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General => The Shed => Topic started by: Digeroo on August 07, 2013, 22:50:30

Title: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Digeroo on August 07, 2013, 22:50:30
I pay for a plumbing agreement with British Gas and now the outflow from the bath is leaking. But when I rang them they cannot send an engineer for a week.

My agreement says they will sort it in a reasonable time.

So my question is, is it reasonable not to be able to have a bath or a shower for a week?  What is a reasonable time?

I would be grateful for peoples thoughts.


Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Tee Gee on August 07, 2013, 23:19:25
I would say 24-48 hours max, particularly as you have a leak.

But I guess that because you have other facilities to have a wash they will be not considering it warrants " instant" repair!

Is there any detail in the small print of your contract?
Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Digeroo on August 08, 2013, 05:53:38
Been reading the small print that is where the 'reasonable time' comes from.  I am very miffed to have been paying for the contract and then when I need a repair being told it will be a week.  I will now have to get a plumber in and pay twice.

There is a piece about things being outside their control, but I do not consider having enough plumbers outside their control, it is simply outside their budget.  They simply need to employ more plumbers.




Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Ellen K on August 08, 2013, 07:30:17
Perhaps they think that because there is no safety issue then it's not urgent and therefore the wait is OK.

You could try ringing them again and explaining that you will cancel the contract if someone does not appear in the next 48 hrs.

I don't buy any of this type of insurance (I include extended warranties in this category), save your money and just employ someone when you need to,  An old neighbour of mine used to drive one of those British Gas plumbers vans and when you saw the standard of work he did on his own house, there would be no way you would let him through the front door of yours.
Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: galina on August 08, 2013, 07:39:44
This is appalling customer service!

Just the opposite from the 'peace of mind' they advertise to get people take out these contracts.  Not acceptable.  I think you have cause to complain and unless they shorten their response time considerably take it further and cancel the contract.

Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: pumkinlover on August 08, 2013, 07:57:45
As the others say- it doesn't look like that when I have seen the ads for British Gas :BangHead:
I suppose that you are a victim  of the August holiday problem- still not on though!
Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Digeroo on August 08, 2013, 08:50:20
Many thanks you all gave me the encouragement to complain and they are coming tomorrow.   :icon_cheers:

Great result thanks folks.

It is not always easy to find a plumber when you want one.  I made the mistake of booking one once to replace one tap and he managed to 'find' another leak and in the end took 1.5 hours. 

I also had a problem with my old boiler and they could not get the parts so I used an approved supplier who took three weeks to get them, but British Gas got them in 24 hours.

I used rated people for a roof problem and was very displeased.  The person got my name through them but was actually not one of their approved people.   

Thngs have got worse and we have had to close off the water supply so they are coming today.   :icon_cheers: :icon_cheers:


Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Tee Gee on August 08, 2013, 10:01:05
I don't use any of these insurances now, I did once and used them to my advantage!

To explain most of the fitters used by these insurance companies are self employed and are called in when needed, otherwise they just carry on with their own business!

I now employ these fitters direct and cut out the insurance companies cut, the fitters are happy with this as they get a decent price rather than being screwed down by the insurance company.

It's worth thinking about if you find that you were happy with the fitters work!


Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Digeroo on August 08, 2013, 21:17:54
Well having agreed to turn up today, they messed up the computer entry and lost it so waited all day and they did not turn up.    :BangHead: :BangHead:  No water, no loo. Now they are going to send an engineer.

So much for peace of mind.

Another couple of phone calls and looks like they are finally on the way. 









Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: pumkinlover on August 09, 2013, 07:25:36
Quote from: Digeroo on August 08, 2013, 21:17:54
Well having agreed to turn up today, they messed up the computer entry and lost it so waited all day and they did not turn up.    :BangHead: :BangHead:  No water, no loo. Now they are going to send an engineer.

So much for peace of mind.

Another couple of phone calls and looks like they are finally on the way. 


That's rubbish!! :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: 
hope that it is sorted by now!
Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: Digeroo on August 09, 2013, 09:45:42
In the end turned out to be very minor problem only took moments to fix. :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

Sounds as if they need a better holiday rota system.

I did have a good plumber but since the stroke OH tends to be more likely to cause a problem than solve it.
Title: Re: How long is reasonable?
Post by: pumkinlover on August 12, 2013, 08:05:57
Glad its sorted Digeroo :toothy10:
Probably took less time to fix than it took you to get them to come :BangHead: