A Scottish Power engineer came to service my boiler. He was amazed at what he saw. The last engineer that had been months previously to fit a new part had cross threaded the top screw of the heat exchange plate and just pushed the other three screws in as continued cross threading left no thread. This in turn allowed air to get in causing overheating which melted 2/3rds of the seal and all the wiring and component's and cover insulation. This left two 2/3rds of an inch gap which could have allowed carbon monoxide to escape putting our lives at risk. The engineer said the boiler was condemned and should have been by the last engineer knowing without the heat exchange plate fitting correctly it was Immediately dangerous. The engineer passed all information to his boss and compiled a report. 11 days later with no heating or hot water, ( I was boiling kettles of water to try and bath a one and two year old and for our own personal hygiene). I hadn't heard anything! I rang them and Mary took my call, she said the boiler had been condemned, I asked what happened now to be told id have to get a new boiler. I was amazed and said "its your engineer that has wrecked it. I put in a complaint and rang every day several times a day. It was referred to upper management and a manager came out to do an assessment. I've never heard such a cop out in my life. I put a complaint in about him too! I got an independent report done which stated the boiler was beyond repair due to the damage caused. I sent this to SC, I rang and rang insisted to be put through to a manager to no avail. I eventually spoke to a lady that said as a good will gesture they were going to repair the boiler but took no responsibility. They refused to reimburse me for the independent report or the extra electric for boiling the kettle or for my time and many, phone calls. To repair the boiler they replaced all the melted components and purchased from B&Q a long bar of screw thread that they managed to push in and attach to very little thread. I am appalled that I waited for a whole month to get hot water and heating. My house could have burnt down or we could have lost our lives due to their INCOMPITANCE. The manager asked if I was claiming any benefits so they could fit me a new boiler and claim it back from the government! Is that not called FRAUD? Its a total disgrace.