Official Free Boilers and Insulation guide discussion

simon1966

I was having problems with my installation i.e waiting forever for my application to move forward.
Sent a few e.mail to the company director of the installers and the energy company and within 2 weeks my boiler was installed.
If you want your free boiler you have to fight to get it - pester, pester, pester and you will get it installed.

POLARBILL

simon1966 wrote: »

I was having problems with my installation i.e waiting forever for my application to move forward.
Sent a few e.mail to the company director of the installers and the energy company and within 2 weeks my boiler was installed.
If you want your free boiler you have to fight to get it - pester, pester, pester and you will get it installed.

You do have to be persistent. It took me from July until 2 weeks ago when I finally got my boiler. I had to phone on a weekly basis and keep pushing for answers. Happy with the work carried out and the new boiler.

simon1966

My boiler is great and the installation was great as engineer was ex British Gas.
House feels noticeably warmer and the hot water is much hotter and get delivered to the taps much quicker.

Nice to get some thing free after my benefits had been cut. :-)

POLAR_BILL

simon1966 wrote: »

My boiler is great and the installation was great as engineer was ex British Gas.
House feels noticeably warmer and the hot water is much hotter and get delivered to the taps much quicker.

Nice to get some thing free after my benefits had been cut. :-)

My engineer was TSG working for N power. Very efficient workers and my house also feels warmer and the hot water is also hotter.

OAP80wallace

Hi, I applied through SSE for a free boiler in July and it was fitted on 11th Oct by Swale Heating of Sittingbourne Kent. I was asked to pay £280 towards it, but did not need the boiler repositioning or any new radiators. A leak developed because the pipes coming through the ceiling had dropped during installation. The inspector claimed it was not their responsibility. I consulted Citizens Advice who advised a recorded delivery letter (plus photo) to the MD, quoting the Sale of Goods and Services Act 1982 and giving 14 days for a reply I tracked this on line and it was received on 22nd Oct. No reply. On 22nd Nov, sent an email, and on 14th Nov contacted SSE and also spoke to someone at Swale Heating, who was all apologies. Then nothing further, but I am not one to give up. I shall write to my MP next as it is a Govt. initiative and bombard them again. As I paid by Credit Card, I will try to re-claim the £280. if push comes to shove, I will take them to the Small Claims Court.
There is no such thing as a free lunch folks, but that heating company must be getting well paid . OAP80

tannerman

I first contacted NPower in July, after waiting ages and calling a few times it took many confusing 3-way phone calls for the first installation date to be arranged on 15/11, but then nobody turned up or even called to tell me they weren't coming anyway. Apparently Help-Link, who are the installers for the Southwest, pick up the equipment the morning of the installation from Plumbcentre, but NPower had apparently double ordered the equipment needed for my installation then cancelled one of the orders but when the Help-Link fitter tried to pick up the equipment he had the cancelled order so Plumbcentre wouldn't give him the equipment. (1 days holiday wasted)
A very apologetic helpful gent called Neil Roland helped to get the installation rearranged for Dec 20 and arranged for a cheque to be sent for £20.
Dec 20th, Again nobody turned up on the day so I phoned them in the afternoon to be told that the Help-Link installer had overrun on the job he started on Thursday so wouldn't be coming. Again I had no call to let me know that the job would be cancelled even though they knew the day before they wouldn't be able to attend it.
I was then told that I would have to wait another month until 17 Jan and was told that 2 engineers would be booked for the job to ensure somebody would turn up. When I asked about priority treatment because of being let down twice already I was told that they wouldn't cancel somebody elses installation and do mine first because it would mean letting them down aswell. Does this mean its okay to keep letting one person down time after time?
After discussing this poor service with NPower for some time, I was told that he had more important things to do than argue with me. NPower offered no recompence because "it wasnt their fault this time" but Help-Links.
My loft insulation also took until 4th Nov to be installed.

lulu999

OAP80wallace wrote: »

