British Gas Home Care Cover

[Bazile]

Anyone got the above -
Do you try and get a reduction on the renewal premium ?

I always do - and in the past always get a reduction of around 20%

However they won't budge from a reduction of 10% this time

Has any one on here , tried to negotiate a reduction on your latest premium - if so what percentage reduction did you manage to get ?

[teacake44]

They are unlikely to budge until the cold weather as gone, then they will be begging you for the business.

[Bazile]

Well they have always done 20% reduction in the past when I ring them up at this time of year , which is when my policy renews

[teacake44]

The problem with BG is they are governed by share holders, their prices are through the roof in my view, take a calculated risk and tell them your going to have to cancel, I'm sure you could find someone local and defo a lot cheaper.

[teacake44]

Don't know what contract you have with them, but when I looked at their terms and conditions for most of the covers they offer, its a mine field, they have so many get outs for not repairing you may as well not have any cover, save the money and pay for a local plumber for a one off repair, I know easy said, you have to find one. BGs greatest get out is, ( if WE decide your boiler is uneconomical to repair, we will offer you a good price on a new one. A new boiler off BG is nearly twice the price as other suppliers.

[gingejbee]

Many home insurance policies have an option of "home emergency cover"....things like boiler breakdown, lock replacement, electrical faults....which can work out considerably cheaper than British Gas's stand-alone cover.

[teacake44]

@13.14, Yes they do, but in my experience they only give the very minimum cover, it seems to me to be more of a gimmick to sell the home insurance, along with lots of terms and conditions that work against you.

[CrapAtCryptics]

My experience was not good each year the renewal got earlier and there was always a problem in booking the annual service visit till it got almost to the end of the year so we use a local guy now for half the price.

[ummmm]

Teacake...can you not spell 'has'?

[carrot99]

I've been with them for years and it never occurred to me to ask for a reduction. I'll give it a go when I next renew. Thanks for the tip Bazile.

[teacake44]

Nothing better to do ummmm ?

[teacake44]

@14.35 Plus you have to pay a £60 excess for every repair now ,on top of the monthly cost. rip off. as

[Old_Geezer]

Yes.
Yes usually, as the increases are unjustifiable. Was late this year so I didn't bother.
Not budging means you look for other care service companies. I know I did the year I decided I was being taken for a fool, and I wasn't putting up with it any longer.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh, and the compulsory excess fee on top of the annual charge is a damned cheek, given the annual cost.

[teacake44]

And this is from the horses month OG, the engineer that does mine, ( one man band) told me that his mate who works for BG as been told that any part that breaks now, he has to repair it whatever, near enough glue it together, opposed to replacement like they always did in the past. If you have to call them back because it breaks again then your hit with another £60.

[teacake44]

^ opps mouth

[ummmm]

Yes...just waiting for lunch :-)

[bhg481]

I wonder why people spend a fortune on such cover. We've been in our house for almost 40 years and I've only had the boiler serviced once, although I do have a CO2 monitor. Over all that time my gas consumption has remained steady (just seasonal fluctuations) and I've had to replace my diverter valve once and my pump once - jobs easy for most DIYers.

[Old_Geezer]

Might account for why I've had to call them out twice this year. Seemed to be different issues each time though. Maybe the inclusive boiler service out to be a full system check & service.

[Bazile]

I have home care Four , without an excess

[teacake44]

Yep, they scare most into having cover. mine as been in for 13 years, only cleaned the trap out, and had the pressure vessel topped up. Last year the DHW plate started to act up, so renewed it. Just out of interest got some quotes, one company wanted £170 for the plate +vat and £300 labour. Got the plate myself £110.00 and my man fitted it for £60. I was told by the other company it was based on 3/4 labour, they were going to take the whole block out, no need to do that.