As I was in the area today I called round to see my 94yo Aunt.Long time widowed and living in a flat.
I just missed the B Gas salesman who convinced her that her perfectly working boiler & cistern needed replacing with a Worcester Greenston 24i High combi boiler. As she is of diminutive stature she struggles to reach her boiler controls (timed/permanently off/on) but BG can fit lower level controls, remove her old cistern, save her £150pa in gas charges, and fit & supply a new combi for the sum of £3029.00.
A bargain, she is told.
So she pays a £300 (10%) deposit there and then.
Being 94yo she doesn't even consider getting other quotes, because its BG isn't it. Luvly people.
What would you do...she doesn't have much money but I don't want to upset her? Not sure if there is a cooling off period to get my own plumbing contacts involved.
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Does she not qualify for the warm front grant? give them a ring and see whether that lower than BG?
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sadly no.
She gets no income related benefits having been frugal all her life, and her boiler was in perfect working order.
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Outrageous behaviour doing that to an old lady in that position. It'll take her years to recoup the cost. They should hang their heads in shame. British Gas' reputation is in shreds, thanks to poor customer service and iffy sales techniques. They're behaving like a bunch of crooks.
She should cancel.
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I'd be on to trading standards tomorrow - totally immoral.
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>and iffy sales techniques.
Didn't know he was running "Sales Training" courses as well now.
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Cancel to order and threaten whatever is needed. She'll never benefit.
The only thing she might benefit from is moving the controls to the existing system. Is that possible?
This is a terrible sales technique from BG.
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Talk about preying on the weak. Id ask nicely to cancel and if they dont budge, take it to the papers, its the kind of story that a whole host of papers like to run, especially when it involves taking shots at big companies.
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>and iffy sales techniques.
Joking aside,
I had a carbon copy of a British Gas service report stuffed into my letterbox a few months ago. It was meant for my neighbor.
"Replaced TP Valve under Homecare, advised customer that boiler is too old for spares and advised to replace."
It seems to be standard practice for BG service staff to try and upsell boiler replacements.
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She can cancel - they'll be a cooling off clause in the contract.
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>they'll be a cooling off clause in the contract.
they'll?? ;-)
14 days cooling off for home sales IIRC.
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>>It seems to be standard practice for BG service staff to try and upsell boiler replacements. <<
To be fair, mines now three years old and BG have provided a brilliant service. They sorted a firing issue at the last service and the fitted a new bit of copper pipe outside so my boiler met the new regs. The last engineer was especially good and showed me a few things that will need doing every few years so that I knew what should be looked at aswell as the engineer - he said the younger ones can be a bit keen to change parts when all they need is a minute with the wire brush - cant beat advice like that, it empowers you the customer.
Of course if your elderly and not technically minded, your easy prey and its easy to see how it happens.
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>Of course if your elderly and not technically minded, your easy prey and its easy to see how it happens.
Hey! I might be getting on a bit but... What was I saying? Another cup of tea dear? ;-)
Last edited by: Kevin on Thu 23 Aug 12 at 23:33
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>> >Of course if your elderly and not technically minded, your easy prey and its easy
>> to see how it happens.
>>
A few years ago one autumn, The first use of the C/H after the summer failed.
I was distracted or something and called in a plumber recomended by a friend.
He sucks teeth, quotes how old the boiler and cylinder are plus they have a finite life---- here is a verbal quote for boiler, etc. etc.
Switched brain on next day, shook the header tank ball valve to allow tank to fill then bought a new washer for pennies and all restored to health.
Boiler was replaced at a kitchen refurb but the 35years plus cylinder is still in use.
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>> It seems to be standard practice for BG service staff to try and upsell boiler replacements
On my plumbing course a couple of years back, we were told that fitters shouldn't touch older boilers which don't meet the current efficiency regulations - even simple repairs are verboten. Stops their companies meeting quality assurance targets or summat.
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British Bass! Pass me the antidepressants.
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Legacylad,
It's worth having a look at the Warm Front scheme. I live in Gloucestershire and the only means test was age. Being over 60 I qualified for extra loft insulation and cavity wall insulation FOC, no income/benefit clause at all.
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Cite duty of care. I'd do my utmost to have the Gits job from under him.
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At her age she won't live long enough to recover the cost by the alleged savings. (Neither would I, BTW!).
We are waiting the BG engineer this am, (we have a service contract with them, although EON are our suppliers) after our boiler ceased producing hot water after a couple of minutes of use.
The helpline 'phone was answered by an Indian, thankfully and unusually speaking excellent English. His first crack at it was to ask if the boiler pressure was under 1 bar, as I could do that job myself very quickly.
On my saying that I had no idea and no instructions anyway he arranged for a visit the next day (today). As an aside - why should I DIY ? I pay for service!
We shall see if my nearly eighteen quid a month actually works!
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>> His first crack at it was to ask if the boiler pressure was under 1 bar, as I could do that job myself very quickly<<
It's easier than rolling a spliff, Dodger: www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/TOPPING_UP_A_COMBI_BOILER.htm
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We've never had a combi boiler before & this one was in the house - with no instructions- when we bought the house.
I'll watch the process, though, so I can DIY in future - if I can be bothered, or if an engineer's visit will be delayed.
Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 5 Sep 12 at 01:39
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>>We've never had a combi boiler before & this one was in the house<<
Same here Roge (and I like em!) been here 16 months now and only had to top it up once.
If the system is air/water tight, it shouldn't lose any pressure anyway.
