. . are you having trouble contacting British Gas?
British GAS are NOT sorting out my problems 11 / 03 / 08
www.dennissmatthews.co.uk/page21.html can be found on PAGE 1 MSN search here.
www.dennissmatthews.co.uk/page21.html can be found on PAGE 1 MSN search here.
The Great British gas home care con CON.
“a contract not worth the paper it’s written on.” . . . MORE ON Page 2
www.british-gas.org
“a contract not worth the paper it’s written on.” . . . MORE ON Page 2
www.british-
Dear Roger
Re The British gas home care con Con . . .(or Catch 22 system) . . membership No 11523975
I won’t bore you with the story of how many times we were rung up by ‘cold callers’ to sell us insurance / home care for our gas boiler and even our appliances. Suffice it to say that since the old chap who has always serviced our boiler has more or less retired we decided to take out what on the face of it seemed a reasonable deal.
It is true that our boiler is a relatively old one but I did ask the BG chap, who came round to appraise it, if parts were still readily available and I was assured that they were. (and indeed they still are.) We were told ‘no need to worry since these good ol’ boilers never go wrong anyway.’
Around the beginning of February we noticed a leak coming from the boiler and after a wait of a few days someone came to look at it. A very pleasant chap who checked his PC for parts, assured us, that spares were readily available. But as the boiler had, in the days we waited, stopped leaking all he did was run a spanner over it and asked us to keep an eye on it.
The following week it leaked again. Again after a few days a new chap came and said immediately “it’s the ‘heat exchanger’ and they don’t do them any more.”
Well that’s strange I said, the previous two guys told me they were. . . . “I’ll have to get my PC out of the van . . . . . Oh! Yes I see they are still available.” . . . . surprise surprise thinks I !
So this chap sets up a job to have the exchanger replaced. And we sit back and wait . . . and wait . . . and wait. I’m not going to bore you with dozen or so phone calls, and hours I spent hanging on, that I have made to get this matter resolved. But I will tell you the outcome.
How’s this for Catch 22? The part that has gone wrong is readily available and has been delivered to B G. . . HOWEVER another part that has absolutely nothing wrong with it at all . . . the collector (is stainless steel and is as new) is understandably out of production . . . why would they make any more? they never go wrong . . .
Because of this British GAS say they don’t want to “risk” changing my heat exchanger in case they damage the collector which isn’t available.
HOW CONVENIENT . . . if you contact Sabre Heating of New Eltham just round the corner from me , who repair boilers all the time, they would tell you . . . “That is the lamest excuse they have ever heard.”
I have now made enquiries and I find that this sort of behaviour is very common of British Gas engineers. It may even be that it is not only condoned by British Gas but actual taught by them in class.
What we have here is the classic Catch 22 . . . British Gas are contracted to repair my boiler. BUT there is a get out clause that if the parts are not available then they don’t have to. BUT the part that has gone wrong IS AVAILABLE and has arrived at the depot. SO British Gas have identified another part that does not need fixing, is in perfect order but is no longer available and are using that as an excuse to get out of their contractual arrangements. WORSE when I simply asked for my money back, I was told that was not possible. . . . and now we are in limbo land. Won’t fix the boiler, it still leaks, won’t give me money back, despite the fact that we aren’t really insured after all.
Now . . . I’m sure BG are used to getting all sorts of disgruntled letters, and have a ‘procedure’ for palming them off no doubt.
Please do not go down that route Sir. Not if you value the good name of your Company that is. . . . . I will do no more than ask you to type my name into any search engine and see what I mean. Colin Clifford Cole. You will find that not only do I come out No1 in the World but usually own most of page 1 if not page 2 as well. . . .Nothing remarkable in that you say . . . Colin Clifford Cole is not the commonest name and that could be a cheap trick.
NOW type in on MSN Sir Ian Blair . . you will see that my site is No1 in the World above The Times, The BBC, The Guardian and even Scotland Yard itself. . .
Now THAT is NOT a cheap trick . . I have web cred that many a large organisation would envy. Even your own.
Do the same MSN for Unity Trust Bank . . I’m No 2 on MSN . . . and their pup Co . . . Unity Trust Advisers . . I’m no 1 on Google
Police Croydon . . . I’m No 2 on MSN and No 2 on Google.
Ingram Winter Green Solicitors . . . I get the whole page on some engines.
Gerry White LGO . . . ditto. . . . and it goes on and on and on . . . anyone I choose who has not been totally fair or honest with me or mine gets to No 1.
Just for good measure I’m having a bit of fun with political scene too and now am The Leader of Britain’s latest registered political party. Croydon Ratepayers Against Croydon Council. www.cracc.co.uk
Do a search on the CEO of Croydon Council . . . David Wechsler Croydon and you’ll find I own most of the front pages there too.
