Hi, I wonder if you can help...We were given an invoice for a .."Baxi Platinum 28 HE A rated efficiency combi boiler complete with 5 year warranty"by a local corgi registered firm.But.. after we paid half the money (by visa).. they fitted a Potterton Performa Combi (24kW) with only a 12 month warranty and a B rating.I paid them the other half of the money (by visa) without realising the Boiler was different from the invoice.. it was only when I saw the warranty I realised.When I asked why they fitted a different boiler their first response was "the fitters should have told you, Potterton own Baxi so it's the same company", I said ok to this but later I rang them again and asked if the boiler they fitted was equal or better than the Baxi and if not then I wanted the Baxi fitted.. they then said " it was a typo on the initial invoice, the Baxi boiler we quoted doesn't exist and would be too big for your needs".Do you guys understand the difference between these two boilers? What would you do?CheersG

The boiler you got is, I believe, this one

http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Potterton_Performa_24HE_System_Boiler.html

The boiler you paid for is this one.

http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Baxi_Platinum_Combi_28_HE.html

There's about £300 difference from that site with the VAT. You are being told a pack of lies. Visit this site for help and advice.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

If you get nowhere with other options, you can contact your credit card issuer and ask them to start their dispute process for the second payment.

Thanks maxsteam, very usefull website that..

I've double checked the boiler and unfortunately it's slightly worse than you say.. it's an 'eco' boiler which cost around £50 less than the other potterton..so theoretically they've done me out of £350 ish...given me a B rated boiler (not A) and taken my 5 year warranty and replaced it with a 12 month.... nice guys huh!

http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Potterton_Performa_Eco_HE_Boiler.html

I'll ask them very nicely on Tuesday what they're going to do about it...

Cheers.

Also the 28He as you can see gives you 11.5 litres of water per minute the other is only 9.5 litre/min and so slower bath filling and not the same scope if 'other 'appliances are drawing water. You pay extra for a greater flow fer litres/minute

Thanks George.. It's good to get more reasons why I should have the 28HE (and not the one they fitted).... the guy's not back at work until Wednesday unfortunately but I'm really determined to get the 28HE not the one we've been fobbed off with.

G

Hi, You may remember my previous post (missold boiler) about a Potterton Eco 24kW boiler being fitted instead of a more expensive Baxi Platinum 28 HE 28kW.. after many different excuses.. the company have now come up with... the BAXI won't work with your system (it's too big) .. is this correct?
Thanks
G

Most central heating boilers give out 20 to 30 kilowatts per hour in with central heating most people may only be using 10 kilo watts per hour by having a larger boiler say 28kw per hour means you can set your thermastatic controlled radiators to 2 or 3 on the dial [without the dial being full on] greater control in each room and the boiler will cope easily with very very cold spells and the cheaper the boiler notice the flow of water range only 9.5 litres to the best giving out 19 litres per minute you get what you pay for ring baxi technical support and tell them you like to choose this boiler because you needed 11+lires of water for qucker bath and showers Do not disclose at this point the problem with this company Just say can I use the 28 kwboiler The firm who installed the boiler.Tell them you'll be in touch with Visa to fight for you and contact trading standards in your town to assist you . This company do not want this boiler on their hands Where would they now sell it and the expence of taking it out Most people may only go for a boiler maximum of 13 to 15 litres water flow per minute because above this the mains water pressure may not be adequate ''but ''your 28 kilowatt boiler you want will have no problem at 11.5 to 13 litres with your mains pressure My boiler gives me 19 litres per minute I decide on the boiler 'I am paying for it 'and ''I decide on the rate of water flow' the 24kw one being cheaper cannot deliver 11.5 not your problem but the installers You will not be happy with 9.5 it will just cope for showering

Baxi Support Mon to Friday8am to 6pm sat8.30 to2pm Tel 0870 6096 096 or 01926 405405

Thanks again George.... I hear what you're saying about the Baxi and I really would like that boiler.. unfortunately the guys I bought it from are claiming that it was a typo and we were never meant to have the Baxi

This is a big post... if you've got the time.. I'd appreciate your comments.. I'm at the point of giving up.. it would help me to know the cost difference per year from an A efficiency to a B boiler.. do you know that?


Here's what the fitting company said:
"..Further to your telephone conversation and email regarding discrepancy of the boiler you have and the boiler stated in the quotation to you. We would like to confirm in writing the information given verbally.

The price given to you on the quotation was based on the choice of 2 boilers. A Heatline and a Potterton Performa Eco combi made by Baxi Company.

On this occasion when your quotation was being prepared, a template of a similar quote for another customer was used. Changes were made to prices and other information except unfortunately the name and the model of boiler 2 was changed to show the correct boiler that was priced for this job.

First of all Baxi 28 He is far too powerful for the size of your flat. Secondly to use a Baxi Platinum boiler, the quotes would be a lot higher
than what you paid for.

