Official Free Boilers and Insulation guide discussion

thenudeone

kriss_boy wrote: »

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!

Have you contacted these people? http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Take-action/Find-a-grant

OAP80wallace

lulu999 wrote: »

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

Hi Lulu,
Although I am normally much more business like, I was so delighted to be getting a free boiler that I paid up £280 with my credit card quite happily, no questions asked. I shall attempt to claim this back from credit card company. Bigger fool me! Another lesson learned. You can't trust anybody. On reading these posts, it seems people were asked for various amounts. OAP80 wallace

rafthorney

Patsywidge wrote: »

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

Patsy,you could apply with all the energy companies but they may all use dyson I guess.I get really annoyed when you probably qualify and then they start sticking obstacles in your way or asking for money.
Try the others and see who they use,you may get someone sensible.

Patsywidge

@rafthorney - I have now gone through the Energy Advice Centre and they`ve put in another application for me with EDF. Looking back at earlier pages on here, it looks as if EDF use Dyson as well !!
Well, at least the circumstances are different this time in that my boiler is now broken. Said I would hear in 3 weeks - don`t know if I can stand being without hot water much longer though, let alone heating.
Just realised they`ll probably say there will be no energy saving (as I`m not using any energy ATM)

simon1966

Did anyone get a power flush before their new boilers were installed?
British Gas came to do first service as we are with homecare and wanted cover to carry on with the new boiler fitted 4 weeks ago.

Engineer said too small a bore of condensate pipe was fitted and no power flush done or filter fitted and told me to contact installers to verify.

POLAR_BILL

Patsywidge wrote: »

@rafthorney - I have now gone through the Energy Advice Centre and they`ve put in another application for me with EDF. Looking back at earlier pages on here, it looks as if EDF use Dyson as well !!
Well, at least the circumstances are different this time in that my boiler is now broken. Said I would hear in 3 weeks - don`t know if I can stand being without hot water much longer though, let alone heating.
Just realised they`ll probably say there will be no energy saving (as I`m not using any energy ATM)

Try N Power also if you have no luck. The Energy Advice Centre put me in touch with them. My boiler was 25 years old. They use TSG. It did take a long time though which is probably not what you want to hear with the coldest months of the year coming up. By the way I started with EDF and they said I qualified but my boiler didn't!

rafthorney

How anyone can say that there will be not enough saving by replacing an 18 year boiler with a new condensing boiler,is quite frankly rubbish imo.The trouble is we seem to be in the hands of so called experts who are contracted by the energy companies.I know the gov have just moved the goal posts and the boilers scheme is spread over a longer period but still,the money is there,we,ve all had to pay into it.I was notified that dyson would be in touch soon(25th nov),still waiting and not holding my breathe.


If I were you patsy,id get the old one repaired,if possible.I wonder why dyson want money from you? Its supposed to be free unless you have it positioned elsewhere or have new pipes and radiators.
And I wont let dyson photo any of my documents if they come around,just looking at them verifies my information.

Patsywidge

rafthorney wrote: »

How anyone can say that there will be not enough saving by replacing an 18 year boiler with a new condensing boiler,is quite frankly rubbish imo.The trouble is we seem to be in the hands of so called experts who are contracted by the energy companies.I know the gov have just moved the goal posts and the boilers scheme is spread over a longer period but still,the money is there,we,ve all had to pay into it.I was notified that dyson would be in touch soon(25th nov),still waiting and not holding my breathe.


If I were you patsy,id get the old one repaired,if possible.I wonder why dyson want money from you? Its supposed to be free unless you have it positioned elsewhere or have new pipes and radiators.
And I wont let dyson photo any of my documents if they come around,just looking at them verifies my information.

The woman I spoke to at Dyson said there isn`t as much money in the pot (whatever that means). When she said I`d have to pay a contribution, I asked how much and she said it would be hundreds. I did ask why and she said that would require another team to come round to my house and re-assess. (So how did she know beforehand that it would be hundreds?) She seemed to want to get rid of me so this wasn`t persued. I may get back to her and query this .... when I get the courage !

I could try and get this boiler mended if it isn`t too much and then go through the process with EDF and then Npower (as Polar Bill suggested). My son seems to think its the gas valve that needs replacing but its so old he may not be able to get the part.

The worst thing is being without hot water. Thank you for your advice (and Polar Bill).

Yes, the fellow who came and did the assessment really freaked me out - took photos of every part of the house, even my loft and all the locks on my door. You`re right about it being unnecessary to photograph my documents - it was really creepy - so Dyson now have loads of personal information about me and the contents of my house and loft. He even got me to sign a Data Protection document which I queried because it should have been the other way round and Dyson signing the document to guarantee that they won`t share my information with any 3rd party. I was appalled.
Patsy

Ken68

Received a letter yesterday from a new installer re Data Protection..."We may use your details for training and market research purposes", and then goes on to say they will not distribute or lease your details to any third party.
What a load of gobbledegook.

Solitaire82

I applied for a new boiler last September after the Gas Engineer condemned it, filled in an on-line form and was contacted by British Gas. The survey was carried out on October 30th, told installation would be 4 to 6 weeks, waited then phoned, told about 2-4 weeks, waited and phoned again, no date could be given. Eventually received a phone call asking if I was willing to pay them £500 for scaffold as Government grant did not cover this. I told them I would be obliged to pay it if the boiler was to be fitted, either by borrowing or paying on Credit Card. Heard nothing, phoned again, scaffolders in short supply! Phoned Dec. 23rd, told the person who arranges dates would ring back - heard nothing. Phoned January 22nd, ansaphone message, closed for holidays until Jan. 6th. Phoned again this morning (6th Jan), apologies and promise that somebody will phone me later, if I hear nothing before 5 pm - phone again!
Filled in another form on-line, had speedy reply, the company based in Cambridge could fit a new boiler - When? They would have to get a date from British Gas. Filled another form on-line, company called Dyson, have heard nothing. Having read all the forums on Dyson, I am rather glad I have heard nothing!!! Where do I go from now?

A little bit about me - I shall be 83 years next week, have a Gas Fire in lounge which I used until I had my gas bill, nearly £60 for one month, using it for a few hours in the evening on a very low heat, no other gas used, I cook by Electricity and also heated water by same (since no C/H), that was heating one room only, so have to cut down on that. I have 2 electric heaters but could not afford to keep them going. I have had to use the gas fire the past 10 days as felt unwell with a heavy cold and now developed a chest infection, Gas Fires aren't the best form of heat with chest problems. I have worked and paid taxes all my life, my husband worked 6 days a week, sometimes 6 and a half for years, paid a substantial sum each month into a pension fund, which proved pretty useless when he died, the sum I received was far less than he had paid in, I was told the money had been invested in the Stock market which had not fared well for a number of years. Fooled again!!! I did not think getting old would end up like this. Sun is shining today, so I am going out for a short drive, heat in car and small amount of petrol will be cheaper than the gas fire.