Worse . . . my Agent is the infamous Ken Frost of www.croydoniscrap.com who runs amongst other things the “worse than worthless awards” of Television and Newspaper fame. I’m sure I could persuade him to grant BG an award or two.
http://www.kenfrostwtw.blogspot.com along side BA.
If you type in publicity croydon Labour you’ll see the result of my warnings to Croydon Labour Party if they did not sort my problems out. How much publicity do you need British Gas? This much? http://www.sir-ian-blair.co.uk/page23.html
In other words Sir . . . PLEASE either get the ball rolling to get my boiler fixed . . or give me my money back. I can just as easily put British Gas on page 1 or Centrica. And not in the manner you would be proud of.
By the way . . this is only one of three such ridiculous stories I have to tell about BG in the last 12 months I do assure you.
Colin Clifford Cole
.Cc Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy
Re The British gas home care con Con . . .(or Catch 22 system) . . membership No 11523975
I won’t bore you with the story of how many times we were rung up by ‘cold callers’ to sell us insurance / home care for our gas boiler and even our appliances. Suffice it to say that since the old chap who has always serviced our boiler has more or less retired we decided to take out what on the face of it seemed a reasonable deal.
It is true that our boiler is a relatively old one but I did ask the BG chap, who came round to appraise it, if parts were still readily available and I was assured that they were. (and indeed they still are.) We were told ‘no need to worry since these good ol’ boilers never go wrong anyway.’
Around the beginning of February we noticed a leak coming from the boiler and after a wait of a few days someone came to look at it. A very pleasant chap who checked his PC for parts, assured us, that spares were readily available. But as the boiler had, in the days we waited, stopped leaking all he did was run a spanner over it and asked us to keep an eye on it.
The following week it leaked again. Again after a few days a new chap came and said immediately “it’s the ‘heat exchanger’ and they don’t do them any more.”
Well that’s strange I said, the previous two guys told me they were. . . . “I’ll have to get my PC out of the van . . . . . Oh! Yes I see they are still available.” . . . . surprise surprise thinks I !
So this chap sets up a job to have the exchanger replaced. And we sit back and wait . . . and wait . . . and wait. I’m not going to bore you with dozen or so phone calls, and hours I spent hanging on, that I have made to get this matter resolved. But I will tell you the outcome.
How’s this for Catch 22? The part that has gone wrong is readily available and has been delivered to B G. . . HOWEVER another part that has absolutely nothing wrong with it at all . . . the collector (is stainless steel and is as new) is understandably out of production . . . why would they make any more? they never go wrong . . .
Because of this British GAS say they don’t want to “risk” changing my heat exchanger in case they damage the collector which isn’t available.
HOW CONVENIENT . . . if you contact Sabre Heating of New Eltham just round the corner from me , who repair boilers all the time, they would tell you . . . “That is the lamest excuse they have ever heard.”
I have now made enquiries and I find that this sort of behaviour is very common of British Gas engineers. It may even be that it is not only condoned by British Gas but actual taught by them in class.
What we have here is the classic Catch 22 . . . British Gas are contracted to repair my boiler. BUT there is a get out clause that if the parts are not available then they don’t have to. BUT the part that has gone wrong IS AVAILABLE and has arrived at the depot. SO British Gas have identified another part that does not need fixing, is in perfect order but is no longer available and are using that as an excuse to get out of their contractual arrangements. WORSE when I simply asked for my money back, I was told that was not possible. . . . and now we are in limbo land. Won’t fix the boiler, it still leaks, won’t give me money back, despite the fact that we aren’t really insured after all.
Now . . . I’m sure BG are used to getting all sorts of disgruntled letters, and have a ‘procedure’ for palming them off no doubt.
Please do not go down that route Sir. Not if you value the good name of your Company that is. . . . . I will do no more than ask you to type my name into any search engine and see what I mean. Colin Clifford Cole. You will find that not only do I come out No1 in the World but usually own most of page 1 if not page 2 as well. . . .Nothing remarkable in that you say . . . Colin Clifford Cole is not the commonest name and that could be a cheap trick.
NOW type in on MSN Sir Ian Blair . . you will see that my site is No1 in the World above The Times, The BBC, The Guardian and even Scotland Yard itself. . .
Now THAT is NOT a cheap trick . . I have web cred that many a large organisation would envy. Even your own.
Do the same MSN for Unity Trust Bank . . I’m No 2 on MSN . . . and their pup Co . . . Unity Trust Advisers . . I’m no 1 on Google
Police Croydon . . . I’m No 2 on MSN and No 2 on Google.
Ingram Winter Green Solicitors . . . I get the whole page on some engines.
Gerry White LGO . . . ditto. . . . and it goes on and on and on . . . anyone I choose who has not been totally fair or honest with me or mine gets to No 1.
Just for good measure I’m having a bit of fun with political scene too and now am The Leader of Britain’s latest registered political party. Croydon Ratepayers Against Croydon Council. www.cracc.co.uk
Do a search on the CEO of Croydon Council . . . David Wechsler Croydon and you’ll find I own most of the front pages there too.
