Have I been conned?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Fight_Club wrote: »

Hi I read everything I signed nothing said anything about paying anything back or about a green deal. It was all just technical details. I've looked into it a bit further and I've noticed it says "ECO HTT NARROW" in a box marked "Scheme". I've had a look into it and it appears this may be free? Also if it was the Green Deal surely they would get me to sign something about what I would pay back etc? There was nothing whatsoever about me paying anything back or links to my energy provider - although they did ask me who it was. Getting a bit worried!

- read this whole long thread
- then decide what and who you believe
- you 'signed on the basis that .. .. "He said it was completely free no hidden charges"

Keep the group informed, if you get some or all of what you hoped to get, and it is as "He said it was completely free no hidden charges" then you will be happy. If you were lied to and you have to pay any money including " pay it back through my fuel bills" let the group know.

Best of luck Fight_Club.

Coulsdon_Town

ECO (Energy Company Obligation) is the 'sister' scheme to Green Deal and the one that gets far less discussion overall, which seems strange as it is grants, not loans. It's pretty complicated, but one part of it ('Affordable Warmth') is grant money for solid-walled (i.e. no cavity) homes OR hard-to-treat homes which in your case means there is a cavlty but it's narrow (i.e. less than 50mm wide) and therefore can't be filled properly with mineral wool insulation which is the cheapest method. I think in your case they will use either polystyrene beads mixed with adhesive, or wet foam which dries off. As far as i know anyone regardless of income etc could get free cavity insulation for an HTT cavity and anyone could get a partial grant (maybe up to 70%) to insulate the outside walls of a solid-walled home. If someone can't pay the remaining cost for solid walls they can apply for a green deal loan to pay that fraction of it.

Coulsdon_Town

Correction, I think the part of ECO aimed at solid wall insulation and 'hard-to-treat' cavity walls is called Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation or CERO, and it's important because it isn't means-tested, so anyone with a relevant house could qualify for some assistance.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Complicated in~it ? - I agree with Coulsdon Town.

SWI is a chicken and egg criteria, all directed at low-income households or those in low-income areas. It, the scheme is in 3 parts, part 1 is means tested part 2 & 3 are not means tested but the 30% carbon savings obligation which is the SWI value of 2 is interdependent on the 70% [affordable warmth obligations] which is the Green Deal.

.1. Affordable Warmth Obligation

To provide heating and insulation improvements for low-income and vulnerable households B]social housing tenants are not eligible for affordable warmth[/B. Means tested.

.2. Carbon Saving Obligation

To provide funding to insulate solid-walled properties (internal and external wall insulation) and those with ‘hard-to-treat’ cavity walls, used in conjunction with the Green Deal. Not means-tested.

.3. Carbon Saving Communities Obligation

To provide insulation measures to people living in the bottom 15% of the UK's most deprived areas. The Carbon Saving Communities Obligation is directed at the social [Housing associations etc] sector, again a 75:25 % spilt . social housing tenants are eligible for the Carbon Saving Communities Obligation. Not means-tested.

debbi21

An assessor has been to my (prefabricated) ex-council house and said I am entitled to a 100% grant to pay for the application of an External Wall Insulation System, as well as 100% funding for double glazed windows and external doors, loft insullation and possibly the replacement of our combi-boiler (subject to them deciding if the boiler's old enough).

Not long ago someone else came to assess our house and told me I was eligible through the Green Deal scheme but I wasn't interested as I didn't want to be tied into a long-term contract that was attached to the house.

My question is, is this in any way associated with the Green Deal scheme? I mean, he's saying even though I'm employed I am still entitled to a 100% grant but I'm not sure I believe it. I'm scared to sign up for it in case I inadvertantly sign up onto the Green Deal scheme or something similar.

I'd really like to take advantage of this offer if it's true but you hear all sorts of horror stories ....

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks, Debbi

Ecodave

The Energy Company Obligation is a separate scheme to the Green Deal, however there are links between the two. It is certainly true that some measures may be supplied completely free of charge under ECO, and where things like solid walls are being offered, the rules allow other insulation measures to be dealt with also. The % of the cost funded under ECO appears to vary, but I understand that where more measures are included, the % offered is likely to be higher. I am not saying you won't get a 100% grant offered, you may. It is also true that boilers can be replaced or repaired, depending on their efficiency.

With regards to the Green Deal, I hope that they don't try and sneak it in via the back door. I wouldn't blame you for kicking them into touch if they have been less than straightforward with you. But if the funding comes in at 90% for instance, and you can't raise the other 10%, I think you would be daft to throw away the 90% when the Green Deal could be utilised for the remaining 10%. Eg cost of measures £12000 - funding £10800 - Green Deal £1200. Green Deal paid back over 20 years at £10 a month. Fuel bills down by £35 a month, so £25 a month better off.

debbi21

Thanks for your response - some great advice there & a very good point about weighing up the amount of funding and making a contribution.

I fully agree with what you're saying and I would seriously consider making a contribution, but I'm being told I'm eligible for 100% funding and am worried because it seems too good to be true. And I don't want to be slammed with a huge bill because I simply couldn't afford it.

Another reason for the alarm bells is the guy who came to the house had a badge with Green Deal Approved (or words to that effect) printed on it and the badge wasn't a credit card type badge it was printed on paper and inside a clear plastic badge holder clipped to his coat.

I know I sound paranoid but I'm just being cautious. Perhaps over-cautious do you think?

Ecodave

Did they leave you with any paperwork? If they did, or you can remember the name of the organisation, you can check on greendealorb website to see if their credentials checkout.

As my post said there are links between the 2 schemes. For instance, in order to ascertain that your house qualifies for the grant, an assessment needs to be done. I am told that some of the companies involved are insisting that green deal advisors be used for the assessment, as then the process remains compliant should green deal end up being used.

In order for the green deal to be used, you would be issued with a quote clearly detailing works that are to be completed and any charges that you will be responsible for. They can't do the work and then say, "oh, by the way, you owe us £2000".

Ecodave

With regards to being over-cautious, nothing wrong with asking questions and checking out the details. The scheme is genuine, but its in its infancy. There are lots of players promising the earth, I hope for your sake, this company is able to deliver the grants at 100%. We have become so used to being ripped off, we mostly believe that there is "no free lunch". This tends to mean we miss out on the times when we could have had something for nothing.

By the way, some elements of the ECO scheme require you to be on benefits, other parts relate to certain aspects of your house. In your case, the solid wall, which if insulated will save you a good bit of dough and help the energy company meet its carbon reduction obligations.

debbi21

Yes I've got the paperwork here. I asked him to leave it with me so I could read it through before I signed. I've read through the Ts & Cs and there's no mention of Green Deal apart from to state that "ECO works alongside the Green Deal to provide additional support for packages of energy efficient measures."

The company is called Yesero Ltd and is based in Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The form I'm looking at is entitled "Resident Programme Engagement Agreement".

If I sign it I "... consent to a full survey being carried out for qualification for the ECO Scheme and for eligibility for additional energy saving measures, such as replacement boiler, UPVC windows and doors and loft insulation." But he's already said I'm eligible for these and said I'm signing to agree to the work.

What do you think?