British Gas

[BigBlueConk]

So my boiler breaks down a couple of days ago.
However, because of my 14 hour night shifts, not easy to be at home and arrange for quotes etc.

After freezing my nads off for the 3rd day I decided I would call the British Gas emergency line and pay whatever it takes as it is driving me nuts!

The quotes I got can not do the work until next week, except that I need my rota to arrange a time.

So here it is.

British Gas said they would send somebody on Monday. I said no thanks, need something today.
They would ONLY send an engineer today IF I signed up for their maintanance contract.
I said no thanks.

Thing is, this is basically blackmail. Anybody else have issues with them?
The more I have thought about it, the more inclined I am to write to their chairman and the ombudsman. For all the good it will do.

Meanwhile, still freezing but warmed by the result!

 

[Deleted member 28206]

I had to do the same thing, i paid the £99 up front and the £26 a month to get covered.

No big deal.

 

[BigBlueBalls]

Find a local independent plumber/gas fitter and sort it through them. A lot of independent fitters are ex British gas anyway so should know what they are doing. New efficient combi boilers will reduce your usage and so costs. Pay for a good one and it'll last. £1100 including fitting. Give or take.

 

[neonleon]

So my boiler breaks down a couple of days ago.
However, because of my 14 hour night shifts, not easy to be at home and arrange for quotes etc.

After freezing my nads off for the 3rd day I decided I would call the British Gas emergency line and pay whatever it takes as it is driving me nuts!

The quotes I got can not do the work until next week, except that I need my rota to arrange a time.

So here it is.

British Gas said they would send somebody on Monday. I said no thanks, need something today.
They would ONLY send an engineer today IF I signed up for their maintanance contract.
I said no thanks.

Thing is, this is basically blackmail. Anybody else have issues with them?
The more I have thought about it, the more inclined I am to write to their chairman and the ombudsman. For all the good it will do.

Meanwhile, still freezing but warmed by the result!

Can't help but I can empathise. My scum bag landlord (are there any other kind) has ignored my repeated request to fix my heating and I'm now in bed with about nine layers on shivering through the weekend.

 

[BigBlueConk]

I had to do the same thing, i paid the £99 up front and the £26 a month to get covered.

No big deal.

Except that my dad is shortly giving me the money to get a brand new boiler, which comes with a 7 year warranty and I dont need the cover!

Problem is that my fridge operates at three degrees. My house at night is three degrees. I sense an opportunity to save electricty.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Do boilers only ever break down in the winter?

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Except that my dad is shortly giving me the money to get a brand new boiler, which comes with a 7 year warranty and I dont need the cover!

Problem is that my fridge operates at three degrees. My house at night is three degrees. I sense an opportunity to save electricty.

The cover covers all pipes and plumbing and electricity too?

 

[BigBlueBalls]

Do boilers only ever break down in the winter?

When do you use them most mate?

 

[BigBlueConk]

When do you use them most mate?

Wasn't a serious question!

I try not to use the heating at all between April and September, but its the women want it on. Always the women.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Wasn't a serious question!

I try not to use the heating at all between April and September, but its the women want it on. Always the women.

My house is like f*cking Africa at the moment.

Turn the heating on and WARM THE HOUSE UP, DON'T TURN IT IN A F*KING SAUNA LOVE!

 

[BigBlueConk]

The cover covers all pipes and plumbing and electricity too?

Probably not.

The issue being is why couldn't that same engineer come today if I was willing to pay the higher rate for a one off repair.
They didn't have an answer.

 

[BigBlueConk]

My house is like f*cking Africa at the moment.

Turn the heating on and WARM THE HOUSE UP, DON'T TURN IT IN A F*KING SAUNA LOVE!

Bryan, I know exactly what you mean mate!

Normally I walk around in Bermuda shorts and a vest! Whilst losing weight!!

 

[BigBlueBalls]

Wasn't a serious question!

I try not to use the heating at all between April and September, but its the women want it on. Always the women.

Get snuggled up next to one of them.

 

[maddison]

I wouldn't call British Gas. They often outsource to local plumbers anyway. You could well be paying a premium for a local guy to come out, when you could have gone to him direct in the first place

There are plenty of people struggling for work at the moment.

 

[chicoazul]

Rip out your boiler and replace it with a used protein drink tin. It has similar properties and keeps the water warm when needed. As a plus point you'll also be benching 150kg within two calendar months. Thank me later.