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    • Make sure the WS is sent 14 days before the hearing. You can e-mail the court theirs.  In the subject line put the case number, the names of the parties and "Witness Statement".  Obviously click on "Return Receipt". Send Simple Simon his by 2nd class post - all VCS are worth - and get a free Certificate of Posting from the post office.
    • The outlet is in Camden Town and was set up in 2006, a year after my husband established the business, in addition to selling at exhibitions, online, shows, events, and having licensing agreements in some places overseas.  The only thing I have stopped doing since I got ill is the physical stuff, which I’m working on. The business has not changed name or anything like that either. I’m not sure where the original contract with Camden is but the management must still have it. My husband died in Jan 2017, and until Sept 2018, I would take the stock in every week; after that I was sending it in by post. I went in now and then when possible to re-do the display but that was about it. No one had access to any files until 2020. Moved house in 2020 thought would have to pull it all, Covid had just hit as well. The person in question said he would be interested in taking over and paying the rent etc. so I said I would let him sell the pictures for nothing as long as he would ‘keep it warm’ for me.  Obviously, everywhere was closed for lockdown. During this time I was working out how to go forward.  In May 2022 I told him I couldn’t  give anything away for free anymore, and put in place the wholesale agreement.  I’ve disregarded any discrepancies from before this date. I sent over the jpgs electronically, so I’ve still got them too. He hasn’t got any original files like .psds negatives or memory cards etc, I’ve got proof of all ownership/copyright. A co-op is whereby a small number of neighbours work on a rotational basis so they each of them can have time off, that way everyone doesn’t need to be there at the same time, he had never been an employee of mine.  The only reason I allowed him to have the files in the first place as I didn’t want to lose that side of the business.  It’s a good, constant source of income. However, the rent was becoming crippling as I believed there was something fishy going on well before this as there’s so much cash dealt with there, and I couldn’t go in regularly in person, and I’m sure sales weren’t being recorded properly and cash was being pocketed. My husband was too busy to be doing any stock control properly, he wasn't really into paperwork, and the guy who was ‘helping’ me after my husband's death, was making things very difficult for me to implement a solid stock control system by refusing to co-operate on simple things like using email etc. which I thought was a smokescreen, so I severed ties with him just before I made the agreement in question. I sent about 100 images, jpg files, sent via We Transfer. I’ve got the confirmation of which files were sent with dates. I will have to go through closed bank accounts and previous tax returns to get a proper estimate.   Before I made this agreement, I was selling retail there, this is a wholesale agreement so I’ll have to do some calculations but it is definitely in the thousands.  I haven’t got his his home address, and I don't think he's got any sizeable assets. I’m also worried that he might send the files overseas and start selling them there. I know he’s not stupid enough to sell them online. He knows for sure how serious this is, but he’s been chancing it and thinks I’m stupid, if not soft and stupid. I don’t know if this would work but I am thinking that when he does contact me, I tell him we need to talk, tell him I know what he’s been up to, and strongly urge him not to order any more prints from wherever he is having them printed because it will make things much worse for him if he does. Then when I do tell him about the gravity of the situation, maybe a few days later, I think it will scare him into complying because the consequences definitely trump the few quid he thinks he is saving by getting his own printing done. Tell him an amount that I want back for lost revenue, and make it clear that if he doesn’t destroy the files and if I find out he is still doing it at any point down the line, I will seek prosecution for copyright infringement and fraud, which I will. I don’t know how I can enforce any of this without involving the courts though. I will be able to tell, though, and he will know this. And the only reason I am doing this now rather than before, is that I couldn’t prove anything until now.  It was screamingly obvious from the beginning though, as he wasn’t ordering enough from me to pay the rent, let alone make a profit. If I decided to come down like him lie a ton of bricks straight away, how would I go about a cease and desist, would I have to get one from the court? And what do I do about the stock he currently holds? It has also occurred to me that he might file for bankruptcy or similar if things get heavy, where would that leave me? I could put the feelers out for a brand-new person to take it on, obviously without giving them access to files, that is an option. But that comes with its own set of issues. Also, would there be any implications for me, if I kept quiet for now? Let him order again from me as if nothing has happened, as it will be any day and I want to get all my ducks in a row first ideally….   Thanks again
    • I’ve also just realised their online website they’ve got 12 photographs of my vehicle, including close ups of the inside?? Not sure why that’s relevant.  The time stamp on the first photo is 13:57, the PCN incident time is 14:12. 
    • I’m tempted to send a letter to the company outlining the reasons why I think their PCN is illegitimate. I guess will technically be an appeal.  Their documentation states they won’t discuss over phone, I also don’t want them to have my email address.    re signage on entrance, having looked at land registry, the whole road is private, and when you turn into the road off the highway, there is a sign on the lamppost about 20m in, again not noticeable and on the other side of the road.  I feel like I am in a difficult position with this, I understand that I may have a good chance of not having to pay, but at the same token the stress this is already causing me makes me feel like it’s not worth the £60!
    • Well done with the photo. Of course the signage is insufficient.  PPM are not interested in competent management of a car park, they are interested in catching drivers out so they can issue their PCNs. For a start, according to their trade associations' Codes of Practice, they are supposed to have signage at the entrance. Any e-mail reply from the company and whether they will/won't/can/can't get the invoice cancelled?    
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    • If you are buying a used car – you need to read this survival guide.
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    • Hello,

