A Word of Warning

stickywicket

I don’t know if I’m allowed to name names here so I won’t but, if anyone wants them, they can just PM me.

We have a contract with Major Gas Supplier A (which I’ll refer to as MGS A) which covers the boiler and central heating – annual inspection, maintenance etc. It was about to run out and Mr SW discovered he could get the same service cheaper from Major Gas Supplier B (MGS but, before they would take us on, their people needed to inspect the boiler.

MGS B found 3 faults with the boiler which we would have to pay them to remedy before they could give us a contract. Meanwhile, they put a red sticker on the boiler saying it was ‘at risk’, though they said we could continue to use it.

Incensed, that MGS A hadn’t even noticed, let alone remedied these faults at the annual servicing, Mr SW called them up. (At this point, MGS B’s man called in to base to inform them of what Mr SW was doing.)

Today MGS A’s specialist supervisor came. He’s the man, normally at base, whom the engineers ring when they encounter a problem. With Mr SW watching like a hawk, he proved MGS B’s men wrong on every count, including easily undoing the ‘gas valve burner pressure tap nipple’ which MGS B’s men had said was twisted over and incapable of being undone.

When Mr SW rang MGS B to say he didn’t want to continue with the contract even if it meant he’d lose out financially, they tried time after time to talk him into staying, offering better and better rates. But, as he pointed out, what use are better rates when you can’t trust the engineers?

We will stick with the ones we had. They might be overtly more expensive but they’ve always done a good job, promptly and never tried to charge us for stuff that was perfectly OK.

dreamdaisy

Blimey, I thought it ws only dentists who would tell you a load of guff about stuff you can't see or understand. My auntie had trouble with her MGS A, called in another lot who were proved to be right but then they let her down with their contract so she went back to her A. Why are these schemes unable to provide reliable service? DD

barbara12

Hi SW
My hubby is a gas engineer, and he goes to inspect many boilers where they have a contract...they are usually not happy with the repairs.
Like you say if you are happy with one stay with them.

frogmorton

Plumber we had out here (on another matter to do with new kitchen),proved to us that major supplier A with whom we also have a contract told US porkies too ::) Trying to get us to buy a new boiler. :?

I don't trust any of them - just Barbara's husband Wish he was nearby

Love

Toni xxx

Numptydumpty

It makes me glad we don't have gas in our village :roll:

julie47

We are with a major company too for boiler and central heating and I am always wondering whether to change to a different company.
My boiler always works fine until they start fiddling with it :shock:
I have had to call them back in the past and pay the 50.00 call out (I am on the lower rate insurance plan) just to correct what the last man did. :x

It is difficult knowing who to trust. :roll:


Love Juliepf x

dreamdaisy

I can see why people sign up to these plans, they are supposed to give peace of mind etc but there seems to be more bad than good with them. We use a local private gas engineer, the same with the plumber, simply because their livelihoods depend on being reliable, honest and doing good work. DD

joanlawson

I think there was something on the Watchdog programme a while ago about the unscrupulous sales tactics used by some gas suppliers. They proved that the faults identified didn't exist. The gas suppliers were just trying to get the people to buy a new boiler as I think the engineers get commission for every one they sell.

I'm with DD on this and use a local man who we can trust.