LEFT IN THE COLD

Money Mail, January 30

I HAD a broken boiler in December 2017 and the company I had cover with didn’t fix it for five months. Of course, I ended up having it done myself. I cancelled my policy and I’ve never looked back. E. E., Alresford, Hampshire. A BASIC boiler is around £800 online, and the average local plumber will charge £400 to fit one. I don’t know how the big companies have the nerve to charge more than £2,500. Just do your research on the internet. G. F., Lancashire. THE company I have cover with is marvellous. In 2017, my hot water tank sprung a leak and an engineer replaced it with a new tank straight away. I am in my 70s and I’ve never had any problems with the firm. D. H., Andover, Hampshire. IT’S the same with all insurance policies. Companies are always keen to say how wonderful their policies are and take your money — but wait until you try to claim. They always find a clause in the terms that invalidates your claim. F. F., Sheffield. I’M A 37-year-old gas engineer. I started on a proper apprenticeship and I worked with very experienced guys who trained me well. Nowadays, you can fast-track gas qualifications in less than a year. These people know nothing. R. P., by email. BEWARE these 24/ 7 home rescue policies. We had one, but when the boiler stopped working just before Christmas, the company said it would take two weeks to get a replacement part. We now stick with only local plumbers. B. G., by email. I PUT money aside each month so that, if my boiler breaks down, I’ll have plenty of cash to get it repaired. Small businesses never try to con you into buying a new boiler — they fix your old one. G. N., Barrow-in-Furness. ÷ WRITE to Tony Hazell at Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email asktony@dailymail.co.uk — please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.