      On 15/1/24 booked appointment with Big Motoring World (BMW) to view a mini on 17/1/24 at 8pm at their Enfield dealership.  

      Car was dirty and test drive was two circuits of roundabout on entry to the showroom.  Was p/x my car and rushed by sales exec and a manager into buying the mini and a 3yr warranty that night, sale all wrapped up by 10pm.  They strongly advised me taking warranty out on car that age (2017) and confirmed it was honoured at over 500 UK registered garages.

      The next day, 18/1/24 noticed amber engine warning light on dashboard , immediately phoned BMW aftercare team to ask for it to be investigated asap at nearest garage to me. After 15 mins on hold was told only their 5 service centres across the UK can deal with car issues with earliest date for inspection in March ! Said I’m not happy with that given what sales team advised or driving car. Told an amber warning light only advisory so to drive with caution and call back when light goes red.

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    • Housing Association property flooding. https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/438641-housing-association-property-flooding/&do=findComment&comment=5124299
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    • We have finally managed to obtain the transcript of this case.

      The judge's reasoning is very useful and will certainly be helpful in any other cases relating to third-party rights where the customer has contracted with the courier company by using a broker.
      This is generally speaking the problem with using PackLink who are domiciled in Spain and very conveniently out of reach of the British justice system.

      Frankly I don't think that is any accident.

      One of the points that the judge made was that the customers contract with the broker specifically refers to the courier – and it is clear that the courier knows that they are acting for a third party. There is no need to name the third party. They just have to be recognisably part of a class of person – such as a sender or a recipient of the parcel.

      Please note that a recent case against UPS failed on exactly the same issue with the judge held that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 did not apply.

      We will be getting that transcript very soon. We will look at it and we will understand how the judge made such catastrophic mistakes. It was a very poor judgement.
      We will be recommending that people do include this adverse judgement in their bundle so that when they go to county court the judge will see both sides and see the arguments against this adverse judgement.
      Also, we will be to demonstrate to the judge that we are fair-minded and that we don't mind bringing everything to the attention of the judge even if it is against our own interests.
      This is good ethical practice.

      It would be very nice if the parcel delivery companies – including EVRi – practised this kind of thing as well.

       

      OT APPROVED, 365MC637, FAROOQ, EVRi, 12.07.23 (BRENT) - J v4.pdf
        • Like

British Gas Homecare


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Hi

 

I have just had an engineer out as my boiler would not turn on. He has told me that the parts I need are now obsolete and I need a new boiler.

 

Whats the point of having this homecare if they just throw that at you.

 

Any advice would really help as I cant afford a new boiler.

 

Thanks.

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I have heard this so many times,

 

I bet if he gave you a quote for a new boiler it would be around £4000-5000

 

Get a second opinion, it may cost you a bit more money but it will save you a fortune,

 

Most of the time the part is still available

What type of boiler do you have?.

 

Leakie

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Second that. Parts for boilers are surprisingly abundant once you know a part number. Only the very oldest boilers are truly "obsolete".

 

I think BG homecare is operating a little like the RAC's battery [problem] of a few years back.

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Hi

 

I have just had an engineer out as my boiler would not turn on. He has told me that the parts I need are now obsolete and I need a new boiler.

 

Whats the point of having this homecare if they just throw that at you.

 

Any advice would really help as I cant afford a new boiler.

 

Thanks.

 

How long have you had your agreement for?

 

As others have said, the part may well still be available but they use certain suppliers so unless they can source it through them then it is 'beyond repair' in their eyes.

 

That doesn't mean that a small plumbing supplier somewhere hasn't got a part on the shelf that's been sat there for years though.

 

My boiler is also not 'service listed' as far as British Gas are concerned and hasn't been for many years, it's around 20 years old but I still have a source of parts from another source.

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If I were paying BG to take care of the boiler I would expect them to be honest ad advised that they could no longer get the parts,

but others may be able too.Not say they are obsolete.

