British Gas, trusted or not?

[mcniven]

I went to a customers house yesterday who told me that she had been quoted £650 by British Gas in order to rectify her heating issue. She previously had British Gas home care, which covered all aspects of plumbing & heating within her property. You know the one, the unlimited call out, unlimited parts & labour.

So, basically, the engineer came out, saw that when the boiler kicked in the water was expanding/overheating up into the F&E tank causing a bit of a banging noise on the way up. He advised her that all the pipework/radiators were choked and that in order to repair the current problem she requires a powerflush (price above).

There was no circulation correct. On checking the pump (which was not moving) I noticed it was getting 240. Bang, faulty pump. Replaced the pump and all valves which were showing signs of rust/corrosion. Drained the system, added some de-scaler, refilled, drained, inhibited, refilled. Heating has never worked better. Her total cost, £80.

Now, as much as the system will probibly have some corrosion, I am sure she will deffo get another few year without powerflushing. Dont you think that of British Gas not to repair this, knowing it was only the pump, in order to atleast of generated heat into this womans property?? Especially at this time of year.

Whats your views on that.

 

[Toned.f]

Dont you think that was a bit ****y of British Gas not to repair this, knowing it was only the pump, in order to atleast of generated heat into this womans property?? Especially at this time of year.

Whats your views on that.

Yes..

 

[Barry98]

i think your cheap , if ive read your post right. but yeah BG are sales reps

 

[Rickster123]

My view on it..... You did all that for 80 quid?? It must be Christmas!:carolers:

 

[SimonG]

Just to change a pump (pump included) it's over the ton.

 

[mcniven]

i had a circulator in the van i took from a previous job, some left over descal, and inhib. just to get her goin again! only took about an hour lol. was my neighbour also...

 

[dancinplumba]

agree with all of the above

 

[mcniven]

single mum, 3 kids, low income, no costs to me parts wise, cmon lads... lol

 

[Barry98]

rrr you got some friend with benefits extars chucked in , gotcha

 

[mcniven]

haha bod

 

[Rickster123]

Haha ok i'll let you off! Very festive! My heatings playing up at the moment if you fancy a trip south Darren??!

 

[mcniven]

r u single mum mate ???

 

[Rickster123]

For 80 quid i'll slap a wig on mate!

 

[SimonG]

i had a circulator in the van i took from a previous job, some left over descal, and inhib. just to get her goin again! only took about an hour lol. was my neighbour also...

fair play to you then, as long as you happy with the £££. But I don't work for neighbours

 

[REDSAW]

single mum, 3 kids, low income, no costs to me parts wise, cmon lads... lol

you right, half price i would have done it for £325.lol.

 

[tommytoker]

i recently got called to quote for a new boiler,
it was 2 pensioners with BG care,
they were told spares were not available anymore, it was worn out, about to break and gave them a quote of £5000 to fit a combi, trv's & a flush
(ideal classic, fixed 1 the other week - gas valve, fixed another months ago - pcb, spares are easily available)
they thought it was a bit excessive for something they never knew needed doing so called me after a previous customer of mine told them to get a second quote/opinion.
the boiler is working fine, there is no need to change it,
this is not the first time i have come across this and other methods from BG, they need stopping
dont even get me started on the warmfront contractors and their shoddy jobs for max price, ggrrrr

 

[gaspastemania]

End of the day they are the biggest gas company in the country who come with a fiull package . Most of the public think they are the bee's knee's and alot of engineers /installers who have left them quote former bg engineer on the vans.My own personal opinion is you will always get some ropey fitters/engineers in any company .On another note i personally have yet to come across a gas engineer who is a quality installer .

 

[Barry98]

quality is a quality installer it says so in his username

 

[Barry98]

why do you think mine is bod - cos i have the perfect body ;0

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i had a radiator install last week, new position, piped up from existing rad BG quoted her £600 i did it for less then a third of that.

 

[Mbear]

End of the day they are the biggest gas company in the country who come with a fiull package . Most of the public think they are the bee's knee's and alot of engineers /installers who have left them quote former bg engineer on the vans.My own personal opinion is you will always get some ropey fitters/engineers in any company .On another note i personally have yet to come across a gas engineer who is a quality installer .

On the flip side, engineers who only install couldn't fix a broken wire if u gave them instructions.

"Eh I don't know how to fix ur boiler, I only install them."

This kinda statement wouldn't inspire confidence in me if I were a customer

 

[RoryD]

I went to a customers house yesterday who told me that she had been quoted £650 by British Gas in order to rectify her heating issue. She previously had British Gas home care, which covered all aspects of plumbing & heating within her property. You know the one, the unlimited call out, unlimited parts & labour.

So, basically, the engineer came out, saw that when the boiler kicked in the water was expanding/overheating up into the F&E tank causing a bit of a banging noise on the way up. He advised her that all the pipework/radiators were choked and that in order to repair the current problem she requires a powerflush (price above).

There was no circulation correct. On checking the pump (which was not moving) I noticed it was getting 240. Bang, faulty pump. Replaced the pump and all valves which were showing signs of rust/corrosion. Drained the system, added some de-scaler, refilled, drained, inhibited, refilled. Heating has never worked better. Her total cost, £80.

Now, as much as the system will probibly have some corrosion, I am sure she will deffo get another few year without powerflushing. Dont you think that of British Gas not to repair this, knowing it was only the pump, in order to atleast of generated heat into this womans property?? Especially at this time of year.

Whats your views on that.

I would question the competence of the engineer. I can't make apologies for poor diagnosis, don't think anyone has always got it right. I bet if the customer complains, she will be reimbursed your charge to her and a few freebies would be thrown in. The first thing anyone should have checked would be the pump, Darren advise her to complain mate. I'm a BG engineer (ohh that's a surprise!!) and I would like to think it was a competence thing.

 

[RoryD]

i recently got called to quote for a new boiler,
it was 2 pensioners with BG care,
they were told spares were not available anymore, it was worn out, about to break and gave them a quote of £5000 to fit a combi, trv's & a flush
(ideal classic, fixed 1 the other week - gas valve, fixed another months ago - pcb, spares are easily available)
they thought it was a bit excessive for something they never knew needed doing so called me after a previous customer of mine told them to get a second quote/opinion.
the boiler is working fine, there is no need to change it,
this is not the first time i have come across this and other methods from BG, they need stopping
dont even get me started on the warmfront contractors and their shoddy jobs for max price, ggrrrr

Tommy, If not ALL parts are available then you must advise the customer of that, I leave it at that. To tell them NO parts are available is a lie!! BG prices for boilers, in my humble view, are far too high for what the customer gets...I think everyone here should be grateful for that!!

 

[RoryD]

On the flip side, engineers who only install couldn't fix a broken wire if u gave them instructions.

"Eh I don't know how to fix ur boiler, I only install them."

This kinda statement wouldn't inspire confidence in me if I were a customer

Fully agree MBear

 

[mcniven]

I would question the competence of the engineer. I can't make apologies for poor diagnosis, don't think anyone has always got it right. I bet if the customer complains, she will be reimbursed your charge to her and a few freebies would be thrown in. The first thing anyone should have checked would be the pump, Darren advise her to complain mate. I'm a BG engineer (ohh that's a surprise!!) and I would like to think it was a competence thing.

Yes that is obviously the case mate! But it's that old thing where if they wear the colours they represent the team. Il mention to her about making a complaint to get some of her candy back.
Thanks mate!