british gas flushing scam - Plumbing Forum | Plumbers Forums

unguided1 · 04-10-2008

has anyone come across the scam where a customer calls out British gas on their service contract.
scenario.
First bg engineer turns up and says yes I know what the problem is, its a new pump or a new zone valve or a problem with the boiler. but I dont have the parts to fix it or I do electrics not plumbing I will send sombody out tomorrow. they turn off the system.

The second bg engineer turns and inspects the problem and announces there is nothing wrong with any of the parts on the system, what your system needs is a system flush, your not covered on your service contract so it is going to cost £600 + Vat. customer says get stuffed second Bg engineer leaves having done nothing to the system and left it not working.

This scenario has happend to three of my customers in southern oxfordshire in the last 3 Months.
resulting work
1 new pump fitted.
2 new zone valves fitted
1 new pump and 1 new 3 way valve.
If the second engineer reads this I owe you a drink for the extra work. Cheers (not that I need it).
If anyone else has had expirience of this let me know

unguided1 · 11-11-2008

Had another one today
an old lady who is clearly of the vunreable type, has had 5 visits from british gas in the last year. recomendations by the BG engineer include
buying a british gas carbon monoxide detector for a room sealed boiler.
having a heating system flush that is clearly labelled as having inhibitor.
Air vents for a room sealed boiler that clearly does not need air vents.

manx12 · 12-11-2008

It happened to a young couple in Manchester.. they were on the British Gas monthly agreement.. when the central heating would not work.. the rads were not getting hot.. so they called BG out and they announced that they need to powerflush the system for 600 pound.. they thought it was abit high and called a local plumber (me!) for a second opinion, i checked the usual fault possiblities and noticed the pump (which was old) was not working.. changed the pump and fired up the boiler.. and hey presto.. the CH system is still working 4 weels later....

grahamep · 13-11-2008

Trouble is BG powerflushes are outsourced and they give the contractor something like 3 hours to do the flush. If there is anyone out there that can do a proper powerflush on a 10 rad system in 3 hours (bearing in mind that BG are generally only called out when the sludge in the system is like tar) then I would like to meet you. I would be very glad to charge £600+ for a 3 hour job. BG are still cashing in on the public perception that they are the ultimate authority from the days when they used to be the statutory body.

Tosh · 13-11-2008

I didn't have this but I did have a seriously high quote from them for a new combi boiler supplied and fitted.

Just thought it would be fun to see how much it would cost as I got letter saying that because I was a BG customer I was entitled to £800 discount on a new boiler and installation.

Including my discount quote came to £3,400. I think the boiler I was quoted for doubled up as space rocket, (bl***y wants to for for that price).

marleyco · 13-11-2008

customer phoned the other day, told me bg wanted £190 to service gas fire. cheaper to buy a new one!

unguided1 · 15-11-2008

What I would Like to know is if this a nation wide thing that is going on why arent BG on a program Like rouge traders? because I know If I did this sort of thing I would be!!!!!
Regards
Mike

stevetheplumber · 25-11-2008

i had the same scenario about a year ago worcester combi 5 engineers had been al rercomending a system fush not covered by the plan. quote was £700.00. all that was wrong was the fan had gone not difficult to diagnose on a worcester as there a big red light that flashes
Even better story
i look after the plumbing at a large posh nursery in the city of london
been doing it a few years and could never explain to them that there gas board plan was a waste of money as they felt it was something special guaranteeing them expert service
a couple of years ago they called me out to water coming through the ceiling from the loft
on inspection it was like a rainforest up there with steam issueing from the F&E tank
I turned of the offending boiler and told them to contact BG
i then got a phone call from the nursery saying the BG engineer had been and there was nothing wrong with the boiler stat (my diagnosis)
and he had set the poiler up
next morning i got called out again as the topfloor ceiling was on the floor and the building was full of steam
i think the claim came to 22 grand and the best bit is I now look after the boilers

grahamep · 25-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevetheplumber

i think the claim came to 22 grand and the best bit is I now look after the boilers

Actually Steve the best bit would have been if you had confirmed that BG had to meet the claim! Not that we begrudge you the custom.

Kings · 27-11-2008

I have come across a few bad stories from another service contract insurance type company that "serve" the "Home".
A leak was "fixed" 3 times by an engineer only to still be causing problems, my mate found that after taking apart the connection they had squirted sealant into it.
Another one was when a toilet was not flushing the engineer took it apart and selotaped up the split membrane! The next engineer replaced it with another material which looked like a thick plastic carrier bag.
I'm now booked in to replace the whole inards of the cistern as it's failed again. He's cancelled the "insurance".