British Gas offers a number of ‘HomeCare‘ maintenance packages. What these mean is that you pay a monthly fee for unlimited engineer call-outs. The extent of the technologies this covers depends on your individual package. Some cover just your boiler, and more expensive packages cover central heating, plumbing, drains and electrics too. The idea is that you are covered in the case of an emergency call-out, and you’ll only pay once, regardless of how many times you need an engineer over the course of a year.
How much does British Gas HomeCare cost?
While monthly fees are fairly low, they starts to rack up over the course of a year.
The cheapest package starts at £12 per month. 12 x £12 = £124 per year, for annual boiler service and boiler and controls.
The most expensive package starts at £20.50 per month. £20.50 x 12 =£246, for the above plus drains, wiring, plumbing repairs and central heating repairs.
Is British Gas HomeCare worth it for me?
If you have had a new boiler installed fairly recently, HomeCare’s probably not worth it, because you’re (fingers crossed) unlikely to have major problems that need expensive call-outs. Also, most good boilers come with a 5-6 year warranty. This means the manufacturer has a duty to repair or replace your boiler if it malfunctions during this time – and there is probably no point paying British Gas on top of this to do the same!
If you have an old boiler, the cheapest package might be worth it – but British Gas would first have to approve to do a survey and check your boiler to check they are happy to cover you. There are stories about British Gas engineers quoting hundreds of pounds in order to get boilers up to this ‘minimum standard’ before allowing you to sign up – which is a pretty big rip-off. If you’re finding yourself spending a lot on call-out fees and maintenance, it’s probably going to be better in the long run to invest in a new boiler instead…
Are there any problems with British Gas HomeCare?
Yes! As mentioned before, we have heard of several cases when people have been quoted hundreds of pounds worth of improvement works in order to qualify for cover in the first place. We have also heard of people being told after signing up that their systems were not eligible!
There are also tales of British Gas engineers taking a very long time to come out when needed. If you don’t get put on a priority list for paying for HomeCare, it’s hard to see what the benefit is!
If you decide youwould feel more comfortable being part of one of these schemes, (rather than paying for repairs as and when they are needed), there are loads of similar ones around – normally for a much lower monthly fee. So it’s probably worth shopping around!
Do you have experience with British Gas HomeCare? Leave us a comment below!
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have had a homecare contract with British gas for the 16 years years since I first moved into my home paying £36 monthly for Homecare Four which covers boiler, controls and central heating cover including an annual service, plus repairs to plumbing, drains and home electrics, Over the years I have discovered that the repairs to plumbing, drains and home electrics are very limited indeed and have had to call in local electricians and plumbers on numerous occasions to complete jobs to a safe and satisfactory standard. However, I have stayed with the Homecare contract as I believed that the service was at least keeping me safe and maintaining the working condition of important items in my home.
This week I was due to have smart meters fitted for gas and electricity but when the fitter inspected my present meters I was issued with a ‘Danger do not use warning notice’ due to faults on the gas equipment described as the Emergency Control Valve (ECV) being non accessible resulting in inability to perform a tightness test on the pipework and appliance installation. The fitter was able to easily see where the ECV was and it was indeed not accessible and had not been so for the 16 years I have lived in the house, though could have been made so by removing some boxing-in structures covering it. The fitter explained that an annual service of the boiler should include a pressure test but that this would not be possible without access to the ECV.
I contacted British gas to question why this problem had never been identified in the 16 years when they had been serving the boiler and was informed that this was not covered by my contract. I then contacted Gas Safe, who both British gas engineers and the smart meter fitter were registered with, and was told that although not having access to the ECV would mean that the gas could not be cut off in the event of a gas leak, it was indeed legal for this to happen if it was not covered in the contract.
I have to say that I am shocked and very disappointed to discover that it is up to customers with often very limited knowledge of gas safety to check through the details of contacts thus recognising their limitations. Through talking to other gas engineers I have found that most but sadly not all of them do ensure access to the ECV as standard safety procedure during annual servicing of boilers and other gas appliances. Most of them commented that it was expected practice for practitioners with Gas safe registration.
Needless to say I will not be renewing my contract with British Gas as it appears to me that while charging customers first class prices they are providing third rate, minimal service. I would like to prevent other customers learning this the hard way as I have had to. I am also concerned that Gas Safe are continuing to cover gas engineers knowing that they are not providing recognised good service.
I am having bad experience from service. Never meet up your expectations. Twice you failed my appointment. No engine
Thank you for sharing your experience Peggy. I had a Vaillant boiler installed about a month ago and it comes with a 7 year extended warranty including parts and labour. Therefore should the boiler go wrong within those 7 years, provided I have had it serviced annually, Vaillant will send out an engineer to fix it. Therefore there is no point me getting something like British Gas Homecare as I am covered anyway. I would encourage others to look whether they are doubling up on their coverage.
Have been a member of British Gas HomeCare for sometime and a few weeks ago upgraded to HomeCare Three. Had to call them out because during the night the overflow ran and was told it was because of the shower not turning off correctly and it need a new turn off tap bar. Tried to buy one locally but couldn’t so tightened the shower tap off more by turning it with a flannel – and I’ve had no problem since! Paid British Gas the £60 by debit card in September – today received a letter from them to say I hadn’t paid them and if I didn’t pay they would put a debt collection agency on to me! My bank statement quite clealy shows the £60 being paid to British Gas in September so I’ve emailed the Ombudsman and written to British Gas as Chat and Email replies weren’t available!
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pentland park how do I register my nectar card?
I took out Homecare Two with British Gas in Dec 2017. At renewal in Dec 2018 the price went up 13%. Typical insurance hike, I thought, but I understand the first year was an “introductory” price, so I decided not to challenge this hike or switch the contract elsewhere. Then in January I had a problem and had to call out an engineer. They were quick to respond, so no problem there. The engineer came within a few days and fixed my problem in about 20 mins. Very good, I thought. But there was a sting in the tail. Two days later I was sent an invoice for £60 by email. It turned out the contract had a £60 excess that I was not aware of. There was no mention of it in my renewal quotation that I signed up to, except for a small note on the last page of the renewal confirmation letter (sent to me after I had consented to the Direct Debit renewal). When I queried this I was told there had always been £60 excess on the contract; it was what I had signed up for in Dec 2017. That was certainly not made clear to me at the time. If you go to the B Gas website for a quote, they give you a price prominently displayed, then lower down on the webpage it gives you the option to choose a £60 excess for a cheaper price. What it doesn’t make clear is that the price already quoted at the top of the page is the price with excess and you must switch off the excess if you don’t want it. I was under the impression that I had not chosen the excess, but in fact I had because it is set as a default on the quotation page. I am exceedingly miffed by this. I think it’s sharp practice and I have been conned. I shall be looking very hard at alternatives when my contract with B Gas expires next December.
I took out boiler and heating cover and new from the start that there was a call-out fee…don’t think they try and hide the fact.
Drainage cover insurance cost please