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BG Homecare

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  • BG Homecare

    My dad is fully covered on the BG Homecare scheme, well until yer boiler is knackered and they can't get the parts so you have to get a new one.
    They have been called out to his boiler 5 times this year as he had no heat/hot water they went on about a power flush well when I was on CAG I knew about that rip off, once you have had a flush its a lifetime thing so they can sod off with that.
    Anyway its gone again so i rang them this morning after telling dad it would have to be replaced to see how much and what discount he would be entitled to as he has been a Homecare customer for 10 years. They couldn't give any idea on price not even a tidgy widgy clue lol and discount £300 trade in that any one gets.

    Anyway went on site and saw Homecare £17 per month at most but then it depends on how many call outs you have had.
    So I rang up a nice lad who really understood my anger when I explained that and the fact my dad had paid in 2010 £578.40,
    £612.00 in 2011 and £575.86 in 2012 I asked how many call outs had been in the last 3 years as to the cost of the policy he has had 3 up until the boiler fiasco where he has had 5 this year and it is unrepairable and they don't replace.

    I tried to speak to someone higher up then the lad who had helped me and all of a sudden they need a copy of the LPA to deal with me. Copy ready to go along with this note feel free to give any help with it.


    Dear BG
    Mr Enaids dad is now 87 and has Alzheimers, he lives on his own and is very vulnerable. He has I think been a customer of yours for as long as you have been around. Having recently taken over most of his affairs this one slipped the net and I did not become aware of the cost to him until he had a lot of problems this year with his boiler. I knew that he had the Homecare scheme and that everything was covered. I know of 2 occasions up until these latest boiler problems where he actually called on your services, one was for the cooker switch on his kitchen wall, the other was for a faulty light connection on his kitchen lght. He had to be prompted to call you out on both occasions by myself as I knew he was covered for this work. Left to his own devices he would have lived without cooker or light.
    As he has again no hot water or heat I rang yourselves to ask how much a replacement boiler would be and if there would be any discount as he has been a Homecare customer for 10 years. I was told that it was impossible to give any idea of the cost and also the only discount would be £300 as a trade in for his old boiler.
    I thought this a bit naff and got up on the website the cost of Home care to see it was at most £17 per month but it would vary as to the amount of call outs you had received. I have checked and up until this year he has had 2 call outs the ones I have mentioned and yet the Home care charge has gone from £578.40 in 2010 to £612.00 in 2011 and then £575.86 in 2012, I think this was paid by DD before this and now it is paid annualy up front. I can't imagine what he would be charged now you have been called out about 5 times this year.
    I am utterly disgusted at the amount of money he has paid out and to me for 2 small jobs that probably would have been no where near that had he called out a local tradesman.
    I think he did also call out when his kitchen tap wasnt working and he was told he would have to pay about £80 for a new tap unbelievable in my opinion when you consider things to be covered.
    I have arranged for a quote from a local tradesman re a new boiler and will be getting another to compare. I will not however be buying one from yourselves now.
    You may also cancel the Homecare policy at the end of this year as I am afraid it may take his life savings to renew it.
    Tags: None

  • #2
    Re: BG Homecare

    Flipping Nora Di, ours has gone up from £33 - £35 month, we are covered for basically everything with them and have called them out once for the boiler, once for when the tank split in the loft and once for the hot water tank in the cupboard, the two tanks were replaced and the boiler was a glitch in the programme, its just 2 years old so I suspect that came under the guarantee anyway.
    Thanks for keeping us informed though I'm going to double check on everything.
    Oh by the way, loving the letter.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: BG Homecare

      Well tbh I would have thought the tank would have come under House Insurance maybe wrong.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: BG Homecare

        Current T & Cs

        http://www.britishgas.co.uk/content/...Conditions.pdf
        CAVEAT LECTOR

        This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

        You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
        Cohen, Herb


        There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
        gets his brain a-going.
        Phelps, C. C.


        "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
        The last words of John Sedgwick

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: BG Homecare

          enaid - incoming PM (let me know that it's arrived)
          CAVEAT LECTOR

          This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

          You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
          Cohen, Herb


          There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
          gets his brain a-going.
          Phelps, C. C.


          "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
          The last words of John Sedgwick

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: BG Homecare

            replied thanks chas have been down the free boiler route no go lol

            The prices quoted ie £17 per month carry a £99 excess charge,(the excess charge is flexible) so think thats why it's cheaper than dads but even so too much imho I will fight it.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: BG Homecare

              Di have you tried Age UK they may have a grant or something and if not then they must know who/where to get the best deal for oldies.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: BG Homecare

                Originally posted by Sapphire View Post
                Di have you tried Age UK they may have a grant or something and if not then they must know who/where to get the best deal for oldies.

                As I said to Chas dad does not get the right benefits to qualify for a free or discounted boiler. Age uk and helping hands will no longer recommend tradesmen either has they have had problems doing so in the past. There is a brand new scheme http://www.getmetoasty.com/ but he doesn't qualify for that either.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: BG Homecare

                  So they entice you in with a reasonable price, usually paid monthly (but it isn't a "rolling monthly agreement" - you have agreed to pay for the year's coverage.)
                  Then, year 2 onwards, they can charge what they like?
                  CAVEAT LECTOR

                  This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

                  You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
                  Cohen, Herb


                  There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
                  gets his brain a-going.
                  Phelps, C. C.


                  "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
                  The last words of John Sedgwick

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: BG Homecare

                    Seems that way Chas, Sappy is sorting hers out as we speak lol

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: BG Homecare

                      Well there are pages full of complaints about this so I am posting this one http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/..._gas_2012.html if you do read it there is an address at the bottom so I sent off me letter to him as well will let you know if and when I get a reply

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: BG Homecare

                        as promised I will let you know when I get a reply and here it is


                        Diane,

                        Thank you for your e-mail and letting me know the situation relating to your Father. Obviously it is hard for me to comment without having all the details but clearly I take what you have told me as fact but need the full picture.

                        I have asked my specialist team to get involved and to review the situation. I have also cued in the MD of our boiler installs business, Olly Kunc to see if we can help - we may be able to utilise some Government backed schemes to help make the price of a new boiler more competitive.

                        We will be in touch.

                        Chris

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: BG Homecare

                          Thank God your Dad has you to fight his corner hun,,wonder how many poor old ducks have been rinsed of their money like this?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: BG Homecare

                            Originally posted by Inca View Post
                            Thank God your Dad has you to fight his corner hun,,wonder how many poor old ducks have been rinsed of their money like this?
                            Thousands I should think, my dad has always been a trusting man quite an asset one would think and probably was when he was a lot younger. Now a days it's a nightmare always someone ready to take all you have and more. Very sad imho, but all he tries to do is have an easy and trouble free life by agreeing to these rip offs can't blame him for that we all would love that.
                            Anyway on the other foot it's my inheritance they are robbin lol

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: BG Homecare

                              Well online they advertise Homecare 400 at £17 month, we are paying £35 ish, so on Di's advice I gave them a call, it seems that firstly the £17 is an opening offer for the first year, then it goes up.
                              We don't have the '£50 excess' option so ours is £35 but (and here's the rub) if we'd had the excess option then the excess is charged not on the callout but on the amount of repairs needed so if say the offending breakdown needs three parts then the excess is £150.

                              Comment

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