Beware British Gas Home Care rules

[MikeG1944]

I just fot an email from BG asking me to re-join the Home Care scheme. This reminded me of why I ditched it last year.

The renewal (around £670) came through but increased by around £100. So I rang them and asked why. After checking my account he came back with the explanation. I had had a call out to replace a faulty cartridge in a Bath tap. When I asked why it had gone up when they offer 'all calls and parts included' he said all insurances increase when you have a claim. I explained that this was a maintenance contract where all calls and parts are free but he disagreed, calling it an insurance. So they add the cost of the repair to your next year's renewal; a rip off. So what's the point of the contract?

I got my yearly service done and quickly left as soon as the contract had run out.

This year I got my local Gas Sure plumber to service the boiler for just £85 +VAT. My House insurance added the home care emergency for free, which means call outs free and just have to pay for parts. It's going to be a lot cheaper.

I met a guy from BG a few years ago at a tech event and he said the same thing - people think it's a maintenance contract but it's an insurance, so goes up if you claim. Glad you found a better alternative.

We are with BG Homecare 4

£31 a month and £60 fee if they are called out

Was £30 per call out last year
But we called them out 3 or 4 times and they done a huge job which would of cost thousands
So far this year, we have had them out twice

I think its personally worth it

Thanks, that's good to know. It sounds like the promotion language is designed to make it look like a good deal when in fact for most people it's a bit of a con. If they are going to charge to cost of the call out and spares to your next years subscription then why would you need the subscription, just pay for the work.

Thanks for the reply; I guess they'll always be a few people who benefit from the overall deal where a high cost of repairs is needed, but for those who rarely or never claim from year to year it's very expensive.

In our case over 14 years of living in our current property it's been worth the money. We have had to call them out for several repairs and faults so got our money's worth. Practically have a brand new combi boiler as they had to order several components for it until they fixed the fault. Have had a third off at least four brand new kitchen appliances over the years too.