Help Link Jonny Ball new boiler

Treehead

I received a quote for over £3500 for a new boiler and heat replacement flue from Help Link. Standard equipment replacing the old one. The government scheme then pays £1100 cash back. I am unsure what they charged before the scheme but it seems to me that they have inflated their prices to take a hefty chunk of the £1100. To the consumer, its smoke and mirrors with a calculation that it will cost you less than what you are saving each month with a more efficient boiler. Put like this, why wouldn't you do it? I confirmed an independent quote, like for like and it was over £1000 less. Help Link and Johnny Ball must be rubbing their hands with the prospect of Government (OUR MONEY) to create their sales proposition. It was also like dealing with a 1980's double glazing salesman. If you sign today we are in your area etc etc. By the time he left it had gone down considerably. If you do use them, haggle and get a like for like quote.

Lou_Spowels

Max2014 wrote: »

Hi,

I applied for a free boiler from Help Link just before Xmas 2013.I rang them in the morning and a Free Inspection was carried out about two hours later(I was amazed how quick they sent somebody out).

I have an old Baxi back boiler with the water boiler upstairs in a cupboard on the landing.

The surveyor that came around asked me where I would like the new boiler installing,so I took him around my house suggesting different places for it to go.He kept telling me it would bump up the price and would lower my success rate for a free boiler.So I asked how about where my water boiler is now? Again he replied oh no it would need scaffolding around my house and the loft would need to be boarded out with a hand rail around the hatch for it to be safe to install the flue on the roof.In the end he said the back bedroom would be best.So I went along with it.He tapped all the information into his tablet and said I don't qualify 100% and somebody will be in touch.

This quotation was for a new boiler in the cheapest location in the house.I have 8 radiators of which they would use instead of replacing them.

I am a low wage earner and claim working tax and child tax credits for one child in education.


At this point I thought fair enough I don't mind paying towards a new boiler after all I cant afford I new one myself.
I waited about a month and decided to give them a ring as nobody had been in touch.

I explained that its been about a month and still waiting for somebody from Help Link to be in touch( I was expecting a case of back log due to Xmas etc).I was told that they where waiting for me to contact them with a full payment of £853.00 towards the new boiler.
I'm no expert on boilers or prices but £853.00 sounded over the top so I asked how much the government grant will be paying towards it and I was quoted £2011.00.
Therefore the total cost would be £2864.00.

Since I thought free or help with a new boiler schemes where for people who cant afford a brand new one I assumed there must be other ways to stretch out the cost.

I asked if I could pay monthly and or what other ways I could pay.
The bottom line was £853.00 paid in full and there are no other options.

So 10/10 for the advert on TV and 10/10 for the same day free inspection but that's all the help I got.

This is the second company that I have tried.The first company was good at booking appointments for a free inspection but never turned up.I rang at the end of each appointment date and they where very sorry and simply gave me another appointment usually about 1 month between each one.


Any ideas would be great.

I have been turned down twice by Homelink for free boiler assistance despite qualifying for the scheme on all counts - they are very happy, however, to fix it for a fee. Their phone assistance also leaves a lot to be desired as they refuse to give you their names, and complaining gets you the slamdown - if it was all above board and legitemate they should stand by their services, so all in all it feels like a scam to me and should be treated as such

Le_Kirk

Well lookee here, a new poster joining specifically to post on a 4 year old thread. I call this spam but they can't even get that right - failed to provide a link to the "boiler finance plans"

southcoastrgi

£2880 for a new boiler sounds like a bargain to me & I bet you get a really crap boiler as well lol