British Gas Boiler Cover...please Explain

[pastafreak]

I switched to BG earlier this year and am not currently covered. As I need a boiler service, I decided that I'd apply for cover this week(timing determined by pension pay date).

As of this afternoon, I'm not getting any hot water. It's an old boiler so not up to date before anyone asks. I upped the pressure...it was only on '1',and I 'reset'. If I turn the hot tap on full, the boiler light does not come on.

OK...back to getting coverage. If I sign up today...(choice is with no claim or £60 excess), will the repair be covered? 

There is an option for existing problem -  "need something fixed?"...but coverage doesn't include £99 boiler service. It would also cost more than the quotes I already received...£22/32 without and with excess. Do I just go ahead and sign up...and call for a repair after?

I'm getting VERY confused! I hope this makes sense.

[nicebloke1]

Just find someone local,( heating engineer )for a quote to repair if I were you.

[pastafreak]

I may have to...BG charges start at £125 for the first 45 minutes. 🤯

[nicebloke1]

Forget BG they will take an arm and a leg off you, and still tell you, you need a new boiler. You may well do but find someone cheaper to tell you that. A local engineer may still be able to get the parts to fix it. BG wont even try.

[maggiebee]

You could possibly find a Corgi registered plumber near you who could do the job.  BG are my suppliers, but I tend to have my boiler serviced and repaired if necessary by a local plumber. Much cheaper than BG.

[Old_Geezer]

As it's BG, presumably their Homecare thingy, I'd not recommend it. The engineers they send are ok, but BG can't get enough of them to fulfil it's promises, year after year, and is not adverse next year to tell you that you are already covered for another year because they took payment automatically (having never been told they could) then you later find out they didn't take payment, but being fed up with them  by then you left it, and then they tell you that you cancelled (a clear lie) and they want lots of money which, because you don't owe, and don't pay, gives them an excuse to pester you year after year.

[calda49]

Make sure the person you get is on the "Gas Safety Register", which replaced the Corgi register. Gives you the guarantee of someone to contact if things go wrong. I hope they don't but it is not worth the chance.

[pastafreak]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll look for a local plumber tomorrow...neighbours might have a recommendation. 

I couldn't have timed it better with the temperature due to plummet on Tuesday. I was just going to put the heating on anyway...maybe not.

[pastafreak]

O_G...is that your personal experience? 

[nicebloke1]

Is it just hot water your not getting, or has heating gone also. AND us it a combi boiler.

[pastafreak]

I don't know about the heating, as I've not needed it. Yes...its a Potterton combi. About 13-14 years old and except for a leak about 7 years ago...no problems. 

I did notice earlier this year a brief period where it took longer for the hot water to click in...and that was happening again several days ago. I thought it was the pressure as the barr was just at 1,so I increased it. No change 

[Old_Geezer]

Yes.

[nicebloke1]

The bar is nothing to do with the hot water. Bar is the pressure of water going through your radiators only.

You really need to find out if heating is working, a heating engineer will ask you thst when you call.

If both are not working it could just be the elctrodes ( spark that lights the gas) if one or the other is not working. It could be the diverter valve.

[Maydup]

I was going hit suggest the same. Test out the heating this evening as you don't want to find any fault with that after the calL out to the boiler engineer. 

[nicebloke1]

Yes maydup a lot of engineers know whats gone wrong before they get there if given full facts, and in many cases bring parts with them. They deal with the same wholesaler so they can return parts if  on the odd time they get it wrong.