Worse . . . my Agent is the infamous Ken Frost of www.croydoniscrap.com who runs amongst other things the “worse than worthless awards” of Television and Newspaper fame. I’m sure I could persuade him to grant BG an award or two.
http://www.kenfrostwtw.blogspot.com along side BA.
If you type in publicity croydon Labour you’ll see the result of my warnings to Croydon Labour Party if they did not sort my problems out. How much publicity do you need British Gas? This much? http://www.sir-
In other words Sir . . . PLEASE either get the ball rolling to get my boiler fixed . . or give me my money back. I can just as easily put British Gas on page 1 or Centrica. And not in the manner you would be proud of.
By the way . . this is only one of three such ridiculous stories I have to tell about BG in the last 12 months I do assure you.
Colin Clifford Cole
.Cc Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy
MORE TROUBLE WITH HOME CARE
Spoke to Sharon 21450 @ 11.00 25 March. 2006
Re Mem No 10357874
Another of my properties supposedly insured with British gas home care con.
At this property the washing machine door has broken trapping a machine load of clothes and water. On phoning up I am told the nearest time they can offer me to fix it is Friday almost one week away. . . . . . After bitter complaining an offer to come on Weds which is still 4 days to fix a catch on a washing machine door. And they can’t make a better appointment than sometime Weds Afternoon. A proper Appliance repair Company makes a time within a hour or at worst two.
Am waiting for a Manager to call me back.
Nice girl Sam rings me back. And re-offers the Wednesday appointment . . . NOT ACCEPTABLE. She rings back later and can manage Tuesday.
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT
Tuesday morning 11.30 . . . Only had to hang around for 3 and half hours but Andy calls and is well within the 5 HOUR time slot that is all B/Gas can offer . . . “AM or PM? that’s all we do.”
Andy hasn’t got the bits of course but he does order them from the depot and B/Gas pull out all the stops . . . they are going to come tomorrow and wonder of wonders . . they are going to ring me an hour before they call so that I can go and meet them. . . what a sensible arrangement.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
9.15 Tuesday Morning 29th March 2006.
A call from Rena . . . The British Gas fitter who was going to ring me has called in sick. BG now can’t fix it until Monday morning next. . . Oh wait a minute they can manage Friday morning..
THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE . . . Letter to Roger Carr Chairman Centrica plc copy to Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy
Mr & Mrs Cole
Agaton Rd Sidcup London, SE9 3RN
Agaton Rd Sidcup London, SE9 3RN
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Roger Carr Chairman Centrica plc
Millstream Maidenhead Road
Windsor Berkshire
SL4 5GD
Millstream Maidenhead Road
Windsor Berkshire
SL4 5GD
Dear Roger . . you may remember my letter to you of Thursday, March 16, 2006 Re The British gas home care con Con . . .(or Catch 22 system) . . membership No 11523975
Well it seems our troubles with British gas home care con are not over. I won’t bore you with a long story it will be easier if you read about it on ‘your’ newest web site http://www.british-gas.org
I would appreciate an urgent phone call regarding what you intend to do about this state of affairs. I am sure you are aware that this is not an uncommon occurrence at BG, as many of the article on the page will testify.
Colin Clifford Cole.
Cc Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy
CC http://www.british-gas.org
CC http://www.british-
Mr & Mrs Cole
Sidcup
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Sidcup
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Emma Hill . . Customer Relations British Gas
Re 1-2335829534
Dear Emma . . . thank you for your kind letter of 28th March. The contents of which I entirely understand and concur. It is nice to see a resolution at long last.
HOWEVER . . on a entirely different matter I have had occasion this very day to write to Roger Carr again I’m afraid. The letter I repeat here for your benefit.
I have not had a reply to this letter or anything like an acceptable resolution. It seems that if a person on British Gas staff goes sick the customer is expected to wait a week for British Gas to take up the slack. So far for the sake of a broken door on a washing machine, (not including the time spent hanging on the phone) I have had to expend a whole half day waiting for B G to turn up to inspect it. I have put another half day aside only to have that canceled at a moments notice and I have had to write all these letters. AND I still do not have a working washing machine. This les-affaires attitude of British Gas is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Colin Cole
Thursday afternoon still no call from British Gas. Called Emma Hill . . Unsurprisingly she did not receive the above letter despite my asking for the nearest FAX machine to her desk. . . Anyway she doesn’t deal with appliance repairs . . She promised to contact someone who did . . . . Niel Davies rang . . He’s the kiddy and manages to find someone who can call on Saturday. . . . At least there should be someone in on Saturday . . . . Lets see what happens.
Simon rings at HALF PAST SEVEN. “Sorry it’s so early I got called out very early this morning. I’m at the flat,” . . . “NOT A PROBLEM I’ll be there as quick as I can.” says I.
