Thanks again Martin2006. Engineer left a while ago. Different story with this one although he did a very hard sell to fit a Magnabooster ... but was suggesting putting it on the return/vent pipe in the airing cupboard not the pipe going into the boiler, as the boiler 'has stuff in it already' (so it doesn't matter if more crap gets into it??) and it would be tricky for us to clean (height and physical issues, and the thing would be up near the ceiling). Also the special offer is ending tomorrow and it's £50 more after (though that wasn't a fib as he handed over a printed voucher showing that - offer price is £219). Showed me the piece of pipe b/t the pump and valve which has only a coating of black on it, not narrowed, though admittedly it attracts a magnet less strongly than the T junction piece. That he would not touch. Said he didn't think the system needed a powerflush for 'several years' but would benefit from the filter, and if problems occurred again they might be funny about it if the filter wasn't fitted. Anyway got him to leave a quote for that at the special price, which allows the offer to be extended for 28 days in effect. Meanwhile, the actual problem he said was with the pump which was the type they used to fit - Michin? - they now fit Grundfos. Apparently the others were prone to just stopping (which happened to the one last year). Did see that the box mentioned the maker though the pump itself has the blue BG appearance like the last one, however definitely a different pump, switch is different. So system seems to be running OK now. Freely admitted that the previous engineer had 'jumped to conclusions'. The noises had been water overheating in the boiler, but that was because the pump had stopped. Thinks more problems will occur sooner rather than later if we don't go for the filter. Anyway, am now going to try to get someone independent that a friend has used to come and look at the whole thing, including possibility of new rads to replace the worse ones at least, and give another opinion on powerflush, which possibly should be done before fitting the filter - otherwise won't it immediately fill up with crap? It was the booster type with a thing that unscrews then goes onto a nut at the side and turns to let the stuff drop out. Also said if fitted by a 3rd party they wouldn't clean as part of annual service, and showed me the T&C but I then gave it back saying the T&C said they wouldn't REPAIR a 3rd pty one but they would clean as part of annual service even if they didn't fit it. So he was better than the last one but still some BS going on. On balance, if an independent can be got in who is decent, the BG contract is going to go. Anyway thanks again for all your advice.

Thanks Martin2006. It is fully pumped and does have the T joint between downpipe to pump and valve, and the pipe coming up from boiler and bending to run along the side of the airing cupboard and up to loft. The T junction itself is where the BG 'engineer' was putting the magnet to demo iron sludge. There is no 15 mm pipe. Phoned BG today to complain about the general 'off' attitude and the implication that getting a powerflush done by anyone else would then cause problems with the contract. Nice lady at the call centre was apologetic, said it was fine to get it done by independent, wouldn't invalidate. Agreed to send a different engineer for a 2nd opinion. Confirmed that the 'lifetime' guarantee on power flushing didn't start till 2004 so ours was too early to benefit. I stressed that system was now unusable since it was banging and crashing itself apart as soon as the 'engineer' left. I also said I was concerned that the amount of pressure to shift a blocked pipe might blow out the very flaky rads, and that nothing had ever been said about power flush, it would be more reasonable if they agree to replace the blocked piping and then said we needed power flush to avoid problems with cover. (Which would be done cheaper by independent) Incidentally, the system has had X100 in it since the boiler was put in, in 1999 and was replaced Jan 2001 when they had to drain it for some reason, forgotten now why. These Baxi Solos are definitely not as reliable as the old back boilers like the Glowworm which we only replaced because they told us they could no longer get parts. Could the playing with magnets by the 'engineer' have ensured that the pipe was fully blocked or might he have let more water into the system when in the loft and out of sight - as opinion seems to be that putting more dissolved oxygen into the system will exacerbate problems? Seems odd that the problem got dramatically worse 5 mins or less after his departure. The 2nd engineer is coming tomorrow - will see if they agree the blocked pipework should be cut out. If not, will get an independent in to look at it properly and hopefully fix then cancel the BG contract. Was pretty annoyed by all this as have been with them for 23 years, and they didn't use to be this bad.

