Help - problems with central heating boiler

[orsolina]

Hi,
We moved to Carcassonne 6 months ago and had to replace our Central heating boiler. We had a Chaffoteaux Mira green fitted by a local plumber - for what seemed to us a huge amount of Money €2,600!!!. Shortly after installation when we switched it on there was a loud explosion and there in after we had problems with it including the boiler being very noisy. (We discovered at this point that the mounting was not level and wondered if this could have contirbuted to the problem.) Eventually the chap from Chaffoteaux came to check it out and fobbed us off. After a great deal of agonising too-ing and fro-ing with the plumber and Chaffoteaux via their website our plumber rang up and announced triumphantly that he was coming to fit a brand new boiler.
He duly arrived with a new boiler in a box, saying that he had insisted that chaffoteaux replace it. We pointed out our concerns that the mounting was not level and again felt we were being fobbed off with "We'll see". After 2 hours the new boiler was up, the plumber was ready to go and asked for the balance of his bill. We declined until we had evidence that the boiler was now in a good working condition.
Later on closer inspection we discovered that in fact - we still have the same boiler - or at the very least half the same boiler. The casing and lower part are definately the same - same serial numbers, scratches etc. The mounting is still not level and it is still noisy - though not quite as noisy as before.
It is all beginning to feel a bit surreal and we are struggling with what to do next.
Does any one have any suggestions? Is there a local trading standards body in France that deals with this kind of thing?

[Big Pete]

Originally Posted by orsolina

Hi,
We moved to Carcassonne 6 months ago and had to replace our Central heating boiler. We had a Chaffoteaux Mira green fitted by a local plumber - for what seemed to us a huge amount of Money €2,600!!!. Shortly after installation when we switched it on there was a loud explosion and there in after we had problems with it including the boiler being very noisy. (We discovered at this point that the mounting was not level and wondered if this could have contirbuted to the problem.) Eventually the chap from Chaffoteaux came to check it out and fobbed us off. After a great deal of agonising too-ing and fro-ing with the plumber and Chaffoteaux via their website our plumber rang up and announced triumphantly that he was coming to fit a brand new boiler.
He duly arrived with a new boiler in a box, saying that he had insisted that chaffoteaux replace it. We pointed out our concerns that the mounting was not level and again felt we were being fobbed off with "We'll see". After 2 hours the new boiler was up, the plumber was ready to go and asked for the balance of his bill. We declined until we had evidence that the boiler was now in a good working condition.
Later on closer inspection we discovered that in fact - we still have the same boiler - or at the very least half the same boiler. The casing and lower part are definately the same - same serial numbers, scratches etc. The mounting is still not level and it is still noisy - though not quite as noisy as before.
It is all beginning to feel a bit surreal and we are struggling with what to do next.
Does any one have any suggestions? Is there a local trading standards body in France that deals with this kind of thing?

Hi

I am not to familier with that model , but it is very important to have the burner assembly level !!

If you imagine holding a flame up it will always burn upright , if the burner housing is crooked it will be burning alongside the body rather than its designed centre ..

So you should insist thats its mounted squarely.. This will cause long term problems else .. and could explain the problems your having .

[orsolina]

Thank you for your reply - it was a relief to have our suspicions confirmed - we thought the problems were to do with it not being level. In fact if anything it is getting noisier! It is not hugely out but using a spirit level you can clearly see it isn't level. The mystery of why we were told that we were having a new boiler only to find it was the same one however still rolls on. We have written/emailed to the plumber and asked him to come and explain. We wait with bated breath....

[Stravinsky]

Originally Posted by orsolina

Thank you for your reply - it was a relief to have our suspicions confirmed - we thought the problems were to do with it not being level. In fact if anything it is getting noisier! It is not hugely out but using a spirit level you can clearly see it isn't level. The mystery of why we were told that we were having a new boiler only to find it was the same one however still rolls on. We have written/emailed to the plumber and asked him to come and explain. We wait with bated breath....

Its pretty basic isn't it for a plumber to get the boiler sited straight. Ahh well! Do you have a system there like we do in Spain of a denuncia. Its sort of like a complaint you can make to the local Police

[Bevdeforges]

As far as I know, there isn't really a good system for dealing with consumer complaints in France - no "better business bureau" at any rate.

If your French is up to it, you may want to consult the magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs Home - Le site du magazine 60 millions de Consommateurs or just pick up a copy at your local news stand. They are supposed to be able to help out individuals who have problems with products and tradesmen, or at the least, to be able to recommend the appropriate agency or resource to go to.

If you really can't work it out with the plumber, ask at your local mairie to see where and when they hold the "meet with a notaire" sessions in your area. You can get a 15 or 20 minute free consultation with a notaire where you can explain what happened and determine if you have any legal course of action.

Don't reveal to the mairie the name of the plumber you're having problems with (all France is "small town" and everyone is related to everyone else...) - but they may also be able to point you to some sort of consumer association as well.

These are just "off the top of my head" suggestions. I'm outside France at the moment so can't ask around like I normally do. Will follow up when I get back home later this week.
Cheers,
Bev

[orsolina]

Denunciation sounds good! Thanks for all the advice.