Get’s there for 8 and Simons van is outside. Nice guy doesn’t mind stepping over all the hand washing spread around the kitchen.
Simon completes the job in about 20 mins.
WELL DONE SIMON AND BG AT LAST
Wilkins Kennedy
Wanker Solicitors Ingram Winter Green are employed by
Green Leaf Management Ltd in association with Nat West Bank & Wilkins Kennedy Chartered Accountants.
So what have NatWest got in common with Unity Trust Bank?
They are both have dealings with Lying Solicitors IWG.
Click here
Bankers:
NatWest
116 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 5AL
116 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 5AL
Chartered Accountants:
Wilkins Kennedy
London Bridge
SE1 9QR
London Bridge
SE1 9QR
THINGS ARE WARMING UP as they say
British Gas want their name back. . . . They want me to give them this site. . . My response is as follows.
Mr Colin Cole
Thursday, May 11, 2006
British Gas want their name back. . . . They want me to give them this site. . . My response is as follows.
Mr Colin Cole
Thursday, May 11, 2006
British Gas Legal
Dear Sirs
Thank you for your ‘interesting’ letter of 8th May . . . re my registration and use of www.british-
First of all I am delighted by it’s tone and find it not in the least belligerent.
A wise move if you have surveyed any of my other web-
I am sure you can quote me case history after case history of names that have been ‘transferred’ by Nominet to their ‘rightful’? owners. . . . just as surely I could quote many cases that have not.
I won’t go into all the rules about fair use, and the like . . . but simply (at this stage lets hope) my site is non commercial, is not for sale, does not seek to pass itself off as being anything to do with BG, or is run by BG, or is run by an anonymous person (my name and address is clearly stated), or could be confused with a BG site in any way shape or form, or could be confusing in the searches.
The headline alone would tell anyone looking for BG that this is not a BG site.
If you have a British Gas Homecare package, it could end up costing you a fortune in wasted time off. And, unless you have unlimited patience and unlimited phone bill, you really don't need the stress
www.british-gas.org Cached page 09/05/2006
www.british-
I didn’t write that . . . but I damn well could have the amount we have been mucked about.
I do concede that the site is an embarrassment to BG, as it is intended to be and I might presume that you weren’t too bothered when searches for it were on page 10. But now that it is listed No 5 on MSN that might not be the case any more
I do concede that the site is an embarrassment to BG, as it is intended to be and I might presume that you weren’t too bothered when searches for it were on page 10. But now that it is listed No 5 on MSN that might not be the case any more
What is not in doubt is that this website has achieved one thing . . . your attention. Which three previous letters to Roger Carr Chairman Centrica plc, and Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy have failed to do to my satisfaction.
I am aware that with enough effort and expense it might be possible for BG to wrest the name from me (on the other hand you might not) but I assure you that would be VERY counter productive indeed. VERY . . . you do not want me around on the web . . . . agin ya.
My website is a small attempt . . . at the moment . . .(try www.croydoncouncil.info for a proper attempt) . . . at getting BG to honour its obligations, to me for the considerable expense I pay for my HomeCare plan.
I have NO INTENTION of just surrendering the name. . . . however I will modify the content to suit . . . . provided . . . and I do mean provided. . . . . BG . . . FIX MY BOILER AND STOP MESSING ME ABOUT. . . . . WHATEVER IT TAKES WITHOUT CLARIFICATION.
As for consulting a Lawyer . . try my www.lawyerbaiting.co.uk and www.ingramwintergreen.org (pg advised) to find out what use they are . . . about as much use as an ash tray on a motorbike.
Or as my wife points out . . . as much use as a British gas home care con contract.
So let’s see if we can settle this amicably . . . . I’ll make sure you have nothing to fear on my web site and we can all enjoy the summer eh?
Yours Colin Clifford Cole.
Cc Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy
CC http://www.british-gas.org
http://www.ingramwintergreen.me.uk/page19.html http://www.dennissmatthews.co.uk/page17.html
http://www.lawyerbaiting.co.uk/page21.html http://www.ingramwintergreen.org/page26.html http://www.croydoncouncil.info/page44.html http://www.metpolicecroydon.co.uk/page22.html http://www.sir-ian-blair.co.uk/page24.html
http://www.spanishbeauty.me.uk
http://www.lawyerbaiting.co.uk/page21.html http://www.ingramwintergreen.org/page26.html http://www.croydoncouncil.info/page44.html http://www.metpolicecroydon.co.uk/page22.html http://www.sir-
http://www.spanishbeauty.me.uk
THIS is what you get from BG
I didn’t write this but I could have. What is the point of a “service”? Contract that doesn’t give you service . when you want it . . not when it is convenient for them.
I didn’t write this but I could have. What is the point of a “service”? Contract that doesn’t give you service . when you want it . . not when it is convenient for them.
