at annual service told boiler was dirty - is this a way to be ripped off

[Millsy 82]

they are serviced each year .. the issue is when the service engineer suggests a power flush and you effectively lose your service plan until you pay many hundreds for a a service you may or may not need .. i have never had one engineer suggest i should put a filter in

Did you ask them how sludge could affect ignition/ flame rectification? If they refuse get someone independent to sort the problem and check the water quality.

I went out to someone 4/5 years ago british gas refused to do anything as "there was sludge in the system" so they got worcester out that replaced loads of parts then refused to do anymore until the system was power flushed as it was apparently checked up. I got the phone call and customer told me what the problem was I said it doesnt sound like a sludge issue so I will come out and diagnose. £110 later boiler working perfectly all radiators hot top to bottom.

The sludge thing gets used far too often to get out of insurances so question them about it as there are only a few that I can think of that would cause an ignition lockout

 

[centralheatking]

Sludge issues. ferric sludge is both a restriction to flow and also a bit like pumping liquid sandpaper round your system. Certain components are prone to premature wear. Diverter Valves, pumps, aav, heat ex. Most people change the oil in their car, if you dont like someone put toothpaste or brasso in their oil and see what happens. Ferric sludge black or worse the brown stuff does the same. centralheatking

 

[OffshoreGas]

Another thread asking am I being “ripped off” is it possible that the engineer is actually right?? Why always so accusatory

Going solely on personal experience the attitude of a not insignificant number of trades people can be a little off putting.

Its not easy I guess working for a big firm who will expect you to be in, out and within an allotted time, the home owner doesn't have any form of relationship with these people and suddenly they’re saying they need to spend £500.

 

[centralheatking]

Going solely on personal experience the attitude of a not insignificant number of trades people can be a little off putting.

Its not easy I guess working for a big firm who will expect you to be in, out and within an allotted time, the home owner doesn't have any form of relationship with these people and suddenly they’re saying they need to spend £500.

Its not just the time pressure. Effectively eg BG do not turn a profit from their annual servicing contracts it is expected that their engineers sell extras...co monitors, hive, full flush outs etc. whatever they are told to sell. Its the add ons which make money
centralheatking

 

[OffshoreGas]

Its not just the time pressure. Effectively eg BG do not turn a profit from their annual servicing contracts it is expected that their engineers sell extras...co monitors, hive, full flush outs etc. whatever they are told to sell. Its the add ons which make money
centralheatking

I guess it's a loss leader to generate work for their over priced installations. It's an expensive hobby doing business legally/responsibly I can see why they don't make much from it.

 

[centralheatking]

I guess it's a loss leader to generate work for their over priced installations. It's an expensive hobby doing business legally/responsibly I can see why they don't make much from it.

The generally accepted cost for BG etc is £65 for one hour, two visits makes a servicing policy a loss maker. Hence pressure to succeed in one go, and sell an extra during the visit. centralheatking

 

[Millsy 82]

Its not just the time pressure. Effectively eg BG do not turn a profit from their annual servicing contracts it is expected that their engineers sell extras...co monitors, hive, full flush outs etc. whatever they are told to sell. Its the add ons which make money
centralheatking

Yet everytime they record record profits they always say that it is down to there service contracts and not down to energy sales.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Yet everytime they record record profits they always say that it is down to there service contracts and not down to energy sales.

I can only ever remember Centrica posting record losses not profits.

 

[Millsy 82]

I can only ever remember Centrica posting record losses not profits.

Profit margins at big six energy firms hit highest level on record

Average pre-tax margin rose to 4.48% in 2016 despite falling wholesale and environmental costs, says Ofgem

www.google.com

Dont think they are struggling somehow.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Profit margins at big six energy firms hit highest level on record

Average pre-tax margin rose to 4.48% in 2016 despite falling wholesale and environmental costs, says Ofgem

www.google.com

Dont think they are struggling somehow.

That was a one off due to the fall in wholesale gas prices being out of step with consumer contract terms.

They've lost about a million customers over the past three years, their share price has dropped from about 300p to 90p, they've shed about 10'000 staff, Ian Conn their COE has just resigned. Doesn't sound like they lost something like £2.2bn in 2017 and £300m this year. Doesn't really sound like a business that thriving.

The cap on energy prices has really hurt them.