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We've been ripped off!!

9 replies

bonniej · 02/11/2004 12:39

Anyone got any ideas if there's anything we can do about this. I had my central heating installed five years ago when we bought our house. The plumber who did it for us has been round a few times since to do some minor repairs when required. About 6 mths ago the boiler wasn't working. It just kept switching itself off. We called the same plumber who had a look and told us it was the motherboard. He replaced this part and charged us £260 and said it was under a five year guarantee. Like idiots we didn't get any paperwork, but tbh trusted this guy as he was always the one we used and he knew us quite well. The boiler packed up again last week so we called him back. He spent half an hour looking and said he didn't know what was wrong with it but it could be the circuit board. He said he was off on holiday so couldn't help. I said wasn't that the bit you replaced 6 months ago? He said it wasn't, he replaced something else. We have since had another plumber out who said it's definately the motherboard that needs replacing and it will cost us another £260. As we got no proof at the time how can we prove that's the bit he replaced previously. Can't believe we have to shell out this amount for the same job that was done 6 months ago supposedly under guarantee Is there anything we can do? He is corgi registered and yes, I know we were stupid for trusting a plumber

OP posts:
Levanna · 02/11/2004 12:57

Hi bonnie, that's infuriating! I don't really have any advice to offer, but these are Corgi's contact details, maybe they could suggest something.
The Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI)
1 Elmwood
Chineham Business Park
Crockford Lane
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 8WG
01256 372300
www.corgi-gas.com

Might be worth initially checking that he really is registered, I understand that several 'say' they are IYKWIM.
HTH

emmatmg · 02/11/2004 13:27

No advice on getting the money back but we had loads of problems with our boiler when we mo9ved to this house and my cousin (he's a gas engineer) recommended getting the British gas cover on it.

We pay about £15 a month and over the years have pretty much had the boiler re-built(We've had about 5 BIG things go wrong with it). One of the jobs with labour, parts etc would have cost us over £1000 so it's well worth it. All the parts/labour or included in the monthly payments and theres no limit to the number of times you call them out..

Our radiator was leaking the other day and we had a gas man at the door within 2 hours.

I'd definatley have the same cover again, if or when we move.

Avalon · 02/11/2004 13:40

What about the cheque you paid him with - any details on your cheque stub. Plus - is it likely any other part will cost £260 exactly? Can you threaten him with Trading Standards?

British Gas cover is worth it for peace of mind alone. We very nearly ended up in the same boat as you bonniej, with a plumber that I trusted.

Anteater · 02/11/2004 13:42

Not a fan of extended cover but having one on our combi boiler has saved us £100s in the last year alone. A combi boiler has a lot of complicated and exspensive bits and, imo is the most likely thing to fail in an average house...
This is not very helpful to you now tho.. Where has he gone on holiday??

emmatmg · 02/11/2004 13:44

You're right anteater coz ours is a combi boiler which I think is why sooooo much has gone wrong with it.

Freckle · 02/11/2004 14:17

Could the 2nd plumber not tell if any pieces had been replaced recently? Presumably a 6month old part would look newer than a 5 year old part.

Anteater · 02/11/2004 14:20

It does seem stange that a board fails twice. Did you check to see if Plumber is corgi registered as Levanna sugested?

JulieF · 02/11/2004 23:28

Printed circuit boards are notorious for not lasting long. My dad runs a heating and plumbing firm and he is always moaning about PCB's. Our blew on New Year's Day in a brand new house!

I doubt CORGI will be interested, they are more to do with gas safety than consumer issues. I would perhaps try Trading Standards and see what they say.

KangaMummy · 02/11/2004 23:35

what about writing to him and saying that you are passing all the details on to BBC TV WATCHDOG that may help.

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