From;-
I want to warn all who read this that the Homecare Plans offered by British Gas are not worth it.
My gas boiler broke down on Sunday evening. My central heating system is covered by a British Gas Homecare Plan so I reported it to the designated number. The operator said that the earliest that an engineer could be booked was Tuesday (today). I said that we were without central heating in the middle of winter but the operator said that this was not an emergency and hence the 24 hours call out would not apply. Dissatisfied, I accepted this appointment for an engineer to call between 12.00 and 6.00 on Tuesday afternoon.
I have waited until 5.30 and since no engineer had showed up, I call the support number again. The operator said that the job was still unallocated and offered the following options:-
1. Wait and see if the engineer would show up before 6;
2. Refer the problem to their Planning Department who mght ty tocall out an engineer this evening; or
3. Re schedule the call.
I suggested that waiting 48 hours for a missed appointment was unacceptable. He said that the agreement does not guarantee achieving any service levels. Further, the agreement expressly states that British Gas would not pay the cost of any 3rd party fixing the problem.
So here is the crux of the matter. When you take out a support agreement with British Gas, there is no guarantee of service. It is best endeavours and they will not commit to any specified service levels. Secondly, if you make an arrangement for an engineer to call, you have no recourse if they do not turn up within the half day agreed.
I have waited until 5.30 and since no engineer had showed up, I call the support number again. The operator said that the job was still unallocated and offered the following options:-
1. Wait and see if the engineer would show up before 6;
2. Refer the problem to their Planning Department who mght ty tocall out an engineer this evening; or
3. Re schedule the call.
I suggested that waiting 48 hours for a missed appointment was unacceptable. He said that the agreement does not guarantee achieving any service levels. Further, the agreement expressly states that British Gas would not pay the cost of any 3rd party fixing the problem.
So here is the crux of the matter. When you take out a support agreement with British Gas, there is no guarantee of service. It is best endeavours and they will not commit to any specified service levels. Secondly, if you make an arrangement for an engineer to call, you have no recourse if they do not turn up within the half day agreed.
It is interesting that we allow large companies to get away with selling such agreements. In B2B businesses, each contract would normally specify a target service level and likely to have financial consequences if the service provider fails to meet the service agreement.
It is high time the DTI or some consumer organisation is tasked with a statutory duty to report on performance of organisations offering services. In B2C businesses, the disparity between informational power of the supplier and the buyer is heavily stacked in the suppliers' favour. This would go some way to redressing the misbalance of power.
Given this has happened to me, I think one would be better off putting the monthly charge for the Homecare service in a deposit account and use this to pay for inspections and repairs.
Am I being unreasonable here? Has anyone here had similar experiences with British Gas or any other Centrica companies?
May the Light of the Present shine on you!
David
It is high time the DTI or some consumer organisation is tasked with a statutory duty to report on performance of organisations offering services. In B2C businesses, the disparity between informational power of the supplier and the buyer is heavily stacked in the suppliers' favour. This would go some way to redressing the misbalance of power.
Given this has happened to me, I think one would be better off putting the monthly charge for the Homecare service in a deposit account and use this to pay for inspections and repairs.
Am I being unreasonable here? Has anyone here had similar experiences with British Gas or any other Centrica companies?
May the Light of the Present shine on you!
David
Yet more further down the page
Dear Roger Re The British gas home care con Con . . .(or Catch 22 system) . . membership No 11523975
Do you know what an oxymoron is? . . . an oxymoron is a statement that contradicts itself inside that statement. A bit like the letter received today from Centrica (or is it BG) that says thank you for your letter etcetera and finishing with “we have not to date received a substantive response to our letter of 8th May.”
Do you know what a moron is ?. . . a moron is a person or persons unknown who signs themselves a squiggle FM on behalf of Centrica on headed paper with Centrica across the top but has a telephone number listed that goes to British Gas. So unknown in fact that despite exhaustive enquiries to both Centrica AND British gas switchboards FM cannot be traced in the least.
A moron is someone who demands a reply by the 5th July but does not give you a name and address to respond to.
So I am sending this to you in the hope that you at least will be able pass it on to him/her. . . .
Dear FM
Your 26th June letter I presume complains about my ownership of www.british-
If you go to that website you will see, . . . . that “substantive response” was published on the same day it was written and forwarded to Centrica/British Gas, the 11th May 2006.
Tell me . . . which part of
“I won’t go into all the rules about fair use, and the like . . . but simply (at this stage lets hope) my site is non commercial, is not for sale, does not seek to pass itself off as being anything to do with BG, or is run by BG, or is run by an anonymous person (my name and address is clearly stated), or could be confused with a BG site in any way shape or form, or could be confusing in the searches.
The headline alone would tell anyone looking for BG that this is not a BG site.
