I've noticed a lot of complaints about British Gas, not my favourite company. Unfortunately in desperation, because of my local plumber not responding to a call out to my CH boiler problem, I phoned BG for the one time call out option.



When I got through to an agent, she offered me Home Care and during the course of conversation, I listened the options and decided on Home Care 200. After listening to the jargon and sales pitch, I thought it was a good deal at £16 per month. Unfortunately I must have misunderstood and had agreed to the breakdown AND home care and now I have been asked for £27 per month. It's all legal of course, they have checked the phone call and of course they are in the clear.



The engineer replaced the return valve and cleaned a seal, that alone would have been the £156 one off breakdown call out. That was ok, he did come out the same day as I phoned, no complaints on the response. He then proceeded to give the boiler a service, I hadn't asked for that but it was part of the Home Care agreement. The dirt was hoovered from inside the boiler (that counts as a service and for that you need to be Corgi registered!!) My radiators were also checked - the engineer felt them and yes they were heating! I take it you also need to be Corgi registered to check the radiators as they are part of the CH system!



I phoned to check the monthly payment figure as I was expecting it to be £16 instead of the £27. however I was told in no uncertain terms that was what I had agreed to. I asked to cancel the home care agreement (within 7 days option) but no I had had work done since agreeing so it would cost me at least £200 to cancel the agreement + the cost of the work already completed. Apparently had the engineer come out in the first place, I would not have been accepted for Home Care - the boiler needs to be working for that and mine wasn't.



He did however mention I needed a new boiler.........................



I wish I had taken more time to check sites like this, I've learned a very expensive lesson and I just hope that others will think twice before falling for this con as I did.