to expect to receive quotes for my new boiler?

[oatcake]

I've had five corgi men around to check out my currently condemnded boiler (I've just moved and although we knew we needed a new boiler, we did not expect it to be condemnded after two days).

I've chased them all, only to recieve one quote.

Do they not want the work? Why can't they just say they don't want the job?

Yours sitting clocking up the electric bill with the emersion on, and plug in radiators heating the place.... Oatcake

I sympathise - we had the same problem when we moved into this house. We found that generally plumbers are great at coming out in an emergency, but useless at quoting for and scheduling planned work.

We discovered (by accident) that most plumbers put a large mark-up on parts - by trawling round the internet for boilers and opening a trade account at the local branch of Plumb Centre we saved a fortune. You can also find out by chatting to the people at places like that how long it takes to fit the boiler and any related plumbing work you need, so you don't get stung on an hourly rate.

Been in exact same situation - the one quote we got was not a Corgi registered bod, and he never showed up anyway once booked! Having asked around since it turns out new boilers are not a popular job as electrical and gas qualifications needed, and time consuming/difficult compared to fitting showers etc, so no one wants to do it.
We got British Gas in in the end. It costs (big time) but they do a good job, not a long waiting list which matters in this weather. Took them just 4 weeks from booking to fitting, 2 days to fit, and you get 1 year free servicing of central heating system. They often offer discounts on their website eg free heating for a year...Still v expensive though.
Good Luck with getting it fixed ASAP!!

Yeah, I called British Gas and the engineer, over the phone, said it would be a £4,400 minimum job!

I've just booked the only quote I had - he runs the company, he lives on my new street, and he's a jehovah's witness - we had a good chat about this, having been brought up as one myself and my gut feeling about him was positive.

However, because we're going green and also having solar panels, I've just been told that it's a 4 week wait for the twin coil boiler thingy that we need!

Thanks for the moral support!

Unfortunately it is the busiest timre of the year (and today is the busiest day of the year so I really should not be on here.)

How long have you been waiting. We are snowed under here and you have wait for prices from suppliers too.

Whereabouts are you oatcake? Are you near to oatcakeland? Who have you tried?

Started ringing around thursday 2nd November, had one chap in even before our sellers had moved out - chased him 3 times!

I have just had the builder leave and he is also my new neighbour and said he'd speak to boilerman about doing more of a deal on the boiler (they actually live next door to each other...) Just spoken to boilerman and he said that the stainless steel option of the water cylinder is the only way to go.

Am I in oatcake land? Depends if you think I'm a scottish oatcake, or a north staffs oatcake... well it doesn't really. I'm a north staffs expat in walton on thames!

Man, it's cold tonight!

We got ours through British Gas last year - it cost more probably but they were totally reliable and the job was done well, so recommend them.

Get at LEAST 3 quotes and ask for an engineer not a salesman. British Gas and 2 other companies would have had me lift floor boards and drill holes in my daughter's bedroom floor and building boxes to fit new boiler. Got an engineer from the 4th company (no suit and dirty fingernails ) and he suggested the aering ( spelling) cupboard next to the bathroom...saved about £500 and only one small hole in the wall between b'room and cupboard.

Don't use the little local boys.. if yo udo check their guarantees....go for firms with good reputations....Do you have any friends in area who have had similar stuff done and can recommend someone?

can't get at least 3 quotes - that's the problem! to have 5 engineers around and only have one paper quote, one articulated quote from friend's dad's colleague, and one unseen quote by british gas is as far as I got!

apparently, boiler chap is rated by our future builder and neighbour across the road...

Oh, my brain's spinning with talk of twin coils, boxing in, running correct pipework through to garage!

There is only one proper oatcake!!!!!!

Reason I asked is becasue I work for a firm of heating engineers in North Staffs!!!

shame. I do have a cottage near Leek - but it's an oil fired boiler. don't suppose you deal with them?

We have had exactly the same situation with plumbers here. I am really at a loss to understand why. They know what the quote is for because we've discussed it on the phone. They then come out and look at the job and say they will send a quote which never arrives. I could understand them refusing the work on the phone, or when they come round, but why waste my time and theirs by promising a quote.

I think we do. The only thing we don't do is commercial catering cause we don't have that part of the Corgi reg.

Cjopchop. Gas engineers are terrible at paperwork, I spend half my life chasing it!!

exactly the same as me, rung and talked to about 11 different plumbers, none turned up/called back. British Gas gave a quote of £5,700 for a boiler and 5 radiators, but we are getting mums friend to do it (apart from boiler which is being done by my mums next door neighbours dad (Corgi reg.)) We think the whole system will cost about £1,500-£2,000. THe boiler without labour ranges from £500-£800.

£5,700!!!!

Yeah, for a boiler + an add on that does something to it (limescale??), 1 big radiator, 4 tiny tiny ones, remove our electric radiators (!!?) and the pipe work. Was £6,400 with a shower added into the equation. We basically live in a flat aswell.

Islandsofsodor, I can understand that they might not enjoy paperwork, but these are self employed plumbers, they don't work for anyone so if they don't quote for jobs they don't get the work.

I guess they have more than enough work to keep busy.

Incidentally, the first engineer who came to check out the boiler prior to us moving in, knocked at the house opposite this morning and looked straight across here.

Having chased him 3 times for a quote, I'm thinking of knocking on the neighbour's door and mentioning my lack of quote in case they need something doing quickly!