British Gas the great Home Care CON
If you have a British Gas Homecare package, it could end up costing you a fortune in wasted time off. And, unless you have unlimited patience and unlimited phone bill, you really don't need the stress
www.british-gas.org Cached page 09/05/2006
www.british-
I am aware that with enough effort and expense it might be possible for BG to wrest the name from me (on the other hand you might not) but I assure you that would be VERY counter productive indeed. VERY . . . you do not want me around on the web . . . . agin ya.
My website is a small attempt . . . at the moment . . . try www.croydoncouncil.info for a proper attempt . . . at getting BG to honour its obligations, to me for the considerable expense I pay for my HomeCare plan.
I have NO INTENTION of just surrendering the name. . . . however I will modify the content to suit . . . . provided . . . and I do mean provided. . . . . BG . . . FIX MY BOILER AND STOP MESSING ME ABOUT. . . . . WHATEVER IT TAKES WITHOUT CLARIFICATION.
. . . . . did you not understand?
Which brings me on very neatly to my next point. . . .
Not only did I get a letter from you but I also received one from a Michael Harrold, Technical Support Engineer British Gas, PO Box 11554, Swallowfield One, Oldbury B69 2BG.
For convenience (mine) I will address the rest of this letter to you Michael and publish it on the website to avoid further confusion. There is no return FAX number listed by you so I will be copying this letter to Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy in the hope he can pass it on to you.
Dear Michael . . . Thank you for your letter of 23rd June.
Because I am sure it is well meaning on your behalf I am going to desperately try not to be too sarcastic or derisory in this response . . . but it will be a supreme effort I assure you.
Let us refresh ourselves of the history but briefly . . a better understanding of it can be found on www.british-gas.org so I needn’t expand on it too fully.
When my boiler starting leaking the 1st chap correctly identified (I presume) the fault to be the heat exchanger, and went about ordering one in (successfully I was informed by all including yourself). The next chap from BG took one look at the boiler and without a second glance stated “we don’t do those anymore” and it wasn’t untill I made him check that he looked up . . . . BG did indeed “do them anymore”.
So I was going to get my boiler fixed after all. . . . Oh silly me how did I know the machinations a deviousness of the BG Homecare system? . . . after waiting a while and getting no response I am then informed that BG cannot do the repair after all because another part, the collector, that has absolutely nothing wrong with it whatsoever, is no longer in stock, so BG invoked rule one . . . if you don’t want to repair a boiler just use the get out clause that states if a part is no longer available we won’t fix your boiler despite taking insurance for it . . . .
I protest volubly as is my wont and BG decide they will replace the heat exchanger after all . . . . except that after further delays BG then manage to locate another part that might . . only might, mind you be faulty and is definitely not available and they certainly checked to make sure it wasn’t . . . and BG were not prepared to risk repairing my heat exchanger if the ‘spreader’ might . . . just might be faulty.
This story is getting a bit long now so I’m sure you will not need to be reminded of the letter 28th March from Emma Hill . . . absolving BG of responsibility if the spreader did turn out to be faulty. Which of course I accepted.
Then the weeks went by . . . I have to turn off the gas and shut the whole system down because of the leak and the weeks go by . . . and by and by . . . and out of the blue a week or so ago a welcome call to inform us that BG are at last going to fix our boiler. . . .
Silly me for getting too excited. The next day you Michael ring to inform me you have now lost the heat exchanger you had ordered in and “embarrassingly” as you put it was no longer freely available from the manufacturers. . . . . . how convenient.
So that’s enough pusyyfooting and fannying around.
Your contract with me (called amazingly enough a Homecare contract) states that if a faulty part is not available because it is out of stock then BG do not have to honour it’s obligations, (in small print and not mentioned at the outset but nevertheless no doubt valid for all that..)
BUT let’s be clear. . . . I reported this fault as long ago as the beginning of March . . . AT NO TIME until the very present has ANY PART THAT WAS FAULTY in my boiler EVER BEEN UNAVAILABLE. . . . It is only your (BG) delay . . . your prevarication. . . . your inefficiencies . . and your negligence that has caused my boiler to have become irreparable in just the last few days. . . . . I’ll say you should be embarrassed.
Your derisory offer that, if I replace the boiler because of your inefficiencies with a new one, you will INSURE IT FREE OF CHARGE FOR A YEAR???????? . . . . are you winding me up? . . . who would want British Gas to insure a brand new boiler that would no doubt have a years guarantee anyway?
Your Mr FM is fond of ultimatums. . . . . well I’ll give you one . . . if my boiler isn’t fixed or replaced by 20th July I will be taking all this to the Office of Fair Trading, The Trading Standards Office, Watchdog, The Citizens Advice Bureau. In the meantime I will be publishing this letter on MY website www.british-gas.org
And if it is not fixed or replaced by August 20th I will be replacing it myself and you will be hearing from my Solicitor, and the small claims court. Further more I will never have any dealings with British Gas ever again.
Colin Clifford Cole
Ps . . . . . is that a “substantive enough response” for you Mr FM whoever you are?