As I understand at the time of the survey, your requirement was to have a good boiler but not a very expensive one. What you have now is a very
good reliable boiler at a very cheap price.

Below is a breakdown of costing using the prices you emailed to us from a discounted internet site.

If we are to use Baxi Platinum 28 HE Boiler (Price supplied by you) £794+vat
Flue £59+vat
Clock £26+vat
Total £879+vat

Add to the above
Room stat £69+vat, chemicals to use for Powerflush £42+vat, inhibitor, £20+vat, hire of Powerflush equipment £60+vat. Copper piping, fittings,
plastic piping and fitting, also going to the builders merchants to get some blocks and mortar to block up the hole in the wall which was not included in the price and other miscellaneous items £90+vat.

This brings the total for materials for this to £1100+vat, this leaves a total of £150+vat for 20 man hours of 2 qualified corgi registered gas engineers plus a share of overheads of the business and profit from the job of £7.50 per hour. With the boiler that you have the total cost of
materials £814 leaving £436 which is £19.81 per hour you paid for the work that we carried out for you.

You might think having a boiler with a 5 year guarantee means no more expense for the next 5 years. The following are some facts for you to consider.

1) It is recommended and advisable to service the boiler annually, but the fact is in practice for the first few years as a boiler is new,
people would not rather spend the money, however for your 5 year guarantee to be valid you have to have the boiler serviced annually. At the moment a current callout and labour is £69 to £79+vat, in addition to that ever year as part of the service you have to pay for a service kit (seals etc) which is not part of the warranty this is (depending on the boiler) anything from £25 to £40+vat. You must be able to provide proof of annual servicing to the manufacturers engineers as that is the first thing they want to see.

2) If you have problem with your system and call manufacturer engineer out, under your 5 year warranty and the find the fault is not actually
with the boiler itself (say your clock or room stat or something that the customer has done like adding pressure to the system) not only will
they charge their call out and labour, they will charge you for the total cost of repair. As they say sometimes free things cost more.

Let me make our position clear which hopefully would save time to resolve this unfortunate situation.

We do admit you were given a wrong quotation as a result of an unfortunate oversight and mistake which we do apologise for that and are willing tocompensate you for the inconvenience that it has caused you. We have not caused you any financial loss as you had what we priced you for in our quotation. You have had very good work carried out on your flat which before this came to light you called and told us so. You have a good reliable boiler.

Again we are willing to take the punishment as long as fits crime, unfortunately what I have to make clear is for us to take the boiler and put
a Baxi Platinum boiler in its place is something that is not going to happen.

Looking forward to hearing from you about your thoughts about resolving this situation by email or in writing. ...."


would you continue to fight?

It seems to me, that from a legal standpoint, this letter is manor from heaven. They have admitted that they made a mistake, and that your boiler is not the one you contracted to have fitted. The quote, whether a mistake or not, is legally binding - unlike an estimate.

It's up to you whether you want to take it any further, however it will be a fight that I consider you would win in a Court of Law.

Thanks Skywalker..

I've sent a final request to the fitters before I take this further.. If you have anymore comments please do add them.

e-mail said:

"Thank you for your e-mail. It is unfortunate that there was a mistake on the quotation.

My main problem is that I would never have bought the SEDBUK B rated, Potterton Performa Eco combi boiler and I was expecting to get the A rated Baxi. You have categorically stated that you will not be replacing the Potterton with a Baxi even though the boiler fitted does not match what you quoted us for.

If you are unwilling to fit the Baxi you quoted, please suggest an alternative boiler that you can fit for the price we paid that is SEBUK A rated and has a 5 year guarantee.

Please reply to me with your final solution within 7 days..."

I would have thought having a 5 year guarantee Baxi would cover the boiler for 5 years. [check with Baxi.]. Nothing says you have to have a yearly service. If it goes wrong you ring Baxi.[All free] after 5 years you can if you wish take out a yearly sevice with Baxi[cheaper] Its a difficult choice where you now go. The 28 is much better. I'd still chat with Baxi and Trading standards re- the sale of goods act law and the Visa legal Department also your house insurance legal section you may be covered for a chat A friend in the legal profession would help [Running cost] this boiler being not A rated is not as good, and as for water flow very poor As indicated this firm will be left with a boiler on their hands and costs for new in and out

Maybe Skywalker could help you more re- legal issues I do feel very sorry for you What a firm you have dealt with Could Corgi Corporation themselves not take this firm to task with your evidence

Hi again George..
Thanks for your thoughts. I've talked to consumer-direct and with visa, they're both willing to help if I want to take this further. Corgi unfortunately cannot help, they sent me a note this morning saying that it's not a gas safety issue therefore they cannot offer assistance.

We'll see what the company comes back with. I see your point about the cost and I'm trying to get some idea about how much extra it'd cost per year (A vs B rated)... I might have to forgo the luxury of a better water flow (we'll see) but atleast I can fight for the efficiency and the guarantee....

Cheers
G

I agree with your thoughts All the very best Cheers