Bob. It you read my post properly I advised the OP of the dangers of what an actual breach of the heat exchanger tubes (see the light through the hole) should have caused by now-------illness and possible death, not a light matter to ignore. His post says that he was suspicious of the contractors thinking more of their revenue than of his needs. My advice was to get the gas company to make an unbaised and professional assessment if that breach is as reported. I don't know the regulatory procedure in his neck of the woods but a gas company representative (and any contractor) seeing such a breach would have immediately red tagged that furnace and secured it from further use. End of suspicions and end of argument. That hadn't happened with the contractors who just advised that he get his furnace replaced. As others have chimed in there are indeed a lot of contractor scams around especially in the US. Just ask Hurricane Katrina survivors.