 

This is a sales tactic from BG

9 times out of 10 the parts are available.

and as I say they will be nearly twice as expensive as smaller companies.

 

Leakie

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Hi all thanks for your replies!

 

I will try to respond to your questions as best as possible.

 

Leakie:

 

Yup, I assumed they would try this tactic, the engineer may as well be a salesman!

 

I have a BAXI WM 30/3RS. I wasn't able to be there when the engineer came out but my sister was. The engineer stated 2 parts needed replacing the gas valve and something else, which I cant read his hand writing (maybe shorthand for thermostat?) could you check the attachment and see if that's what you think it is?

 

[ATTACH]39497[/ATTACH]

 

I have checked this site baxiboiler . com and it seems to have the gas valve but not sure what the other part is.

 

Climate:

 

I have had the agreement for 3.5 years and not once have they ever asked me what boiler I had.

 

smouk:

 

Thanks for your reply, yes obsolete is very string word.

----

 

Really I have a right mind to say to them that I have just found the parts so what the hell are you talking about and why have I been paying you all this money for something you cant honor.

 

Anymore advice you guys have would be great.

 

Thanks

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Yes, that's a thermostat he's referring to. A quick Google brought up:

 

http://www.boilersparesdirect.co.uk/parts-online/shopexd.asp?id=10662 - Gas valve

http://www.boilersparesdirect.co.uk/parts-online/shopexd.asp?id=10668 - Thermostat

 

You might/should be able to argue the Homecare policy to be invalid. This is bread and butter to a good heating engineer - if it's not a back boiler then it's two hours tops.

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I will definitely be calling BG to argue the case, as that is now 2 websites with the parts. Its not a back boiler thank god.

 

One other thing... I still do wonder if he has actually diagnosed the fault properly/missed a part off as I also noticed since the boiler will not turn on that the mechanical timer has stopped turning? Could it not just be the timer? Surely this great BG engineer would have checked that?

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Sounds very familiar, they tried that with me and I pointed out this Baxi is installed in millions of homes over the years, and he pointed out the same that spares are non existent or near non existent, I told him that I could go on the net and find most spares for it if it was necessary, but he said I could quote you for a new boiler £4,00-5,000, I said oh yes I have been quoted £1,800 incl some radiators extras, but I pointed out please be very careful and just service the Boiler it is not broken down, and I would bring to your attention that in the past an engineer at another property I lived in a freezing February in the 1980s from BG condemned a Baxi system in the house and taped the fire/back builder up, I called a builder in who could not find anything wrong, a couple of days later, who then arranged for a BG Inspector to come around for a meeting two days later, who then apologized and the Engineer was sacked there and then and the tape removed with just an apology, the builder who did a lot of work for a company I worked with forgone the 1 days inspection testing flues etc etc and said god you will be warm now it is - 5 degrees still outside.

 

The details of the type House Age - 2 years old, therefore system brand new, purchase another system not needed. BG get your act to-gether as after decades it seems the sales commissions are over riding service. By the way I cancelled BG and got refund of 11 months payment after the last episode what was witnessed by a local mechanic, who said he could not believe his ears as to the BG guy was dribbling on about.

:mad2::-x:jaw::sad:
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Part of the reason for the annual service is so they can let you know that part availability may be limited for your boiler. When did you last have a service? Do not let fob you off with a £30 gesture of goodwill if it hasn't been done, they charge nearly £100 if they ONLY service the boiler.

 

As I said above, they only deal with their suppliers and will not spend ages phoning around places. If you can obtain the parts (genuine ones, not some cheap rubbish from China!) then they will come out and fit them and refund you for the parts.

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Part of the reason for the annual service is so they can let you know that part availability may be limited for your boiler. When did you last have a service? Do not let fob you off with a £30 gesture of goodwill if it hasn't been done, they charge nearly £100 if they ONLY service the boiler.

 

As I said above, they only deal with their suppliers and will not spend ages phoning around places. If you can obtain the parts (genuine ones, not some cheap rubbish from China!) then they will come out and fit them and refund you for the parts.

 

I have never had it serviced. Not once have BG phoned me to arrange a service (maybe this isnt included in my cover) or more to the point ever stated that the service also is when they determine if my homecare is valid. Surely if they just kept my boiler make and modle on file they could keep me in the loop if they can uphold their agreement.

 

The websites i have found the parts on say genuine.

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I have never had it serviced. Not once have BG phoned me to arrange a service (maybe this isnt included in my cover) or more to the point ever stated that the service also is when they determine if my homecare is valid. Surely if they just kept my boiler make and modle on file they could keep me in the loop if they can uphold their agreement.

 

The websites i have found the parts on say genuine.

 

If they have never serviced it, they wouldn't have your boiler make/model on file to let you know.