My website is a small attempt . . . at the moment . . . try www.croydoncouncil.info for a proper attempt . . . at getting BG to honour its obligations, to me for the considerable expense I pay for my HomeCare plan.
I have NO INTENTION of just surrendering the name. . . . however I will modify the content to suit . . . . provided . . . and I do mean provided. . . . . BG . . . FIX MY BOILER AND STOP MESSING ME ABOUT. . . . . WHATEVER IT TAKES WITHOUT CLARIFICATION.
. . . . . did you not understand?
Which brings me on very neatly to my next point. . . .
Not only did I get a letter from you but I also received one from a Michael Harrold, Technical Support Engineer British Gas, PO Box 11554, Swallowfield One, Oldbury B69 2BG.
For convenience (mine) I will address the rest of this letter to you Michael and publish it on the website to avoid further confusion. There is no return FAX number listed by you so I will be copying this letter to Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy in the hope he can pass it on to you.
Dear Michael . . . Thank you for your letter of 23rd June.
Because I am sure it is well meaning on your behalf I am going to desperately try not to be too sarcastic or derisory in this response . . . but it will be a supreme effort I assure you.
Let us refresh ourselves of the history but briefly . . a better understanding of it can be found on www.british-
When my boiler starting leaking the 1st chap correctly identified (I presume) the fault to be the heat exchanger, and went about ordering one in (successfully I was informed by all including yourself). The next chap from BG took one look at the boiler and without a second glance stated “we don’t do those anymore” and it wasn’t untill I made him check that he looked up . . . . BG did indeed “do them anymore”.
So I was going to get my boiler fixed after all. . . . Oh silly me how did I know the machinations a deviousness of the BG Homecare system? . . . after waiting a while and getting no response I am then informed that BG cannot do the repair after all because another part, the collector, that has absolutely nothing wrong with it whatsoever, is no longer in stock, so BG invoked rule one . . . if you don’t want to repair a boiler just use the get out clause that states if a part is no longer available we won’t fix your boiler despite taking insurance for it . . . .
I protest volubly as is my wont and BG decide they will replace the heat exchanger after all . . . . except that after further delays BG then manage to locate another part that might . . only might, mind you be faulty and is definitely not available and they certainly checked to make sure it wasn’t . . . and BG were not prepared to risk repairing my heat exchanger if the ‘spreader’ might . . . just might be faulty.
This story is getting a bit long now so I’m sure you will not need to be reminded of the letter 28th March from Emma Hill . . . absolving BG of responsibility if the spreader did turn out to be faulty. Which of course I accepted.
Then the weeks went by . . . I have to turn off the gas and shut the whole system down because of the leak and the weeks go by . . . and by and by . . . and out of the blue a week or so ago a welcome call to inform us that BG are at last going to fix our boiler. . . .
Silly me for getting too excited. The next day you Michael ring to inform me you have now lost the heat exchanger you had ordered in and “embarrassingly” as you put it was no longer freely available from the manufacturers. . . . . . how convenient.
So that’s enough pusyyfooting and fannying around.
Your contract with me (called amazingly enough a Homecare contract) states that if a faulty part is not available because it is out of stock then BG do not have to honour it’s obligations, (in small print and not mentioned at the outset but nevertheless no doubt valid for all that..)
BUT let’s be clear. . . . I reported this fault as long ago as the beginning of March . . . AT NO TIME until the very present has ANY PART THAT WAS FAULTY in my boiler EVER BEEN UNAVAILABLE. . . . It is only your (BG) delay . . . your prevarication. . . . your inefficiencies . . and your negligence that has caused my boiler to have become irreparable in just the last few days. . . . . I’ll say you should be embarrassed.
Your derisory offer that, if I replace the boiler because of your inefficiencies with a new one, you will INSURE IT FREE OF CHARGE FOR A YEAR???????? . . . . are you winding me up? . . . who would want British Gas to insure a brand new boiler that would no doubt have a years guarantee anyway?
Your Mr FM is fond of ultimatums. . . . . well I’ll give you one . . . if my boiler isn’t fixed or replaced by 20th July I will be taking all this to the Office of Fair Trading, The Trading Standards Office, Watchdog, The Citizens Advice Bureau. In the meantime I will be publishing this letter on MY website www.british-
And if it is not fixed or replaced by August 20th I will be replacing it myself and you will be hearing from my Solicitor, and the small claims court. Further more I will never have any dealings with British Gas ever again.
Colin Clifford Cole
Ps . . . . . is that a “substantive enough response” for you Mr FM whoever you are?
Cc Mark Clare, Managing Director, British Gas Residential Energy
CC www.british-gas.org
UK Search click here
This site www.british-gas.org . . goes in at No 1 on a search of british gas home care con.
Other sites are at No’s 9 & 11.