Thanks Martin2006. Don't know where the pipe actually joins on, just saw it coming up from floor of airing cupboard, presumably goes under landing floor and down to boiler in kitchen. Two water pipes go into top of boiler, only a gas pipe comes up from the floor into bottom of boiler. Was concerned that a flush would need so much pressure to clear the (narrow) pipe it would blow out the rads. Guess getting an independent to look it over is the way forward. Maybe also corrosion on the rads which is quite bad could be letting air in though there are no obvious leaks touch wood. BG don't cover the rads unless they actually start leaking of course. Boiler is the old type, not a combi.

Hi. Am on a BG contract. Last March had the valve replaced, last year the pump. In July, Baxi Solo boiler and/or the pump/airing cupboard pipework started making very alarming loud bangs and lots of rushing, trickling, just weird noises. BG engineer visited but the noises didn't perform - said check if it vents into loft when it next happens, can't do anything without hearing them. Nothing happened again till last Thurs night when it started up again. Checked header tank - no hot water in that. Noises became pretty continuous though luckily not the very loud bangs which had vibrated upstairs floorboards, apart from first start up in morn. Arranged BG visit, came today. Very rushed/almost rude engineer who spent the visit complaining about everything from the loft ladder to why we hadn't followed a quote last year for new rads - because the guy who suggested it thought the worst corroded ones would be replaced under contract for free, and a quote turned up for thousands. Said didn't have to hear the noises (when tried to play back a taped copy), knew it was a blockage in the return/vent pipe. Waved round a magnet to prove the copper pipe in the T junction where this pipe joined the downward running pipe to the pump and valve was 'magnetic', with iron based sludge inside. Said bleeding rads would show dirty water - actually water is clean, only air was in one upstairs rad, so changed the story to the sludge is down the bottom. Basically said they used to cut out the bad pipework but now, nothing doing - must pay for a £800 powerflush. Question - had one done in 1999 when boiler was fitted, before the 'lifetime' guarantee, so they will no doubt dispute should have a free one. Also, after visit the banging came back continuously - sounded ready to splitopen the boiler so have had to switch it all off. Left without a working system now till we pay up - if powerflush done by an independent, said they would not cover on their contract - so a form of blackmail, yes? If anything happened subsequently, sounds like they'd weasel out of paying anything. And this is after paying for cover since 1988. Absolutely livid. Am going to phone to complain tomorrow but any advice please - probably get an independent in and cancel BG? Also concerned that powerflush might perforate the corroded rads.

Have had a look on the forum being new, and found a couple of posts related to this, but to cases 'further along' in the sense that debt collection agencies had got involved. Basically have lived at the same address for 20+ years. In August started getting post from a bank I have accounts with but addressed to 3 other people I've never heard of. Thought it was fishy and phoned police who said post it back unopened. Also tried ringing the helpline but they just said send it back and they couldn't say what it was about, or how these people had become associated with my address. So sent it all back as instructed with covering letter to say please amend your records so these people are not registered here, and hoped it was just a clerical error. To be on the safe side, checked my credit report via a couple of the credit ref agencies, couldn't remember the more obscure one, couldn't see anything dodgy or any linked person on there. Since then two other lots have turned up. Sent the second lot back but another lot has come today and there are clues that it is probably a credit card bill as it looks like the envelopes I get from them for that. If so, it's looking more definitely address theft rather than some clerical error as they presumably had to apply separately about a month ago. Am doing a letter to send recorded delivery but the bank only has a post box address and I believe this means only a bulk signing gets done, not for individual letters in such cases. Am going to point out I've sent back two previous batches and told them these people have never lived here but having had the latest one, require them to immediately remove all reference to these people at my address and to reply to me to confirm they have done so. Am thinking I might add that if I don't get that confirmation, I shall be reporting them to Watchdog and Which Legal services - is that likely to make them take more notice? I don't want this to get to a debt collection situation. Thanks for any advice