www.iva.co.uk

Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge in Gas Engineering. I've just had British gas to service my boiler and the engineer has told me I need a new one as because it hasn't been serviced for 7 years the seal on the front panel has glued fast and he can't remove the front without possibly damaging the boiler. He's probably telling the truth, but I always like a second opinion. I could kick myself for not having it serviced regularly, but when I was struggling with debt, a service contract was the last thing on my mind and the Boiler was new when I moved in there 7 years ago!

I would get out another gas engineer to give you a second opinion.

Thanks Melanie

I'm going to do that. After he'd told me it needed replacing, his next breath was "I'm going to send a colleague round to give you a quote for a new one" and I thought "too fast" and I haven't got the money to pay for a new one anyway!

BG do have a habit of trying to replace boilers that do not need replacing. Try to find a local tradesman of the "old school" variety, who can actually effect a repair rather than simply change parts.

Agree with Foggy. This happened to me dunkynuts. I had my extg boiler put in, neglected it during IVA, then after IVA thought I'd get my house in order (so to speak). BG came round at my request, because I couldn't locate the original plumber, and said that my boiler was knackered and employed the same selling tactic as you. I then, by sheer luck bumped into my original plumber who came round and sorted it. I was also told, if looked after, it could last a good few more years. Apparently BG are pretty notorious at this type of tactical behaviour. Motto - Biggest not always best.

Completely agree with what has been said about BG, get another local gas fitter out to have a look.

A few years ago a BG engineer told an elderly lady, who lived over the road from my dad, that her boiler was shot and she would also need all her radiators replaced and would cost her over £4500 with the boiler being £2500 of that.

She told my dad who got her in touch with a local fitter who serviced my dads boiler. He found there was nothing at all wrong with the rediators and replaced the boiler for £1200 for exactly the same boiler BG was going to fit.

We have a maintenance plan with BG and I wouldn't be without it as they have fixed our boiler a couple of times. However, if they said the boiler needed replacing I wouldn't take their word for it I would shop around - not least because the position of our boiler is no longer legal (the vent goes onto the alley beside the house) and we would have to have the kitchen or bathroom redone!

British Gas are one of the most expensive boiler providers also. If you do need to replace it, find a local company and avoid being ripped off!

British Gas are rip-off merchants. They quoted me £9,000 to install central heating. This was £4,000 more expensive than the ex-british gas plumber who did the job. He left BG because he did not like conning people. Apparently BG pressure their employees to try selling replacement boilers. So they will reel off all sorts of bull.

Definitely get a second opinion.

We must have been lucky with the engineers in this area - we have never been pressured into anything. They have serviced the boiler, advised us that the position is no longer legal and left it to us.

Unfortunately if you want a contract you're quite limited and I'd rather take my chances with BG than have nothing.

Blimey - such awful stories of British Gas. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!