HElP!!! No heating or hot water and 12 week old babies in the house ?

rossalexanderhodgson

Does anyone have any suggestions ? We have 12 week old twins in the house and my glowworm compact boiler has packed up, we've had no heating or hot water for over a fortnight, I have had three independent engineers say that the boiler is beyond economical repair, I own the house and have unfortunately had to take a minimum wage job due to redundancy last year; meaning that paying to have the boiler replaced is just not on option. I have been in touch with the local council who cannot help, citizens advice who don't have any advice ? We have been declined a crisis loan, declined an application for the warm front scheme and been given no alternatives ??? I am on a low income and we are in receipt of Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit. What the hell do we do ?

happy35

what reason were you giving for being denied heating from the Warm front scheme? I have looked at the criteria and you seem to meet it, you have ctc and a child under 5 in the household

I dont know who else can help, have you been to see your local CAB as they will know if there is anything available in your area

chanz4

does someone else live with you? You could try social services they mabe able to help.

t0rt0ise

happy35 wrote: »

what reason were you giving for being denied heating from the Warm front scheme? I have looked at the criteria and you seem to meet it, you have ctc and a child under 5 in the household

That is not the complete criteria.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Energygrants/DG_10018661

spiro

You say what you do, what about your OH?

Without being rude, for hot water do what we did when I was a child many moons ago, boil a kettle.

For heating until you can raise the money/loan to replace the boiler it sounds like you are going to need to use some form of elec heaters.

I know that with BG are expensive in terms of boiler work I they do offer flexible repayments (http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/boilers/boiler-service/new-boiler-payment-info.html) maybe other suppliers/installers offer something similar.

C_Mababejive

Do you have a tank with an immersion heater so that at least you can get hot water?

What about BGs fixed price fix?

Hot water is really the priority as full central heating is a luxury

macman

And a couple of cheap electric panel heaters (Tesco, Lidl, etc) will take care of the essential heating needs.
I can't believe how many people don't seem to have the most basic heating back up for times when the CH isn't working?

Pincher

The minimum wage job probably put the spanner in the works.

Assume £6 an hour, 35 hours a week is £210 a week.
I know after tax and NI it's even less, but it's probably too much money coming in for the formula they use.

Rather a good example of the poverty trap.

Write to your MP. Send e-mails to BBC Panorama, Channel 4 Dispatches.

hazelc56

Awe so sorry to hear of this dilemma of your's Alex.I dont know much about this kind of thing but if i were in your position i would try to find a company who would be willing to fit you a new boiler and would allow you to pay it off by Direct Debit.Maybe there arent any but it might be worth a try.In the meantime invest in a couple of heaters as you may need them at some time again.There have been some good suggestions on the thread which you should try,like Social Services.Did the CAB give you any advice on what you might be able to do?Good luck and i hope you get something sorted soon as it certainly cant be easy for you with 2 infants to care for.

rossalexanderhodgson

Hi guys, thank you all for your input, I already had a couple of electric heaters and luckily I have an open fire so heating is 'do-able' we have been boiling many kettles worth of water but it really is a short term fix. I have been to citizens advice, accommodation concern, the local council and have applied for both warm front and crisis loans and still nothing, I cannot believe there is no system in place to help us, we are not asking for this to be paid for, just a way of paying over a period time, I am currently going around all the energy suppliers but no joy as yet.

Thanks again

Ross

undaunted

Some people have no idea what's it's like to struggle. I think it's just appalling that anyone can be working & yet still be unable to afford basic necessities, particularly with such young children in the house, and still get no help from anyone.

Of the suppliers you've contacted has anyone suggested / have you tried an energy trust grant application?

http://www.charisgrants.com/

Good luck