Help

exhausted_3

In brief I am a single parent who is about to leave part-time employment before I have another baby at the end of November. I have a four year old and a five year old. I have struggled and juggled since my partner decided when I was six months pregnant that he was off to Oz. Ok fine, no maintenance etc so my situation is briefly explained.

A few months ago, my boiler broke down. I applied for a grant with Warm Front and Iguana came out recently to see what the job entails. He recommended a boiler with one radiator change in the bathroom. Off he went. Today I received a letter from Warm Front with this following :-

Previous Grant Paid £500 (loft insulation)
Contractors quotation to complete work £2341.34
Cost of materials £545

My contribution £831.00 well to say the least I understand that this is better than paying loads but I can not understand why it is so much the boiler only costing £545. this is for a ICOS HE15 14.6 kilowatt output. I have a small one bedroomed flat which I have a mortgage on... I have phoned the Local Council to see if they can do a top up grant, no because I am paying income tax .. in the meantime, my kids have no heating or hot water, I have no-one to turn to lend me the money and I am having a breakdown like the boiler!!

Does anyone know what I can do .. I have suggested to Warmfront that it maybe that the quoter has gone a bit wild and maybe get another quote but they have said if I get another quote it maybe more and it will cost out of the grant and in the end I will be worse off..

I am quite frankly stuffed... at my wits end and dont know what to do ... help..

exhausted_3

On the worksheet it suggests a Ideal Combi 24HE but when I phoned today I was told they were fitting a standard Icos 15 HE does anyone know what is the better out of the two because I am now thinking of getting a loan or something to pay this excess but do now want to pay all that money for the wrong boiler.. sorry if I am on the wrong thread :eek:

Skintmama

Sounds a dreadful situation, I can understand why it would be stressing you out.......is it worth you asking on the Benefits board about the money side of it? Hope something works out for you and that someone who has some knowledge of boilers will help with your second query. I assume your existing boiler cannot be repaired?
Good Luck

exhausted_3

Thanks Skintmama ... a very appropriate name.. I have today cancelled Iguana and asked for a further quote which will take 6 weeks and then a further six months before the work has to be completed.. looks like me and the kids will be boiling kettles forever for hot water.. on the upside of things my gas bill came through today for this quarter £5.00!!!!!

My old boiler apparently got cooked!! So no prospect of fixing it nevermind I will hang on and on without much choice really .. thank god they are free phone numbers at Warmfront I held on today for 45 minutes!!

janken

Have you tried social services as you have young kids they should be able to get something moving fast and may be able to put you in the right direction for grants etc.

Did not think people could be left in this situation.

Good luck

Kaz2904

You can if you own your own house, not if you are in rented though.
This was the information I found when my boiler broke both times it was when I had a very small baby and it was snowing!
It's easier to keep a baby warm though!

exhausted_3

Thankfully for the next couple of weeks at least this baby is keeping me warm!! I have just put two jumpers on each of the five and four year olds and hopefully that will keep them warm.. the good thing is they now very heavily use their quilts whereas before they were forever kicking them off!! Oh well.. roll on Spring!!