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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be narked with British Gas....

19 replies

mangomadness · 01/05/2012 14:19

.... we have that home care cover whatever thing, where they come and service boiler once a year. Boiler service in Jan was told no problems. Boiler stopped working Weds, Thurs and Fri, we managed to get it lit a few times for a bit of hot water and heat. Made appointment on Thursday for somebody to come look at it, appointment was yesterday.
He turned up and as boiler was lit and working said that he couldn't diagnose the problem but it sounded like an ignition fault (so thereby diagnosing it!). He then said that some heat exchange panel thingy was completely scaled up and was stopping boiler from working properly and would have to come back with a sonic cleaning machine to sort it out. Fine but why wasn't this found in the service, as he said it'd take quite a while for it to build up, more than a few months. Second, yesterday after he left I went into the bathroom (which is where the boiler is) and he'd had a piss without flushing, and some splashes on the seat. Now I don't have a problem with him using my toilet, but not flushing?!
Today he is here cleaning said part with funny machine. With my backdoor open, SMOKING. So now my house STINKS of fags. I'm an ex smoker, quit 3 years ago, but surely he shouldn't be smoking on the job and making my house stink? I'm quite obviously heavily pregnant as well.

Am I being overly hormonal about being annoyed that:
A) problem was there when it was serviced which I pay a monthly fee and they should have sorted it then
B) he pissed and splashed all over my toilet without flushing, mopping it off the seat, and washing his hands
C) he's smoking and making my house stink whilst he's supposed to be working.

OP posts:
hermionestranger · 01/05/2012 14:21

I would be on the phone to British gas right now! Tell him to stop smoking, it's hugely rude to smoke in someone else's house, but even more so if you are at work, especially of the home owner is pregnant and you are working with gas appliances.

lisaro · 01/05/2012 14:31

He'd be out of my house faster than shit through a goose!

x2boys · 01/05/2012 16:45

is this not illegal as its place of work y6ou see bus drivers etc standing out of their buswhilst smoking

ithasgonetotheopera · 01/05/2012 16:57

Oh my god that's so rude! You definitely should complain he's well out of order.

I've had massive problems with British Gas in the past, refuse to use them now.

gafhyb · 01/05/2012 17:01

I had v poor service from BG. I would never use them again.

I'd advise getting this sorted then switching to a good local gas engineer

gafhyb · 01/05/2012 17:03

P.S. they failed to find a gas leak in my case....

FatherHankTree · 01/05/2012 18:20

British Gas Complaints no is 0800 072 8632. We've had a few problems with British Gas as well, really crap service.

looktoshinford · 01/05/2012 18:28

Servicing spots obvious faults and makes sure the boiler is working OK, which it was when the service was done.

The fact that he needs some kind of sonic cleaner implies that the buildup is inside a contained unit, so hardly something that would be picked up by a service anyway.

Basically, your entire complaint about this man is that he pissed on your seat and is standing outside smoking and some of it wafted in over your precious bump.

YABU.

Groovee · 01/05/2012 18:33

It's illegal to smoke indoors when it is someone's place of work or in your case your private home. AND WHY WAS HE SMOKING ROUND SOMETHING WITH GAS??? BG need to look into this ASAP!

Original poster
mangomadness · 01/05/2012 19:12

The fault that he found we were told in Jan was just the make and type of boiler. Smokers who I work with don't smoke when they're working....would love to see what would happen if they sparked up a fag in the middle of a cataract op, so why should it be any different for him?

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 01/05/2012 19:15

was he inside or outside smoking. If outside then he must have been an a break. If you are making an anaology with a surgeon did he scrub up before he started??

re forgetting to flush the toilet - hardly crime of the century?
Is your boiler working now? If so YABU

gafhyb · 01/05/2012 20:36

No, you don't go to work in someone's house, not ask if you can smoke or not, and then smoke anyway, around gas. That's crap. IMO.

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 01/05/2012 21:04

My dh is an engineer for Bg. Not a boiler engineer though Grin

However, a lot of Bg boiler engineers aren't employed by Bg, they are gas safe registered and get work through Bg- iyswim. They are contracted out type thing.

They are not Bg employees but contractors. That's not all of them, but a lot.

That is why do many problems with Bg engineers. They get paid per job. So they will quite often do a quick fix then move on to the next customer. More customers=more wages.

However, he should not be smoking in your home. Apart from it being very rude, unless he has checked all your appliances in your house-fires, ovens etc he can not be sure there isn't a gas leak.

I would definitely complain.

Please don't flame me, I'm just the Bg wife Wink

Sirzy · 01/05/2012 21:08

If he was smoking outside your home then I wouldn't have an issue with that. Workmen on their breaks often go outside for a smoke and it would never cross my mind to complain.

I have to say the service we have from British Gas has been great. Phoning at 5pm because a boiler has broken and them had it fixed by 10pm the same night - you don't get that type of service from many companies especailly not without paying extra on top of the normal contract for it!

Trizelda · 01/05/2012 21:16

Definately phone up anyway and voice your concerns. I have twice in the last few months and both times they sent me £50 as a goodwill gesture.

EdwardorEricCantDecide · 01/05/2012 21:18

Most of BG engineers are employed by BG but they are targeted on how long they can be in a customers house I.e I'm sure for an annual service it's around 27 minutes. They are also targeted on "heating upgrades" so will often advise you on getting a powerflush done at huge expense.

They have around 6500 employed engineers and only really use contractors in the winter.
Dyno rod are another story however hopeless doesn't even cover it!

I would complain to BG particularly about the smoking if nothing else!
YANBU

looktoshinford · 02/05/2012 09:08

I hope you called up with valid concerns Trizelda. Otherwise you are putting someone in the shit just to get a £50 credit, which is pretty disgraceful.

BG engineer was smoking outside. OP has no real complaint other than smelling smoke while pregnant, which isnt a problem unless feeling a bit precious.

Perhaps op should call and complain about the piss on the seat? BG call centre would no doubt gladly pay £50 to have a 'classic' complaint like to laugh about in the canteen.

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 02/05/2012 09:29

Was he smoking inside?

Trizelda · 02/05/2012 19:28

No I didn't phone up to complain about an engineer.

Once about the fact that my annual service was 5 months late and another about an error with a bill.

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