Bogus Boiler man charged me £4800

Graceful_2

Hiya.

I was hoping you guys could give me some help and advice dealing with a dodgy boiler man. It's a bit long winded but please bare with me.

In October last year my mother in law (MIL) and her sister had one of these Bio mass boilers installed at their properties. Apparently, they are more cost and fuel efficient than oil, they come with a RHIPP grant of £2500 and an annual refund on what you've spent on pellets (currently 50% in England). So they both went ahead with a local boiler man after he was recommended by our plumber who is also a family friend (and who also had one of these installed).

They work brilliantly and I decided to get one installed at my house. Last week, I signed a contract with the same boiler man, paid him £4800 by visa debit. Yesterday, my MIL said she wondered how long these grants take to come through as she hadn't heard anything. I went online to see if I could find anything out. Now this fella, on his contract he says that he will deal with building regs, sort out the grants and install everything as required. I found out yesterday that this is not the case. Apparently, you are supposed to get quotes, apply for grant, get grant, apply for building regs, get building regs, get boiler installed, get building regs to sign boiler off, send of grant voucher, get money. Also, to be able to get the grant, the boiler needs to be installed by a MCS accredited boiler man. It says on his website that our boiler man is MCS accredited. I found out yesterday that he isn't.

So basically, I've paid a deposit on a boiler on the understanding that I will get both grants but have no hope of getting the grants because this fellow isn't MCS accredited and has given us the wrong information on how to get said grants. He hasn't even put in for building regs approval for my MIL's boiler that was put in in October last year.

What I would like to know is, how do I get my money back? I've read on here about charge back which I am going to be doing, I've written to him to ask him to refund me the money, but is there anything else I can do. Also, is there anything my MIL or Auntie can do. They've got their boilers installed and are waiting for grants that they will never get.

Any advice?

Cheers.

muckybutt

First step would be to get in touch with trading standards tomorrow morning.

As you have unfortunately found out, the installer needs to be RHI accredited for you to get the grant payments.

shegar

I think you have kissed goodbye to your money and you wont see him again.....

Other posters may think otherwise, but whatever you buy with a grant attached you always have to apply for the grant first.........

macman

Why on earth did you pay so much up front? How much of the total cost does that represent?
You've presumably written to him with your allegations and asked for an explanation. If the reply is unsatisfactory then do a chargeback if he refuses a refund. You only have 120 days to do a chargeback, so don't hang about.
Report him to TS and MCS as well.
The only way your MIL or Auntie can recover anything now is via a civil action.

john1

Section75 of Consumer Credit act may help you here only if payment was by credit card see http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases


There is no time limit so it should cover both yourself and MIL

macman

Unfortunately the The OP has clearly stated that they paid by Visa debit card, so a Section 75 claim is not possible.

southcoastrgi

have a look at Martin's advice here

But as others have said both yourself & your MIL should contact Trading Standards ASAP, take a copy of his web site & print it out showing all the details that he is claiming (just incase he changes his web site)

macman

Who is the installer?
Presumably you've told your plumber friend, what is his view on this?