Thanks all - just trying to figure out my options now and this thread has been very helpful.

I've got BG Homecare 300 and had it for over 7 years.

I've had around 10 visits in that time and only once had a problem when they sent an inexperienced guy who made a leaking pipe a lot worse!

Other than that the service has been excellent. They have been out on a Saturday when I have had an emergency which would have cost well over £200 if I'd called in a plumber.

It works for me as I like to work to a budget and have no nasty surprises. I pay £23.91a month and consider it very good value. As mentioned earlier there are no limits to callouts.

My only minor gripe is that recently they have only offered all day callouts whereas it used to be AM or PM so it can mean a whole day sitting around and waiting but this could be the case with any tradesman.

last year I got a new boiler but last month BG homecare came to do their yearly service and broke it for 10 days . we have their top cover of about £450.00 pa which we have never used over the last 10 years. my point is that the only time we've needed BG home care is when they did the damage, also is my warranty with the boiler company now void and should i get a cheaper full cover home care (gas & electricity) contract with a new company.

You could get the Homecare 400 Flexi which is cheaper per month but you pay £50 per visit (but nothing for repairs). To be honest you can be susceptable to boilers going at any time. Mine went in summer and the guy who came to it said it was highly likely to happen in summer cos the boilers aren't used so much apart from the odd blast of hot water so they become a bit weak. Food for thought there!

To be honest it's not something people like to pay for cos of the what if? factor but it's invaluable when you need it! I can vouch for that!

My hubby thinks we should get Homecare 400 but have been quoted £28p/m. I think he is beining a little too causious. What would u say is the best vaue for money?

We don't have any central heating/electricity broblems yet(touch wood) but we do have dripping VAILLANT boiler (only 6 yrs old). BG have said they will charge extra £150 to come out and deal with this problem.

Also - is it worth taking out central heating cover mid way of the season or shall i just get the boiler repaired by a plumber and wait for next year to get insurance cover?

Ta

Hi, I'm thinking about taking out British Gas's Home Electical & Home Plumbing care packages (we don't have central heating so the Homecare packages probably aren't best for us). So it sounds like it could be worth it from the posts above? Does anyone know of any cheaper options for electrical & plumbing cover? I'm not sure what to search for.

Also has anyone had to make any callouts and how much does the bill increase by? I called BG but they couldn't even give a rough amount.

I've got the Homecare 300 package which covers boiler, central heating and plumbing and drains and it's proved a godsend. All the other companies offer packages that cover heating but they all have limited call outs and a limit as to how much in parts and labour costs you can have. BG have no such restrictions- call them out as many times as you want! You could get the flexi option where you pay less a month and then pay an excess when someone does come out.

 BTW I did notice that BG will reduce the cost to you year on year if you don't make any callouts. I don't believe anyone else offers that

There are others but whether they are cheaper, or offer service in all areas is unknown until you provide all your details, try putting the words,"central heating cover" into Google, then you will find alternative cover providers.

Cheers, but surely there must be other companies who offer this service. British Gas don't have a monopoly here, do they??

Hi  ---- Scottish / British gas do a Homecare flexi 200 plan which is £11 / month plus a £50 fixed fee for every repair thay are called to, whether that works out cheaper obviously depends on you not having to call them out, or at least no more than one callout roughly every 9 months on average, to break even.

 

http://britishgas.home-

maintenance.info/homecare-200/

I currently have cover with Scottish Gas for my boiler and radiators and am paying around £17 per month. Is there a cheaper option ??