Intergas Cheltenham Ltd
BackBased at Unit 2 on Southam Lane, Intergas Cheltenham Ltd is a local company that has handled a variety of plumbing and heating tasks across Gloucestershire. Formed in 2012 by Director Christopher Organ, the business specialises in both domestic and commercial heating and plumbing installations. The company's operational hours are strictly weekday-based, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday, which is an important consideration for potential customers who might require weekend or out-of-hours services for a plumbing emergency.
Range of Plumbing and Heating Services
Intergas Cheltenham Ltd offers a broad spectrum of services that cater to various heating and plumbing needs. According to their website and customer feedback, their expertise covers bespoke domestic and commercial systems. They are a Gas Safe registered company, a critical accreditation ensuring that all gas-related work is performed legally and safely. Their qualifications extend to natural gas, LPG, Oil, Biomass, and Solar thermal hot water, demonstrating a versatile skill set.
Core services that customers have frequently sought include:
- Boiler installation: Numerous positive reviews from previous years highlight the company's proficiency in fitting new boilers. One client noted the team was particularly helpful and polite when installing a boiler for an elderly parent. Another praised the rapid one-day replacement of an old back boiler with a new system, including all new pipework.
- Boiler repair and servicing: This is a fundamental service for any heating engineer. However, this is also an area where the company has received recent criticism, with one customer reporting a complete no-show for a pre-paid annual service.
- Central heating engineer services: This includes tasks like power flushing heating systems to ensure efficiency, a job for which they have previously received positive feedback for working cleanly and effectively.
- General plumbing: The company also undertakes general plumbing tasks, from repairing leaky outdoor taps and fixing toilet flush mechanisms to more complex jobs like moving flues and relocating appliances like washing machines.
The Customer Experience: A Mixed Picture
Evaluating Intergas Cheltenham Ltd requires looking at its customer feedback, which presents a significant contrast between past performance and more recent experiences. For many years, the company built a strong reputation, but recent reviews suggest a worrying decline in service quality and communication.
A Strong Foundation of Positive Feedback
Historically, the company, and specifically its director Chris Organ, has been the recipient of considerable praise. Testimonials from several years ago consistently describe the team as brilliant, friendly, tidy, and highly professional. Customers were impressed by their ability to complete significant jobs, such as a full back boiler replacement, within a single day and at a reasonable cost. The team's flexibility was also commended, with one client noting that nothing was too much trouble even when working to very tight timescales. This history of positive feedback, including reviews as recent as mid-2022 praising their quick, knowledgeable, and helpful approach, painted a picture of a reliable and skilled team of local plumbers.
Significant Recent Service Concerns
Unfortunately, this positive image is challenged by very negative reviews from the last year. These recent accounts point to serious issues with reliability and customer service. One customer booked and paid for a boiler service online, only for the engineer to not turn up. A week later, they had allegedly received no response to their requests for a refund, leading them to accuse the company of theft.
Perhaps more telling is the feedback from a loyal customer of ten years. She initially praised the plumbing work but detailed a deeply negative experience with a larger project involving moving a washing machine. The work was allegedly left incomplete and substandard, with a quoted-for fire door never being fitted. The most critical issue, however, was a complete breakdown in communication afterwards. Despite numerous phone calls, emails, and even a letter, she received no response regarding the unfinished work or her annual boiler service. This experience forced her to hire another company to rectify the issues, leading her to question what had happened to the once-dependable firm.
What to Consider Before You Call
For anyone considering Intergas Cheltenham Ltd for their plumbing or heating needs, this conflicting feedback creates a difficult decision. On one hand, there is a documented history of high-quality work, specialist knowledge in various heating systems, and numerous satisfied customers who would highly recommend them. The business has won awards, such as the South West Region Heating Installer award, underlining their technical capabilities.
On the other hand, the serious nature of the recent complaints cannot be ignored. The allegations of failing to appear for pre-paid appointments and a complete lack of communication with long-standing clients are significant red flags. These issues suggest potential problems with administration, scheduling, or customer service management that have emerged more recently. The absence of weekend availability means they are not an option for those in need of an emergency plumber outside of standard office hours.
Final Assessment
Intergas Cheltenham Ltd appears to be a company with proven technical skill but is currently facing significant operational challenges. Potential customers should weigh the extensive positive historical feedback against the severe and recent negative reports. It would be prudent to communicate very clearly about job expectations, payment terms, and timelines before commissioning any work. Seeking clarification on their current processes for managing appointments and customer communication would be a sensible step. While their past record shows they are capable of excellent work, the recent feedback suggests a degree of caution is warranted.