 

Check your agreement but I don't think they offered a breakdown policy without a service 3.5 years ago.

 

Was this the first time they have been out to your boiler in 3.5 years?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All,

 

Just thought I'd update you.

 

So Engineer 1 comes out as says the gas valve and thermostat were broken and obsolete. I complain at this obsolete statement and they organise a new engineer to come out.

 

Engineer 2 comes out and says that a screw that had been put in the living room wall had penetrated a wire and that I had to get this sorted before they could carry on testing.

 

I was left to sort out a BG electrician which is all under the same cover. Why didn't he organise this?!

 

Electrician is booked for X day between 10 and 12 he doesn't show until 4 and BG tell me that booked the app incorrectly their end. So I have to explain everything to him as BG obviously don't communicate between each other. He then proclaims that he can only work up to the spur and that he isn't a central heating electrician how he knew that the damaged wire was after the spur defeats me as he didn't even open the wall to look.

 

So I call the Service Manager and he gets a contract electrician to me. He turns up around 6pm and opens the wall (plasterboard so wasn't like it was much effort) whilst he is fixing I ask him what the difference was between him and the last electrician, he said none. This obviously wound me up a lot. He fixes the wire however the boiler still wouldn't come on.

 

I speak with the Service Manager and he organises a an engineer to come out to me on Saturday between 12-2. It gets to 2 and nobody calls me to say he will be late. I get on the phone to BG and have a lengthy discussion with one of their staff but mid way through the call we get disconnected. You thought he would of had the decency to call me back, but no. I call again and eventually get an ETA of 4pm! I was expecting it to be sorted by then and already be at my sons friends birthday party. Which in the end I never get to.

 

Once engineer 3 turns up I have to explain everything again. He gets on with his job and finally finds that the water pump live and neutral were touching and this was tripping out the boiler. He fixes this and all is back to normal.

 

A few things I am annoyed about and will be bring these up with the Service Manager on Monday are:

 

1. Why did the first engineer miss diagnose so badly. Surely he is meant to be professional and not trying to sell me a new boiler.

 

2. Why did the second engineer leave me to organise that electrician, especially is there are 2 types how am I supposed to know who to get out.

 

3. Generally why was there no comms between all the engineers.

 

4. The call center staff we ridiculous at best.

 

5. When the engineers were going to be late why was I not informed. If I had just been told at least I could have planned ahead and not got so stressed.

 

Whilst on the phone to one of the mangers at BG I explain everything and ask about some compensation. She offers me 20 pounds. I turned this down. I hope to at least get back my excess and recoup money that I have spent on the phone to them.

 

Do you think this treatment warrants some compensation?

 

Thanks for reading.

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Coolbreeze,

 

Sorry to hear about your poor experience, sadly this is not uncommon with British Gas.

 

I am an employee of British Gas and have seen first hand the sort of service you are talking about. My own boiler was classified as "Parts Obsolete" on HomeCare...this is a 6 year old boiler which the manufacturer advised every single part was still available.

 

Contact the top man at BG - phil.bentley(at) britishgas.co.uk (replace at with @) with your complaint, and inform him you want compensation for this or you will refer the matter to regulators / Financial Ombudsman. The cost of an FOS complaint to a company is large, so they will be happy to pay you not to go there.

 

You are quite correct that the BG engineers are now also salesmen who are on commission for pushing powerflushes, and generating new boiler "leads" for the Central Heating arm. Sadly sales now come before service

 

Mr H

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I have British Gas Homecare 400.

 

On Thursday our light in the bathroom stopped working and I went online and booked an appointment for the same day. My wife took a day off work and at 4pm she had a phone call to say that they could not make it because they don't class this as an emergency. I complained and they knocked off £5.00 of the direct debit for 2 months and arranged the appointment for today. My wife then took today off and they rang today and advised that an engineer vould come as the engineer had rang in sick. They have re-arranged again for Wednesday, Is there anything I can do?

 

Are there any templates that I can use?

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tosh1 - say you would like to speak to customer relations and that you would like to make a complaint. You will then be got in touch with the Service Manger for those engineers. Firstly moan to him. If he does not make you happy google for phil bentleys email address and send him your complaint. I think the email address here is wrong. I think it should be phillip

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So I spoke to the Service Manger yester and he has agreed to refund me my excess of 99 pounds.Do you guys still think I should make a formal written complaint? He also said he would start an investigation into the first engineer not doing his job but couldnt tell me the findings of an internal investigation.

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Do you guys still think I should make a formal written complaint?

Absolutely!

 

They've been cack-handed (and a little, er, "iffy") from the off and it should be pursued simply for that reason. Mr Handymans advice at #17 seems sound to me.

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