Energy Saving Grants

PeteB_2000

A big thankyou to the OP regarding warmfront we had a new condensing boiler fitted yesterday, the house is as warm as toast now, they are also going to do some draught proofing soon, could of also had cavity wall insulation done and the loft but both where ok as our house is only 5 years old. I think we applied about 4-5 months ago.

Cheers
Pete

Fran

Thanks intel and Poppycat for pointing out the spammer. :rudolf:

Mike_the_Fishman

Having read of the time delays ingetting any service from Warmfront prompt me to tell you of my 90 year old mother who is blind and asthmatic living on her own. Her boiler broke down in October this year. Heating was essential for a person in this position so my brother went ahead and had a new boiler installed for £2500.00. Meanwhile I found the Warmfront offer of up to £2700.00 for someone in my mother's position. Lo and behold Warmfront said they could not help (even though my mother qualifies) because I had not registered for a grant with them before getting the work done!!! Moreover, they then said it would possibly take 6 weeks for a survey and then a further 6 monthe for installation. I ask myself, has the government set up a system to avoid payment of these grants by allocating only one company to handle the work? Having had the work done there is no way Warmfront would entertain a contribution for my mother whose pension is only £128 per week ( including disability benefits). How are you supposed to know about Warmfront before you experience this type of emergency???

Poppycat wrote:

Thanks Martin. I have a grant for a replacement boiler with Warmfront but its going to take up to 6 months, just great when we have only just got Winter and our boiler is packing in, I cant afford a new boiler. They do not account of peoples needs and I am angry as hell with them and DEFRA for not giving people with priorities. I have a disabled daughter with Motor sensory neuropathy and she can't stand for long periods but now she has to because we can no longer have baths amd now she has to have a shower. I am sure there are people in much worse state yet people die in this country because of the severe cold and sub standard housing when it can so easily be prevented.

I am sure this would be of enormous use for some people. Thanks.

Poppycat

That's what concerns me Mike. Although we are in need I have raised this with Warmfront and Defra regarding prioritising people, and elderly people should in most cases be given utmost priority. They told me they are not an emergency service. Yet the very people who they are suppose to help are normally those with little incomes and can least afford paying themselves. So if people are can least afford can not wait they have to find the money else where. I think that, that is unacceptable, and it is unacceptable that they must wait a long time, particularly at this time of year.

I have raised this with my MP who has written to Warmfront. I have also written to them a month ago, and more recently via email, but I havent had a reply at all from them.

I find there attitude unhelpful and I have nothing but contempt for Defra who were even worse. I just hope and I put in nicely although I would rather not, that they dont have to experince the problems like we do.

I am now applying for help else where, because I can not wait six months.

Spikey_2

Brilliant.............. cheers Martin

mariejader

I applied for the warm front grant in Dec, I had not heard from them so in March I called again and asked when would they contact me, a week later a very nice lady came out and advised we were able to get the full grant and to empty the loft as they would start with that, we hired a skip over the easter weekend and emptied the loft! the engineer came for what I thought was to do the installation only to find, he was doing a survey of the heating and the loft installation would be the last job!! Christmas decorations all over the house again!!!.

I had not heard from them so called again a month later and the engineer had not taken paperwork back so nothing happening, finally the paperwork was submitted June 2nd and I was advised the parts were ordered and would be in the plumb centre on the 27th June with fitting a little after.

I have now been informed that I need to pay an additional £420 on top of the (£2700) grant, I don't think so all I need is a new boiler and a hot water tank I have asked a company to qive me prices and their price came out much cheaper for the same work but with three days labour where as I was told max 1 day.

Is anyone else experiencing problems?

col553

I had the same problem with a company tyring to overcharge for work that could be done with the same materials by local Corgi companys at half the price that came through from the firms sent by Warm Front.
Then they had a nerve to ask for more money because the price of the work had gone past the 2700 grant allowance.
I stood my ground and they reduced there quote to guess what ( £2700.)the full grant allowance. How convenient for them.
Sounds to me like some companys are making a lot of money from.

(1) The goverment
(2) People on low income and benefits.

What i would like to know is how are these companys getting away with over charging by as much as 100%

mariejader

What I did not mention was they told me they had another 18 letters to go out that day regarding excess charges, something's not right!!

I would be interested to know of any others in the same situation

lucylucas

I followed the link to the Energy Saving Grants page then the Warm Front link for England - it says that the money in the pot has run out and to check back on 1 April 2011. It won't keep any applications on file