Thanks all of you - you've been very helpful.
I followed EricP's suggestion and posted my tale to uk.legal - this was also
quite helpful.
To anyone who's interested, the model is a Glow-Worm Space Saver 45-60B.
B Gas did try to fix the part. The engineer even persuaded another engineer
to come round and help fix it. But with no luck. I do believe the damage
was a genuine mistake. I also believe that Glow-Worm don't supply the part
anymore, but I'm going to try and get B Gas to pay for a machine shop to
make one if it is possible.
Andy Hall - thanks - actually the engineer did replace the thermocouple
first, but it didn't do the trick. I missed that bit out just to get to the
important part of the email, sorry.
Simon Stroud - I'll email you a pic (I have no web space to put an image) -
thanks.
A highwayman (dressed in a B Gas uniform) came round last night and gave a
ridiculously high quote for a new boiler, then knocked off 15% as a goodwill
gesture and suggested this was good value. After I laughed in his face I
showed him the door.
My plan:
I'll start with the idea of finding a machine shop to recreate the damaged
part (it's a copper pipe joint the size of a man's thumb). I'll also
contact glow-worm in case they can provide the component specs.
Also I'll explore the "contract", and try to get them to restore my system
to the same condition it was in before they broke it.
Also I'll get some comparative quotes from independent fitters in case B Gas
won't cooperate. Then maybe a small claim procedure would be in order to
recover the cost of someone else replacing the boiler. While they're at my
house quoting, I'll quiz them about the damaged part. It's wishful thinking
but they *may* just have a similar old boiler lying around in their garden.
Finally I'll use my household insurance free legal helpline. They may just
quote extracts from trading standards law, but it could be helpful to use
this in order to get a fair deal from B Gas.
Thanks again, I'll post a resolution when it's all sorted if anyone's
interested. That's if I survive the winter of course!
Richard
"John" wrote in message
...
"Richard Owen" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I've recently moved house (September), and I continued my British Gas
3-star
service contract that I have had for 5 years.
An engineer came round this Monday to do the annual service on the 24
year
old Glow Worm boiler. As soon as the engineer left, the pilot light
went
out, and kept going out within a few minutes of relighting. The same
engineer came back today to solve the problem by fitting a new gas
valve,
cheerfully joking about Murphy's Law when you start messing with
something
after months or years of fault-free operation.
During the fitting process the engineer accidentally bent the thread of
an
elbowed threaded pipe. This is an irreplaceable part due to the age of
the
boiler, so the only option was for the engineer to arrange for a quote
for
a
new boiler. The British Gas quote-monger will be coming round this
evening.
Cheek! If I took my car in for a service and the garage damaged the
engine,
I'd hardly get a bill for a new car would I?
Does anybody know where I stand regarding responsibility here?
1. Even if I wanted to replace the boiler, I would probably not
choose
British Gas because of the cost.
2. If I hadn't paid them to service the boiler, I wouldn't be in this
situation.
3. The engineer admitted the damage, so shouldn't British Gas rectify
their error?
4. If they offer a discount because of their error, could I get a
quote
from a different supplier and ask British Gas to pay the equivalent of
their
offered discount?
I cannot think offhand of a bit of vulnerable threaded bent pipe on an old
type GlowWorm boiler although the model details would be a big help. In
any
case it may not be beyond a bit of judicious straightening and maybe a
thread clean up with a die nut. SERIOUS damage could hardly be considered
accidental and it could be that Mr hamfist was bucking for his introducers
commission from his employers.
I'd get a local independant guy to take a look before chucking big money
even after discounts at BG. If the local guy can and does effect a repair
you should claim the cost of the repair from BG although it might take a
bit
of a fight to get it.
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