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Problem with Warm Front Boiler
fluffymovie
Posts: 1,417 Forumite
in Energy
Good Morning everyone
I am looking for some advice / help please for my Dad.
He is a Pensioner and lives in Blackpool. He was able to apply for and was granted a Warm Front grant for a new boiler which was installed 2-3 months ago. All seemed well and he was very happy.
However, 3 weeks ago, the boiler stopped working and it hasn't worked since. An engineer was called, visiting and said that the new boiler needed 2 parts. It should take about a week he was told.
3 weeks later, no parts and no sign of when they will arrive.
He has rung each day but has been told the parts are not in yet. He rang Warm Front but they told him that as it was more than 30 days since the boiler had been fitted, he needed to deal with another company.
Basically, he has been without heating or hot water for 3 weeks now. He is in ill health, on medication and unable to get out of the house much at present as he is on crutches.
He is heating the house using fan heaters but these are increcibly expensive.
I really want to do everything I can do to help and want to make a complaint on his behalf but just not sure what his rights are with regards to the scheme.
The direct.gov. page gives a number for Carillion Energy Services but when you ring, they ask if you want to make an application, or follow up the progress of an application so they aren't suitable.
Does anyone know what we can do? I can't even visit as I work full time and live over 200 miles away in Berkshire so really do feel a bit of a spare part when my Dad really needs me.
I am looking for some advice / help please for my Dad.
He is a Pensioner and lives in Blackpool. He was able to apply for and was granted a Warm Front grant for a new boiler which was installed 2-3 months ago. All seemed well and he was very happy.
However, 3 weeks ago, the boiler stopped working and it hasn't worked since. An engineer was called, visiting and said that the new boiler needed 2 parts. It should take about a week he was told.
3 weeks later, no parts and no sign of when they will arrive.
He has rung each day but has been told the parts are not in yet. He rang Warm Front but they told him that as it was more than 30 days since the boiler had been fitted, he needed to deal with another company.
Basically, he has been without heating or hot water for 3 weeks now. He is in ill health, on medication and unable to get out of the house much at present as he is on crutches.
He is heating the house using fan heaters but these are increcibly expensive.
I really want to do everything I can do to help and want to make a complaint on his behalf but just not sure what his rights are with regards to the scheme.
The direct.gov. page gives a number for Carillion Energy Services but when you ring, they ask if you want to make an application, or follow up the progress of an application so they aren't suitable.
Does anyone know what we can do? I can't even visit as I work full time and live over 200 miles away in Berkshire so really do feel a bit of a spare part when my Dad really needs me.
I currently manage a Housing Benefit service and have been working in Housing / council tax benefit (as was) since 2001.
All views expressed in my posts are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
All views expressed in my posts are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
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Comments
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fluffymovie wrote: »Does anyone know what we can do? I can't even visit as I work full time and live over 200 miles away in Berkshire so really do feel a bit of a spare part when my Dad really needs me.
I would suggest writing to the firm, explaining that your dad is in hardship, and that if not installed by x/x/x you will be employing another gas fitter to fix it, then billing them.0 -
Warm front is part of a government initiative, unfortunately the boilers that they fit are notoriously un-reliable. I had a similar problem - in my case it was the pump that packed up within a few weeks of the boiler being fitted.
I ended up contacting the trading standards (who told me that they were very familiar with warm front). They corresponded with WF for me, and the work did get done eventually, but it still took time. The situation is ridiculous, because the company that makes the boilers that they use has the same directors as the company that is responsible for administering the warm front scheme (at least that was the case when I had problems) so they should be able to source the parts without too much trouble.
The only other thing I can suggest is that you contact your MP, as these problems have been raised in parliament on a few occasions (the previous company was Eaga, but I wouldn't be surprised if Carillion is just a name change - that might be worth checking out)I'm a retired employment solicitor. Hopefully some of my comments might be useful, but they are only my opinion and not intended as legal advice.0 -
Thank you all for your replies and in particular, the warm front leaflet expresso! I am on hold whilst we speak.
A quick google search shows that Eaga were bought out by Carillion so they seem to be one and the same!
I am sure that I am not going to get anywhere so a letter to my Dad's MP may be called for. Working in a Benefit Office, I know myself that sometimes gets things moving along!
I suppose my biggest worry is that they say it's going to get even colder next week and I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to him whilst I am so far away!
Thank you all again for taking the time to reply and for your very helpful informationI currently manage a Housing Benefit service and have been working in Housing / council tax benefit (as was) since 2001.
All views expressed in my posts are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.0 -
In addition to the 08004081437 number, fire off a duplicate 'cry for help' email to < enquiry@eaga.com >Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ0
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Warmfront..a great idea in principle but rubbish in its execution. Rubbish boilers mostly and wide open to fraud.Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..0
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I would get the serial number from the boiler, then call the manufacturers direct, give them the installation date, don't mention warmfront, and see if they will accept a warranty call from you or your father.
What make and model of boiler is it?0
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