Mel B Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 My Mum's council flat purchase has finally been completed today which she is very happy about and hopefully can now get back to some sort of 'normality' in her life ... and so can we hopefully!!! In order to still give her peace of mind I am looking to sort out a home emergency repair/maintenance service policy/agreement for her so if she has a problem she can just pick the phone up and get someone round to sort it out for her as she did previously when she rang the Council. Obviously we are more than happy to do anything needed but she is staunchly independent so this still lets her be 'in control' of things if she wants to be. I'm thinking more of when we're on holiday and therefore not around to organise repairs or do them for her (my eldest brother is useless!) so I only anticipate this would be needed for the gas/heating system and any major problems (which I hope won't happen!) so wonder if anyone has one specifically for this, or a more general one, and if so, how you've found it and would you recommend it???? Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Mel have a word with British gas I know they were ringing us up about an insurance that covered a couple of things at the time it was £3 something that must of been a week!! O.H didn't believe it so in his usual skeptical way chased them :-D have a word see what it covers, it would have been added to our monthly charges and if I had had my way I would have done it, but as ever!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thanks Maggy, I've found one which Swinton insurance offer starting at £4.99 a month so once I have full details of what the service charge for the flat covers I'll be able to sort it out for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 :-D Well worth it for peace of mind Mel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveH Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 One to avoid is "Homeserve" Seriously! - do not use them. I have not heard good things about these sort of providers in general. We now simply use a good range of personally and professionally recommended local tradesmen. If you do not know of any locally them maybe sites like Checkatrade etc could point you in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Speak to Age Concern I recollect reading they have a sytem in place that may be what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 We have ours with the house insurance , with RIAS, this includes an annual boiler service As you say you need to find out what is included in the "service" charge, as flats may be different. Hopefully your Mum,s flat will have been kept maintained by the council, prior to her purchase?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 This is the trouble now day's *-)..................No one has built up a decent relationship with proper local trades people >:-( ...................You all think I'm the customer so why don't you jump when I ring? *-) .............. So you sign up for the big international who advetise............ "Dial........0847...***************** We'll be by your door next day according to their advert if your lucky................ and we'll charge you so much per month anyway coz your so stupid you think your paying monthly for a service...................that they've it subbed out to someone else who is the local plumber that would of charged you half the price if you'd contacted him direct *-)...... Most of the time it works in the big boys favour...........coz people rarely complain and are happy to be milked :D (lol) (lol) (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerC Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 CliveH - 2013-09-21 5:34 PMOne to avoid is "Homeserve"Seriously! - do not use them. I have not heard good things about these sort of providers in general. We now simply use a good range of personally and professionally recommended local tradesmen.If you do not know of any locally them maybe sites like Checkatrade etc could point you in the right direction. Here's a good comment then for Homeserve. A couple of years back we decided to stop our policy with them and rely on local tradesmen. However they offered a 50% reduction if we agreed to continue and luckily we agreed. Christmas day at around 10pm we heard a hissing noise from under our kitchen cupboard. Removing the plinth I saw a pin hole leak from the rising main.........not good. We called Homeserve and within 1 hour a plumber was around and despite the location of the pipe (well back under the fitted cupboard and really difficult to reach) he carried out the repair within the hour. Being Christmas day I offered him a 'present' (signed by the Governor of the Bank of England)which he declined saying he was only too happy to have been able to resolve our problem. Excellent service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie gibblebucket Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 We used to be with Homeserve and they were ok in those days. I stopped ours when we couldn't really afford it, they offered us a 50% reduction too, but at the time I had to be ruthless and economise wherever possible. Currently we have an emergency repair policy with the AA. I only paid £3 odd per month for the first year (special offer) and now pay about £6. My hubby useless at DIY and breaks into a sweat at the mere sight of a power tool, so worth having for us. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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