his money. There is no point in crying over spilt milk, move on and look elsewhere. There will be some kind hearted RGI who will for agreed payment complete the task which essentially only needs a few lose end tied. WRT boiler, seek advice from whoever comes to your rescue. If you are in Pinner, or nearby, time permitting might be able to offer advice as I am at present installing son's boiler

Have to say I am not too regimented when it comes to picking one one only boiler and model. Some jobs require top end beastie, others will chug along with a Mickey Mouse boiler. All are meant to do the same thing, so stay focussed in getting present fixed to give you hot water

Could you not get a roofer to make the roof water tight?

 

[muggles]

Pay peanuts......

- Gas Safe registration doesn't really mean quality or competency.
.

Nor does Checkatrade registration. The only one that can be relied upon if you don't want to ask neighbours for recommendations (and if available in your area) is Buy With Confidence, which 100% independent and run by Trading Standards. I'm signed up - as part of registration you give them your customer list and they pick 10 past customers to call for references. You only get in if they are happy with the responses they get from the ones they call. There are many other checks too but I won't go into detail here...

If a trader on Buy With Confidence messes up and you can't resolve it amicably, you get a direct line to Trading Standards to complain.

 

[Agile]

Be aware that those who pay to be on Checkatrade may be there because they are short of work. I never think that's an advantage unless you need something done quickly by someone who is not very busy.

In your case, I don't see the price as being particularly cheap as its not much less that I would probably quote. Although not being VAT registered any more gives a 20% advantage.

But when the boiler itself is such a small part of the total cost then I really cannot understand why a better boiler has not been used.

I do like the Intergas because it is so easy to just connect up the hot water and leave the heating connections to be done later. It is the only model which can do that!

NONE of the listed deficiencies are at all serious and depending on the roof/flue work would probably all be completed in just 3-4 hours! Not serious at all if only he came to do it.

In fact I don't see why he was going to wait until this week as it would have been easy for him to complete the roof at the weekend because leaving that not watertight is very unwise!

Tony Glazier

 

[Terry lambert]

Be aware that those who pay to be on Checkatrade may be there because they are short of work. I never think that's an advantage unless you need something done quickly by someone who is not very busy.

Tony Glazier

Broody Nora, where do you stop.

I'm on Checkatrade and always have more work than I can do, I'm on there for my own reasons. You can't guess what the real world is like from behind a computer, you have to go out and live it, experience it and then you may have a worthwhile opinion

 

[Agile]

So what are your reasons to be on it Terry if you don't need the extra work that it generates?

Note that I only said that some MAY be there because they are short of work!

Tony

 

[Terry lambert]

With them and a couple of other sites I have good genuine reviews, because of this I have a good online presence, I don't pay for advertising and so I see it as a low cost option, and it works for me.

 

[Biggles..]

In your case, I don't see the price as being particularly cheap as its not much less that I would probably quote.

Although not being VAT registered any more gives a 20% advantage.

But when the boiler itself is such a small part of the total cost then I really cannot understand why a better boiler has not been used.

Tony,

Your continual random selection of what you would charge on here is never any help to the posters, it's about time the mods stepped in and stopped your continual self promotion and daft suggestions.
Most people have realised your dice throwing and various multiples of £84 is just pointless.

Seems your also not to clever where accounting is concerned, being non VAT registered doesn't make you 20% cheaper unless of course you've found some special way to recurve the Inland revenue of paying 20% on your purcahses.

As a Previous biasi enthusiast, I'm still trying to work out how you can call the heatline cheap or think that there are better boilers.

 

[Agile]

I use the figure of 20% because most people think that's what it is and putting the exact figure will confuse people. They forget that bought in parts still have VAT on them and the actual calculation does not come to 20% anyway.

There is little wrong with Heatline boilers themselves. The problem arises because those who install them are aiming to do the cheapest job and that does not usually include power flushing or as in this case using the proper filling loop.

Of the Heatline bopilers that I repair, virtually all of the problems have been caused by dirt in the system.

Tony

 

[Biggles..]

I use the figure of 20% because most people think that's what it is and putting the exact figure will confuse people.

So for your own benefit you knowingly mislead customer into believing your 20% cheaper than your VAT Competitors.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I use the figure of 20% because most people think that's what it is and putting the exact figure will confuse people.

So for your own benefit you knowingly mislead customer into believing your 20% cheaper than your VAT Competitors.

Rather than compounding the myth Tony, why don't you try to educate and inform?