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Original poster

British Gas home care or local gas engineer?

13 replies

kerosene20 · 26/08/2022 22:33

This is our first winter with a boiler to care for. Should we book a British Gas service/sign up for home care or go with a local gas safe engineer? Any recommendations? Boiler is about 10 years old, a vaillant combo. Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
kerosene20 · 26/08/2022 22:33

Combi…

OP posts:
User4668430 · 27/08/2022 05:52

We have BG homecare and have the radiators covered as well, Boiler is 5 years old but radiators are over 20 years old so they have to come out every so often to replace radiator bits like bleed valves if they have small leaks which I find quite convenient, some people also have the electric and plumbing cover, I also didn't have to go to the bother of finding a gas safe engineer but you do pay quite a bit over the odds for this convenience.

BG weren't that good though over the last couple of years because of Covid and they were changing contracts and had strikes, hopefully they are back on track now as I have just signed up for another year.

If you just want a simple boiler service every year you may be better finding a local gas safe engineer, it will almost certainly be cheaper.

lobsterkiller · 27/08/2022 05:53

I use a very reliable local guy. I find it cheaper if something goes wrong than having a care plan. It's £50 quid for service. Ask for local recommendations.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 27/08/2022 06:10

lobsterkiller · 27/08/2022 05:53

I use a very reliable local guy. I find it cheaper if something goes wrong than having a care plan. It's £50 quid for service. Ask for local recommendations.

Us too. We found him on the Worcester Bosch website.

rwalker · 27/08/2022 06:22

Like anything else it’s ok till something goes wrong
I have BG home care had years of pay and just getting a service no problems

then a few years of problems if I wouldn’t of had HC it would of cost me hundreds if not thousands
mif you can afford it it’s worth it for peace of mind

also right g up at renewal time always get a discount

UseOfWeapons · 27/08/2022 06:27

I have BG Homecare, it is worth the expense to me, as trying to find a Gas Safe engineer is not difficult locally, but it’s whether they can drop everything and come when you need them that’s the problem for me. BG sil, come same day In some cases, and pretty quickly in others. My sister uses a local guy who lives round the corner, and he’ll come as soon as she needs him, but she lives in small village. Trying to get my gas fire serviced, which is not covered by BG, is a nightmare.
It’s what you feel comfortable with. I have a Vaillant Combi, too.

Lottsbiffandsmudge · 27/08/2022 06:33

Was with BG for years. Boiler packed up. No heating or hot water. A month wait for BG to come out!!
We ditched it and went local. Much cheaper. Guy came next day and fitted a new boiler. Asked on our local FB group for recommendations.
Since BG sacked all their engineers and re employed them as self employed workers on worse conditions unsurprisingly the service level has dropped!

RidingMyBike · 27/08/2022 08:57

Had BG home care but they kept increasing the price, pushed the interval for servicing further and further and there were delays coming out. They were also constantly up selling stuff.
Switched to local gas safe engineer, much cheaper (we effectively self-insure so put amount per month into regular savings account) and more reliable. We built up money in case of needing a big repair but that didn't happen (sold house last year) so now have money in savings account!

Musicaltheatremum · 27/08/2022 09:03

I ditched BG last year after they kept cancelling appointments when my boiler broke down.called a local guy who fixed it very quickly. Boiler broke again last week and he had a new boiler fitted the following week. I doubt BG could have done that. I was paying £35 a month with BG. (Boiler 17 years old)

Original poster
kerosene20 · 27/08/2022 21:06

Thank you for the perspectives. I’m still unsure!

OP posts:
mnahmnah · 27/08/2022 21:11

We’ve used Hometree for a few years and they’ve been great. Much cheaper than British Gas. Come out quick for repairs, which we’ve needed a few times. Easy to arrange the annual service.

hannahcolobus · 27/08/2022 23:43

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

MarieG10 · 28/08/2022 07:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Totally agree. We have had a BG contract for over 20 years and the service became dire. Weeks to get an appointment unless classed as vulnerable. Took 2 weeks to get a part which my local plumber then sourced from a local stockist within 3 hours.

I sacked off my BG contract. I now have my boiler serviced by a local gas engineer and he will always do his best to respond within 24 hours on a breakdown (verified by friends who use him).

What he won't do is support clapped out boilers that cost more in ongoing repairs, and is honest about it.

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