Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

British Gas for new boiler?

39 replies

DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 18:15

Hi,
Nasty shock on return from holiday. Switched hot water on and leak through ceiling/ overflow etc from small tank thing under main water tank in loft.
Well BG been out today and as boiler on 'reduced' parts can choose between new boiler and flush out of radiators or just flush out and hope for the best re boiler. Have quote for boiler Monday afternoon. About 700 quid for flush out. We are sludgy it seems pipe wise and have a 'blockage'. Using emersion heater now for hot water/ switching on and off on plug.
So- do we stick with BG? Aware won't be cheapest but on their homecare package [excess 50 quid each time]. Also do zero % interest for two years. We are diy duds.
Just so fed up but clearly need to do something. No work is not an option.
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 12/08/2017 18:22

No! No! No!!!!!!

We needed a new boiler 2 or 3 years ago.

BG quoted £4500, "special offer" as longstanding Homecare customers. We said we'd think about it.

Local heating engineer fitted thr higher capacity version of the same boiler (the one BG had recommended was for 2/3 bed houses; this one is for 3/4 bed houses. We have 3 beds), and thermostatic valves on all radiators and did a bit of pipe work for £1970.

We found the local guy through the Worcester Bosch website.

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 18:23

Boiler is an Ideal Classic by the way and is 77% efficient apparently.

OP posts:
Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 18:24

Thank you BikeRunSki.
We have me rip me off written all over us...

OP posts:
Fourmagpies · 12/08/2017 19:07

Definitely find someone local. BG will always been at least double the cost and no noticeable benefit for that extra cost. We also have a Worcester Bosch, fitted about 3 years ago for £1800 by a local firm.

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 19:25

Stupid question- do you have to always pay up front with local firms?
I should google!

OP posts:
Celeriacacaca · 12/08/2017 20:29

No to BG from me too. They quoted me £5.3k special price for cheap Baxi and needed to reconfigure part of our roof for flue at extra cost. Local recommended plumber charged £2.2k for Worcester Bosch installation and no roof work necessary. It was done brilliantly and without any drama. BG installed our first boiler many moons ago and what a bunch of cowboys. They ran trunking on top of the walls rather than channel out, as agreed at quote. Also damaged tiles and other items. I ended up throwing them out as their attitude was so poor and got a £1k refund.

Celeriacacaca · 12/08/2017 20:30

Re payment to local plumber- I paid 50% up front and balance on completion. Job took two full, long days for two workers.

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 20:39

Going to have to research local businesses...
BG quoting Monday and feel somewhat nervous. House damage and being ripped off not what we need. Live in hovel as it is.

OP posts:
Lobsterinacan · 12/08/2017 20:43

We got a new Bosch from British gas was about 2k paid 90 or 60 can't remember each month for it just finished paying it was only way we could afford new one quickly and had no problems using bg

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 20:53

A positive BG story...
It is the paying monthly that is appealing. Just stressed at moment. Just seems house falling apart. Poor maintenance on our part for most of it plus ageing plastic pipes /woodwork/ guttering etc....
After spending more than usual on hols just stressy....
House cluttered too- so having people in to do stuff and water leaking etc just sends my blood pressure soaring!

OP posts:
EssentialHummus · 12/08/2017 21:01

What bike said re cost. Avoid. I have a good heating engineer to recommend if you're anywhere near se London/kent border, otherwise random off Rates People or local FB group.

Lobsterinacan · 12/08/2017 21:01

Oh just dug out the paperwork we did pay a 1k deposit and it was 3.5k all together sorry

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 21:05

mmm. I clearly need to be careful. Will ask my lovely neighbour what he thinks re local people.
Will get quote from BG as well.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 12/08/2017 21:24

We paid for the whole job on completion. If you need to pay monthly, what about a bank loan?

Elocampane · 12/08/2017 21:33

I used Boiler Plan UK, Barclays Finance loan, pay £39 a month over 7 years - they were great, XH used them too.

www.boilerplanuk.com/

Pansythepotter · 12/08/2017 21:47

What part of the Country are you in?

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 12/08/2017 21:50

Thanks all.
Looking at all options given.

OP posts:
Lillagroda · 12/08/2017 22:13

Inherited a really bad BG installation in this house, inappropriate for the setup, and an Ideal HE which was utter crap and had to be essentially rebuilt after fewer than 5 years. At BG's cost as we have Homecare, sweet justice.

BG quoted double for a straight like-for-like swap of the boiler what our usual plumber/heating engineer quoted to replace with a combi, so also rip out and rebuild a good chunk of our hot water system, which was gravity-fed. Took two guys two days (earlier this week as it happens), is bliss having the right system, now have a Vaillant model with great reviews and no fears of it breaking down for no reason that anyone can fathom.

The damage is £2,800, no deposit needed, as much as possible will be paid in cash and the rest is going on a 0% money transfer credit card I found on moneysavingexpert. 2-year deal.

And my employer supplies BG with their boilers and stuff. Still wouldn't go with them!

golfin · 12/08/2017 22:24

We had a regular contract with BG, DH thought we would get a good deal from them when we needed a new boiler. OMG. Huge estimate, we went with a local company, half the price.

Needmoresleep · 12/08/2017 22:38

Absolutely no. BG miss old my 84 year old mum a top of the range boiler that she could not operate. She almost froze to death, with no heating.

The kind man at the end of the phone line confirmed he would struggle to operate it, send someone out who puzzled over it for at least an hour before working out how to get it going. Really shocking. No apology.

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 13/08/2017 07:23

I am in Cambridge area.
These stories are frightening.

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 13/08/2017 07:27

Are they including Homecare in the quote? I want our boiler moved and BG quoted around 3.2k but that did included Homecare for the first year,

Original poster
DriftingDreamer · 13/08/2017 07:32

I think so PrimalLass. Not having quote until Monday but guy who dealt with leak mentioned that and the zero % interest for 2 years.

OP posts:
Fourmagpies · 13/08/2017 07:33

Some local companies offer finance too if you need to spread the payments. It'll still work out cheaper than BG. Or see if you can get a loan.

InfiniteSheldon · 13/08/2017 07:38

I can't believe BG are still so shite their estimates are so over the top and their service awful but the shocker is its been this way for years some form of renationalisation that isn't actually a word but should be should be a long term goal for all parties. Stories like Needmoresleep are all kinds of wrong.