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Well- first class service from BG! The engineer 'phoned to say he would be late as his current job was taking longer than expected. He 'phoned again ten minutes before arrival to let me know he was on his way.
He sorted out the boiler - it had de-pressurised - and insisted on a full inspection and extended test of the system, even to the extent of going into the loft to see the very long, nearly horizontal, flue.
He reported that the flue was not sealed to recently introduced current specs. (we knew this from the last BG service) and very strongly recommended that the joints should be screwed together, as well as being sealed, as expansion under heat load which he could see (!) could allow CO to escape.
He offered to do the job there and then, saying it could be up to an hour's labour at £80 or so.
We gave him the go-ahead; he did the job and then said "no charge", as there were only two joints to do and it had not taken him so long that he would have to account for his time!
Now that is service!
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A result there Dodger! - presumably he is salaried then, or you would have been 80 sheets lighter.
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I'm with the Dodger, I've had great service from BG. We took out an insurance and they sent a locally based engineer to check my system.
He fitted a new flue as the old one was damaged, neatly repaired the outside brickwork. His sniffer found a couple of bad joints, which he repaired. A pressure test revealed another leak and he tracked it down to the long pipe under the floor leading from the kitchen gas supply to the lounge fire. He also found a leak under the concrete base of the marble hearth.
Rather than disturb the hearth he asked if I had any objection to him by-passing it and drilling through the side of the chimney breast just above skirting level. He dismantled the entire fire and fitted a discreet 10mm pipe out of sight. The entire underfloor gas system was replaced and he worked very hard at everything he did, including a long time spent under the floor, which has a headroom of about 2 feet.
The carpet was well protected and everything was left clean and tidy. True, he did drink a lot of tea but he was very knowledgeable about his job. His parents lived in the South of France and he was planning to migrate there with his wife when he'd saved enough. We offered to adopt him in the meantime as he was such a delight to have around.
It cost me the thick end of £900 but you can't pay too much for safety. Packing up the van afterwards he said he'd got something for me. Peeling all the barcode stickers off the box and telling me to keep shtum, he gave me a new magnetic filter/drain to fit into the central heating system......about £250's worth, I think he mentioned.
We've got his mobile number and he lives only half a mile away. So, any problems crop up, I'm to ring him.
Great young man, wish everyone was like him !
Ted
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My broiler lives outside (oil) which is the best place for it AND the flue, I don't have any gas in the cottage either.
(except Radon)
:}
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>> My broiler lives outside (oil) which is the best place for it AND the flue,
>> I don't have any gas in the cottage either.
>> (except Radon)
>>
>> :}
.....and Doggy farts !
Ted
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>>.....and Doggy farts !
Brother-in-law used to feed my dog a few sprouts before I'd do the half hour drive home!
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>>telling me to keep shtum, he gave me a new magnetic filter/drain to fit into the central heating system......about £250's worth, I think he mentioned.<<
So that is receiving stolen goods? However the value is most likely to be nearer £80. www.adey.co.uk/
£900 for a days work? I hope he installed a rather long length of copper pipe!
As a BG shareholder, I think that I would be unhappy with some of the stories told above!
Last edited by: pmh on Sat 25 Aug 12 at 09:58
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>>As a BG shareholder, I think that I would be unhappy with some of the stories told above!
>>
My dealings with BG re a routine replacement ( after 10 years use) electricity meter were a farce. IMO they are in some ways useless.
Currently the job is two years out of date. I have a plastic key ( that does not work) to the external meter cupboard and £20 compensation.
I tried how I tried to point out that their procedures were carp and their staff could not read and understand simple emails so their replies did not make sense.
They were able to send the bills to the correct name but were not able to pass this information to the sub contractor, who was working on a database at least two years old.
Have they followed up on a job not done? No.
They have reverted to in house rather than sub contracting so I guess they will have an excuse re intigration of data. They need a kicking!
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My experience (so far) will ensure that probably will I stay with BG for the service contract rather than their competitors.
12 X £17.80 = £ 213.60 which they will collect from me this year.
Mind you, I had to negotiate hard to get that monthly payment, as after year 1 @ £17.00, they wanted to increase to something in the order of £24 monthly as they thought I was a captive customer.
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>>£17.80
According to the TV Ad, you could get a brand-new boiler fitted, with a 10yr guarantee for that!
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It's on the drip {;-)} - no ta!
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He's not an engineer, he's a technician. Boilers are not complicated things.
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>> It seems to be standard practice for BG service staff to try and upsell boiler replacements.
Our landlord however justs keeps getting his gas engineer to repair our old inefficient boiler again and again.
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 24 Aug 12 at 14:06
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A little bit confused. Why did the BG man call. Was this a cold call or did it follow on from a service or repair?
You say that boiler working perfectly so why would you need to get your own plumbing contacts involved?
BG complaints procedure here.
www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-advice/contactus-personal-details/complaints/gas-electricity.html
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She should cancel using the 14 day cooling off period, and what's more, you should make a formal complaint to both British Gas and the regulator.
I would recommend you fit a wireless thermostat instead and program it to suitable levels. If she moves it from the living room to the bedroom at night, she'll be able to get the temperature set more or less exactly where it should be.
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Isn't 14 days applicable to credit agreements?
A cash sale would be 7 days.
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7 Days applies to a "Doorstep Sale" - 7 days from the receipt of the "cooling off" notice. Could be defined as a doorstep sale.
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British Gas rip off? - sajid