Hi, I applied through SSE for a free boiler in July and it was fitted on 11th Oct by Swale Heating of Sittingbourne Kent. I was asked to pay £280 towards it, but did not need the boiler repositioning or any new radiators. A leak developed because the pipes coming through the ceiling had dropped during installation. The inspector claimed it was not their responsibility. I consulted Citizens Advice who advised a recorded delivery letter (plus photo) to the MD, quoting the Sale of Goods and Services Act 1982 and giving 14 days for a reply I tracked this on line and it was received on 22nd Oct. No reply. On 22nd Nov, sent an email, and on 14th Nov contacted SSE and also spoke to someone at Swale Heating, who was all apologies. Then nothing further, but I am not one to give up. I shall write to my MP next as it is a Govt. initiative and bombard them again. As I paid by Credit Card, I will try to re-claim the £280. if push comes to shove, I will take them to the Small Claims Court.
There is no such thing as a free lunch folks, but that heating company must be getting well paid . OAP80

What were you told the contribution was for?
Were you shown any of the paperwork relating to the grant award?

kriss_boy

Am I right in thinking that because Im in full time employment Im entitled to no grants whatsoever. (wage approx 24K).

Friends and family keep telling me about various grants but I cannot find anything Im elligible for.

Im in Scotland!

POLAR_BILL

tannerman wrote: »

I first contacted NPower in July, after waiting ages and calling a few times it took many confusing 3-way phone calls for the first installation date to be arranged on 15/11, but then nobody turned up or even called to tell me they weren't coming anyway. Apparently Help-Link, who are the installers for the Southwest, pick up the equipment the morning of the installation from Plumbcentre, but NPower had apparently double ordered the equipment needed for my installation then cancelled one of the orders but when the Help-Link fitter tried to pick up the equipment he had the cancelled order so Plumbcentre wouldn't give him the equipment. (1 days holiday wasted)
A very apologetic helpful gent called Neil Roland helped to get the installation rearranged for Dec 20 and arranged for a cheque to be sent for £20.
Dec 20th, Again nobody turned up on the day so I phoned them in the afternoon to be told that the Help-Link installer had overrun on the job he started on Thursday so wouldn't be coming. Again I had no call to let me know that the job would be cancelled even though they knew the day before they wouldn't be able to attend it.
I was then told that I would have to wait another month until 17 Jan and was told that 2 engineers would be booked for the job to ensure somebody would turn up. When I asked about priority treatment because of being let down twice already I was told that they wouldn't cancel somebody elses installation and do mine first because it would mean letting them down aswell. Does this mean its okay to keep letting one person down time after time?
After discussing this poor service with NPower for some time, I was told that he had more important things to do than argue with me. NPower offered no recompence because "it wasnt their fault this time" but Help-Links.
My loft insulation also took until 4th Nov to be installed.

You have to do all the chasing with N Power. It took me from July until 4th December to get my boiler. TSG turned up on time, worked extremely hard and did a very satisfying job. Hopefully you will get a good result in the very near future.

Patsywidge

In a very cold house at the moment - boiler broke right after Xmas.

I had applied for the free boiler via Scottish Power in November. My boiler is about 18 yrs old and I`m on Pension Credit.

Fellow came round from Dyson and did an assessment a few weeks later - photographed the whole of my house - felt as if he was casing the joint. He photographed my proof of benefit and proof of home ownership. He said he could say right then and there that I would qualify and that I would hear within a few days. Never did hear.

Boiler broke just after Xmas, so no central heating or hot water. Have borrowed a small oil filled heater and am living in bedroom, wearing woollies, coats, hats and gloves and boiling the kettle to have a wash in a freezing cold bathroom. Have phoned Dyson 3 times - eventually got through and they said there isn`t as much money in the pot anymore and the boilers aren`t free and that I would have to pay hundreds of pounds as they judged that the money that would be saved by having a new boiler wasn`t enough to meet the criteria. Obviously I can`t pay hundreds of pounds as I`m on Pension Credit.

Are you allowed to try again through another energy supplier? And would there be any point?
Patsy