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AIBU?

to be fed up my boiler has packed in on Boxing Day?

30 replies

VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 17:44

So now I guess that's a grand for a new one. It was only put in 5 years ago.

After just paying a similar amount for new doors, and also for a bathroom I can't use, this feels like the last fucking straw. All I do is spend money

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LIZS · 26/12/2015 17:46

If only 5 years old it should be reparable.

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anotherbloomingusername · 26/12/2015 17:50

Mine has gone too. I'm hoping to find out if it's repairable tomorrow. Good luck.

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VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 17:55

I have to try and find someone to come out on a bank holiday (haha) which I expect will cost double. Assuming I can find anyone.

And likelihood is they'll tell me it's fucked and needs replacing. I've tried and tried to relight it but pilot light won't work. We've flushed the system too but it's pointless. Nothing works. So now I've no hot water or heating til it's fixed.

Minimum I think I'm looking at is £500, that's being optimistic, it's a really expensive boiler. I feel like crying.

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Dowser · 26/12/2015 18:21

That's a real bummer!

Beats my leaky roof!

Although I don't know at this point what that's going to cost and at least it's only leaking onto my grandsons bed and not ours!

Bugga!

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VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 18:29

Oh I've got a leaky roof too, and all the gutter need replacing. Trying not to worry about all that just yet though.

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GnomeDePlume · 26/12/2015 19:22

IME dont call in British Gas. They condemned my eight year old boiler and wanted to charge me £4500 for a replacement (who knew you could get boilers made up by elves & pixies and fired by unicorn tears!).

Unfortunately once condemned nobody else would un-condemn the boiler.

We got a local independent in and he replaced the boiler for less than £1500.

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Magpie18 · 26/12/2015 19:36

My daughters boiler packed up on Tuesday night. She contacted someone who did a repair on it a year ago but he was about to go on holiday until after NY He gave her a contact number and someone came out and spent an hour trying to repair it before eventually condemning it. £1980 for a new boiler, two days before Christmas. She was devastated but it was blowing carbon monoxide back into the house........

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VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 20:17

Oh, definitely wouldn't contact BG, know they are a complete rip off. Although it seems completely chance anyway as to whether anyone actually does a decent job, or doesn't charge an over inflated price

I think a boiler that cost well over a grand should last more than 5 years but hey, what do I know?

Look forward to being patronised and overcharged when and if I do eventually find someone to come out. In the meantime will have to carry on boiling kettles every time I need to wash up/ wash etc....

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Floralnomad · 26/12/2015 20:20

If you have had it serviced regularly they usually have a 7 yr warranty .

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GnomeDePlume · 26/12/2015 20:31

If you are in east midlands then PM me where you are and I will pass on details of a v good non-patronising plumber.

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PouncerDarling · 26/12/2015 20:34

Do you have anything on your insurance policy that might cover you?

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VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 20:35

I don't have any of the paperwork from when it was installed (it was all arranged by my Ex) and unfortunately I've not had it serviced - as a single parent I've always had too many other things that were more of a priority. I'm supposed to be getting my son's bedroom done and having my garden cleared, both will have to wait at least 6-12 months now as I won't be able to afford that plus the boiler.

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VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 20:37

Not in E Mids but the ridiculously expensive South East sadly!

I don't have any specific cover on the boiler, my household insurance def won't cover it.

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LIZS · 26/12/2015 20:37

Was it not gas safe registered? That should give you details of the installer.

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WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 26/12/2015 20:43

I hope you get it fixed without too much expense, but the comments about being patronised and overcharged are a bit uncalled for. A relative is a central heating engineer who is forever getting family weekends and Christmases interrupted by emergency callouts, he works really hard all year round and doesn't make a fortune with it, charging extra at those times really isn't unreasonable, unfortunate though it is for the customer.

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thelaundryfairy · 26/12/2015 20:45

Sorry to hear this. Good luck with getting it repaired asap and without breaking the bank.

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VelvetSpoon · 26/12/2015 20:55

I don't have any of the paperwork as said, so I have no way of knowing who installed it, or if there's any kind of warranty.

Unfortunately as a woman living alone in a house that's required various work, my experience has been that a LOT of tradespeople take advantage, either by overcharging, being patronising or rude, or a combination of all of the above. Not saying it's everyone, but it has happened to me a lot, together with work of really poor quality being done (see my OP, I have a bathroom I can't use). So it makes you pretty cynical - my house is worth a fair bit,and I think some people as a result assume I'm an easy target for overcharging. Or charge reasonably but just aren't very good and do a poor job. I feel extremely vulnerable when I have to employ anyone because ime trade sites can't even be relied on and it is just pot luck. It's horrible.

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LIZS · 26/12/2015 21:02

That's what I meant. It should be on the Gas Safe online register

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LIZS · 26/12/2015 21:06

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/gas safetyyin theehome/building regss_certificates.aspx

You could apply for a duplicate certificate, if it was done properly.

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BaldricksWife · 26/12/2015 21:19

Mine has 'gone' twice. Both times it was fixable for less than £200. Get someone in to assess as it might be an inexpensive repair. Good luck!

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HelenaDove · 26/12/2015 21:27

If i didnt know any better i would say a lot of these bloody boilers arent fit for purpose.

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abbsismyhero · 26/12/2015 21:32

i know what you mean about tradespeople taking advantage if they think a woman is alone someone unscrupulous will try and take advantage fortunately there are some good ones out there its just finding them that's the problem

can you not get a boiler grant as a single parent? grasping at straws here for a positive for you

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WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 26/12/2015 22:44

I'm sorry you've had such bad experiences, you are right that it can be really hard finding good tradespeople, my previous post was probably not very helpful, I hope you have better luck this time.

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Floralnomad · 26/12/2015 22:45

We have had Swale heating install a boiler for us this year ,and they have done some radiators and their quotes were very reasonable compared with BG and a couple of small independents . They are based in Sittingbourne ,Kent but do work all over the SE , the work they've done here has been excellent ( very fussy DH !)

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treacledan71 · 26/12/2015 23:11

Sorry to hear this. Have you got an old emersion button in your airing cupboard that may heat water up for you temp. We had this happen and used this with electric heaters helped.