I was going to take Npowers policy at £186/yr for new business (£212/yr 2nd year), then i discovered that they can weasil out of payments, when a repair of about £500 is deemed to be more than the value of the boiler.
If this is the case, anyone with an older boiler (their policies class 7 yrs as older), and mine is 12 years old, doesn't really stand a chance of getting a major repair done. Instead expect a £3000+ quote for a new one, followed by the teaser that they will deduct the £500 repair cost from this!
My main reason for wanting an insurance policy was the fact that if a breakdown occurs it is attended to very quickly. If you have to make your own arrangements in an emergency, you could be without heat for a lot longer. This could be particularly difficult if you need a new boiler.
Anyway i soldier on with my old boiler, knowing that it could need replacement one day, but for now, it is quiet and cheap to run. Surprisingly cheaper than the average dual-fuel bill and we keep our house pretty warm. I fully expect to have to foot the £2000 new boiler bill myself one day, but i don't wish to be forced into doing this (by an insurance policy) when my boiler is still repairable.
As a footnote the BG engineers were all very good. They gave an honest appraisal of my boiler and although they do push the new boiler option "because you wouldn't want to be without heat in the winter", one chap recommended purchasing some of the parts that are unavailable to them, to keep, and they would fit them when required. It's a shame their customer services is so poor, and the money grabbing management at BG can't make the policies more reasonable in terms of annual cost, and what is actually covered.
It must be tough for British Gas trying to maintain their £1billion annual profit, and pay their millions in directors salaries and benefits.