british gas or corgi homecare for boiler

We changed to M&S Energy over a year ago and the process couldn't have been simpler. Quite happy with them for the time being.

The only contract we have with BG is for boiler and heating service and maintenance and prior to the annual renewal of the contract I'll have a chat with them and renegotiate a cost to include the cover of plumbing and drains.

Most service companies are willing to reduce their charges if you speak to their customer retention team.

I had a similar conversation with the AA last year and they reduced their annual renewal charge by 45%.

It doesn't necessarily follow, petra. I haven't used BG as my energy supplier for years.

Your HomeServe contract for the drains sounds pricey, Linsco56. I'm paying £10 something a month to British Gas at the moment for plumbing, drains and electrics cover, with no call-out. We've had a couple of electricians and a plumber in the last few months, so I think we're getting our money's worth.

Linsco56 I'm assuming that BG is your energy supplier?
I switched from them to OVO energy and saved £300 per year. One phone call, two emails all done painlessly.

I have a local tradesman who used to work for British Gas and he is much more cost effective and reliable.

That's dreadful, harrigran. Why did you not get British Gas out to repair the pig's ear? Especially as it happened several times. Why would you pay someone else to put things right?

I must say we have nothing but praise for the British Gas tradesmen we've had, be they electricians, plumbers or gas fitters.

You have a good deal J52 because on BG website the complete cover starts at £17.70 introductory for first year. Your rate must be due to the excess you pay for call out. If they are open to barter I will try to get my mum's annual payment down. It does offer peace of mind for very elderly and vulnerable.

I get the plumber that installed the boiler to do the annual check. We used to have British Gas to service the heating but they made a pig's ear of it every single time, service agreement was a waste of money as we had to call an engineer out to fix it after the service.

We are lucky to have found a plumber/heating engineer who runs a complete home maintenance company and so can send the right person for the job. We put aside money for paying for breakdowns and replacements etc. and pay as we go.
All insurance is a gamble, you may never use it or it could be worth it's weight in gold.

Sorry my attempt to do different parts of the above post in different type faces (Bold, italic etc) to make clear which text is a quote form the relevant organisation's website and what is my comment was singularly ineffective, but most of you are clever enough to work out which is which.

I think, after some googling, I have got it sorted.

The Gas Safe Register states quite clearly that ^We're the official list of gas engineers who are registered to work safely and legally on boilers, cookers, fires and all other gas appliances.*By law all gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register.*

Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the gas registration body in 2009.

CORGI state that their heritage as the previous GB gas scheme registrar has allowed the organisation to operate from the centre of the heating industry – with good relations with government, manufacturers, distributors and merchants.

Currently the CORGI brand is licensed for use by a carefully selected range of businesses, including Insurance, Certification, Van Sales, Warranties, Underfloor Heating, Telecoms, Controls, Technical Services and industry-related product lines.

I think CORGI works like HomeServe, acting as a central system and operating through local tradesman whom they have approved.

Depends on your circumstances, surely. If you have local electricians, plumbers, gas fitters you know you can trust then good for you. We can't get a local electrician to quote, let alone come out, for love nor money. I contacted four recently and only one bothered getting back to me (to say he was too busy to be bothered with our little problem). Since joining BG, we've always had somebody out to us the same day - within the hour when we've had an urgent problem - and the service has always been first class. They've just fitted us a new boiler, cheaper than any other price we've seen. It's covered now for free for 5 years and our central heating system for 12 months.

Saying it's a con or a waste of money is like saying any insurance is a con or a waste of money. We've had friends who've come to regret that line of thinking.

That's interesting J52. I think the time has come for me to barter a better deal with BG.

I will add that as DH is sometimes away from home, I wouldn't be happy having to source individual tradesmen on spec.

DH has just informed me that we pay £16 per month, now as we have opted for a £60 excess on call outs.
This seems ok as we rarely call them out, apart from the drain a few months ago. as others have said, we are paying for peace of mind.

Correction! Just checked back and the website actually says

For over 40 years the CORGI name has been associated with safety and reliability.

So it's not saying the firm's been established for 40 years, sorry! Sounds as though they're playing on the association in people's minds.

I googled Corgi and it says the firm's been established for 40 years. However, nowhere does it say their engineers are on the Gas Safe Register, so I'd be wary.

Generally I prefer to use a local company, they have more to lose if I am not satisfied with their work.

I've seen the Corgi flyer and, on the surface at least, it looks a much better deal than British Gas. But we have neither so I can't really say any more than that.

Oh! and we need to be able to pay monthly by direct debit to meet the requirements of Sandander accounts.

petra We had a new boiler and central heating system installed by BG 9 years ago. If my memory is correct, the first 2 years were covered without charge, so we have been paying for 7 years. Initially, the monthly charge was £17 but has crept up to £25.

Is it worth it? Hmmm.....it gives me peace of mind but I think it's probably time to look around for a better deal.

I would be interested to hear from J52 as we have separate cover with Homeserve for any drains blockages within our property and driveway and that costs an additional £12 per month.

How often do boilers break down? I think I have made only a couple of call outs in about 40 years.

The one I remember is the boiler breaking down the morning of my MiL's funeral. It was January, with a temperature well below zero.
I rang my CH service company at 7.30am, there was someone at the house by 8.00am and the pump had been replaced by 8.30. I doubt British Gas could meet that.

To be fair to British Gas, their contract does include the cost of spares and repairs and despite the extra cost is ideal for someone who would have difficulty meeting an unexpected expensive gas repair bill. What was always known as the 'peace of mind' factor. However, if you can afford to pay any unexpected repair bills, you are much better off with a contractor, who calls you every year to arrange an annual service and just charges you as he goes for any work done. It is a lot cheaper.

You didn't say how much you pay for all that J52?

Linsco56 Can I ask how long BG have been conning, sorry, charging you £25 a month. You can have a lot of call outs for this money. Would you say that it's worth it.
Everyone knows these contracts a a con, it's based on the fear factor.

A company must have decided to take on that name now the CORGI registration scheme is long dead, so that they can trade on the fact that most people are unaware that it has been replaced by the Gas Safe Register and still think the CORGI name is a guarantee of a properly trained and approved gas fitter.

I wouldn't touch a company like that with a barge pole and would be inclined to report it to Trading Standards, in case it is trading under false pretences.

We have always used British Gas, they cover our electrics and drains as well. In the past they've replaced radiators, pumps and hot water tank, all covered by the annual charge and you know the jobs done properly.
Recently, we had a drain blockage they sent Dynorod and the job was done in 15 mins. However, if it had been more complicated they would have still covered the cost.