What would you do? (Trust dilemma)

You could always have a look online, there is a club run by a bloke who keeps trying to get a job with the same firm but keeps getting rejected, in fact he has had to set up a similar business abroad, but I don't think it is going very well, some fuss about fishing and meetings he didn't attend, but lots of people think he is great and in fact should be doing the central heating installation for you.

I have visions of him being dead in a ditch if you don't give him this work......

What assurances will this engineer give you about anything going wrong with the new boiler; how much of a guarantee will it have. Does he, himself have the same boiler and, if so if his breaks down will he, too be in danger of freezing to death this winter. And, what happens to the poor man if not getting the contract from you means he is out of a job? Will he find a new one? Will his family be poor and destitute and homeless? I fear that may be the case and my heart bleeds for him which makes it very wrong of you not to trust your life savings with this man.

I'd be wary of anyone who promised the earth by October 31st, tbh, however charming, amusing, tousled and blond he might be.

Him and his mate Dave have an agenda, I'm sure. And it's nothing to do with central heating and everything to do with offshore tax regulations....

Loving this thread, btw. (grin)

Thanks GillT57. I think I shall have to go and read my DM for a bit.

NotSpaghetti, thank you for your concern and flowers. Sorry, maybe I am stupid after all, but what does r-a-t-i-o-n-a-l-l-y mean? When you say someone I trust, do you mean this nice posh engineery-type bloke?

Well, I heard that 'Dave' gave you the original estimate, assured you that you really didn't need a new heating system, that your current one worked fine, and would be even more efficient with a few tweaks. I think he decided to go in writing books after that? Anyway, be careful of this new man, he was trained at the same place, they are very cliquey, seem to dominate the hot air industry.

Wise words NotSpaghetti, come to think of it, my heating guy did mention someone called Dave - he called him a 'swirly got' (or was it git - I can't remember. It was something like that anyway.) I don't think he was such a laugh and definitely didn't know anything about pole-dancing. Or central heating.

Amagran - why are you asking us about this?
You have clearly decided to go with a totally unnecessary boiler as you want to believe this man.
I am beginning to lose patience. But maybe you aren't feeling well?

Please get someone you trust to sit down with you and look over all the pros and cons rationally.
You are the person most likely to suffer here.
We are all wishing you well.

I'm not stupid SirChenjin, it's not just his posh accent. He makes me laugh as well. Life would be very boring if all our heating engineers were serious and talked about facts and numbers all the time.

Besides, he blows a lot of hot air so that must be good for a heating system too.

I'm another who would not let this person mess with your central heating. He clearly had no idea whether to leave things as they are or to rip it out. And once out, how long would it be before a new system was installed and functioning? He may be one of those people who create chaos and then p* off... I heard of one of those in 2016 who created a terrific mess and was hardly seen afterwards. The first one (let's call him Dave), created such a state of anxiety, caused family members to fall out, - and although it's limping along, the issue with the boiler is still not resolved.

I suggest you work with what you have and seek to modify it whilst in situ. Clearly something isn't quite right or you wouldn't have been considering an engineer in the first place. You may need a few modifications to make your current system work better and more you your liking. I think that the best way to go.

Please don't be taken in by this charlatan- there is winter coming and a lot to lose...

now, now Labaik, no need to be so dismissive, if it is the Will of Amagran to buy an overpriced, unwanted boiler that will not work as well as the one she has at the moment, then who are we to question it? She made her decision one day, over three years ago, and under the new regulations she doesn't have the right to change her mind, even though lots of her friends have lobbied outside the business premises on her behalf.

'So you mean you don’t actually know what type of boiler you’re getting, or how much it’s going to cost you to run? No offence, but that sounds a bit foolish. Are you usually this easily taken in by men with posh accents?'...
how rude of you to question the OP in this way.It's as if you're insinuating that she's a bit silly; she has every right to throw away her life savings if she wants to....

well, it is a good job you came on the forum to ask for an opinion. I think it is a shame that some people have talked you into having a brand new system, which may be less efficient than the one you have at the moment, there must be something in it for them, presumably a nice profit,and I assume it will be in cash or at least in his overseas account? Mind you, with the long winter approaching, and possible food shortages, it may be as well to keep yourself warm, a little bit of bread and no cheese is not enough to keep you going, don't listen to those who tell you otherwise. I did hear that a lot of people were protesting in a polite and good humoured way about this man and his associates, and even though it was all calm, one of his gang had the audacity to call the police and demand protection! What a cheek, especially as we all know he doesn't pay as much tax as he should. So, dear friend, I would suggest you wait a few days, this man will be found out eventually, and he and his dreadful business associates will have to change their ways if they wish to stay in business.

So you mean you don’t actually know what type of boiler you’re getting, or how much it’s going to cost you to run? No offence, but that sounds a bit foolish. Are you usually this easily taken in by men with posh accents?

No Labaik, this man told me my heating system was fine to begin with then he changed his mind and said we should part company with it. He has never told me what the actual benefits of a new system would be. But having decided on a new system, I am determined to have a new one, even if it bankrupts me.

No wonder the women fall for him. I bet he's a bit like that Trump guy. Now there's a real man!

Oh he is drop dead gorgeous, Labaik, - you know, in that just-climbed-out-of-a-ditch sort of way: unkempt tousled blonde hair, shirt half hanging out of his trousers, one hand punching the air, the other on his flies, his leg wrapped round the pole at the back of a red bus just like a proper pole dancer!

I suspect it’s more a case of the posho tradesman benefitting very nicely from the new boiler deal - the customer certainly won’t be seeing any real benefit from his shoddy workmanship.

Your heating system must be in an incredibly bad way for you to have to consider using this man to change it? What is the problem with your current system? Or did you just fancy a bit of a change??

Drop dead gorgeous?! I bet he looks like the back end of a big red bus!

I wish you could post a picture of him. He must be absolutely drop dead gorgeous judging by how you've described him. Better someone like that working on your house for a while than some ugly fat so and so that would probably do the job more efficiently. Go for it. What have you got to lose....[lucky you...]

Could well be our staple diet in the years to come!

Oh and on a completely different subject, my DH has just come in from the garden - he said that amongst the other bird calls, he heard the characteristic and distinctive call of a Yellowhammer: "a little bit of bread and no....cheeeeese".