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People at risk. Boiler breakdown.

(11 Posts)
petra Tue 20-Jan-15 08:49:19

My nieghbour told me that her boiler had broken down. (It's fixed now)
She phoned her insurers and they said they could not get to her for 3 days.
If only she had asked us my OH could have fixed it in a flick. Her Husband (with Alzhiemers) had turned the pump off!! He also has Parkinson's.
Now I have in the back of my head something about older people who are at risk being on a register, so that someone can come out quicker than 3 days.
Am I right?

J52 Tue 20-Jan-15 09:05:46

Is she with British Gas. I believe they have a policy of priority to reach the elderly and those with young children. x

annsixty Tue 20-Jan-15 09:15:45

We are with Bg for boiler and other cover and do have priority because of our age although we do understand that in very busy times we do have to wait unless a dire emergency. They have been out to us on Christmas Day.

Anya Tue 20-Jan-15 09:21:40

British Gas have always come out to us within hours.

vampirequeen Tue 20-Jan-15 09:22:18

Three days seems an awfully long time for an insurer to organise something. Makes me think they pay the contractor less on the understanding there is no rush.

granjo39 Tue 20-Jan-15 11:47:18

My heating broke down last Friday teatime,I phoned the company with whom I have a 24hr maintenance agreement and got the old story of how busy they were and would I be in all day Saturday. Saturday morning I phoned them at 9am told them that I was 75 years old and had no heating since 6pm previous day and what was they going to do about it. 10am engineer was on the doorstep. It does pay to play the age card sometimes.wink

TriciaF Tue 20-Jan-15 16:00:45

Where we live we need to have some back-up heating, so we have a woodburner and some electric radiators.
A few years ago the temperatures stayed at about -10 for over a fortnight and froze the propane pressure gauge, so no central heating or hot water.

bikergran Tue 20-Jan-15 16:13:44

BG came out within 45 mins this morning to DDs as her meter told her to call helpline as it wasn't letting the gas come through..she has 10 week old new baby,, lovely young girl came did a bit of something witht he meter and all was well...(apparently when it gets so cold theres a valve that can shut off the gas) not sure if this is only with pr payment meters but must say they came very quick!

Charleygirl Tue 20-Jan-15 16:35:53

The 10 week old baby would have them running to your DD's doorstep.

petra Tue 20-Jan-15 17:07:43

Thanks for all your advice. I count myself so lucky that OH can sort most things.

rubylady Wed 21-Jan-15 03:07:05

As we're in housing association house, they come out within hours too. Although the boiler is out of the ark! smile