All above Centrica’s own site at No 12
10th July 2006 . . . . . . Click here
All above Centrica’s own site at No 12
10th July 2006 . . . . . . Click here
Roger Carr Chairman
Centrica plc
Millstream
Maidenhead Road
Windsor Berkshire
SL4 5GD
Centrica plc
Millstream
Maidenhead Road
Windsor Berkshire
SL4 5GD
Links to more websites and complaints about British Gas Crap service. THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
Click here
Click here
Yet more misery from British Gas and Centrica . . Click here
Well 1st of all I have to say British Gas did come round eventually and fix my boiler . . And because they had done such a good job I agreed to close this site down. . . An agreement I am now RELUCTANTLY forced to rescind. ( I don’t like going back on my word). BG Home care have been SO APPALLING I am forced into it. Last week we had occasion to call out British Gas Homecare for two separate addresses. Both as it happened but entirely coincidently for washing machines. For the appointment at our rented flat, an appointment for last Tuesday 3/10/06 was made. Which was cancelled at the last minute because, as had happened previously, the engineer was off sick. . . But at least they phoned and didn’t expect us to wait in all day for sod all. . . an appointment has been fixed for Friday. . . . and we will wait and see if they turn up.
BUT at our home address, my wife waited in all day Tuesday 3/10/06 and no one turned up. Of course she was hopping mad. And probably because my wife was so upset to the lady when she phoned to complain (not her fault of course) an emergency appointment was made for the following morning. So I waited in all this morning and guess what . . NOBODY TURNED UP . . . SO I GOT HOPPING MAD TOO . . . and an absolutely definite appointment was made for this afternoon. . . and guess what . . NO ONE TURNED UP . . . but we did get a call at 17.45 to say an appointment has now been made for NEXT MONDAY AFTERNOON . . . Well if that is the best they can do they can stuff their British Gas Homecare and I’d rather have it fixed myself and have the freedom to run this web site.
BG home care you are rubbish. .. My site was No1 on MSN when I closed it down and
it will be again in a few weeks time. Today a site called First post -
Colin Cole . . 4th October 2006 . .
I have phoned British Gas on umpteen occasions and they carry on as if they’ve never heard from me. We have waited on site on umpteen occasions for them to turn up but they never did.
If this is what it takes to get through to someone IN CHARGE then that’s fine by me. . . This SITE used to be No 1 in the World above even British Gas sites . . (Check with Legal Dept see letter below . . See panel below “this site goes to No1”)).. AND THAT was when BG decided to sort out my original problem . . . If they are not careful I’ll put it back at No 1 until they sort out my present problems. And today 8th March is already on Google page 3. . . . And here
Kevin Roxburgh Head of Debt has sent me threatening letters about what BG are going to do to us . . . but can I find someone who can get me in contact with him to reply? . . . you know the answer to that one.
Centrica are no better
I contacted Jonathan Short in High Level Complaints who said
who would look into my problems and get back to me . . . and that was the last I
heard of TOO.
It’s true he needed to look it all up on the BG computer system . .
. which unfortunately was down. . . . what a surprise. . . . . In that case he should
have rang me and told me when he was going TO SORT MY PROBLEMS OUT.
To his credit he did phone the next day and promised to put a hold on B Gas demands
while I sort my Legal problems out. www.mcp-
UNFORTUNATELY
it doesn’t seem to have done any good since we have today Sat 8th March received
YET ANOTHER demand . . . . And this time they “Have charged us £14.00 for this letter.”
Well
two can play at that game . . . I’ve CHARGED BG £290.65 for HAVING to set this website
up again BECAUSE THEY CAN’T GET EVEN THE SIMPLEST DAMN THING RIGHT.
Colin Cole
Mr & Mrs Cole
Sidcup London, SE9 3RN
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Sidcup London, SE9 3RN
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Roger Carr Chairman Centrica plc
Millstream
Maidenhead Road
Windsor Berkshire
SL4 5GD
Millstream
Maidenhead Road
Windsor Berkshire
SL4 5GD
Ingram Winter Green Solicitors
Bedford House,
21A John St.,
London WC1N 2BL
Bedford House,
21A John St.,
London WC1N 2BL
Lawyers:
It can’t get any worse can it? . . . Oh yes it can believe me.
See letter June 22nd 2006
“If you replace your boiler yourself we will insure it for you free for a year.” . . . BG Spokesman
See letter June 22nd 2006
“If you replace your boiler yourself we will insure it for you free for a year.” . . . BG Spokesman
Contact me if you wish to tell me about BG . . .
par84colin@hotmail.com
par84colin@hotmail.com
This is the real reason they didn’t fix my boiler. . . Click here
Visit Colin’ newest site. The Great british gas home care con. See if you can guess what that’s all about?
http://www.british-gas.org
http://www.british-
Colin’s NEW sites
Barnett Ross the no signature required to bid Auctioneers.
Steven
Grossman will invent a name for you.
www.barnett-