Official Free Boilers and Insulation guide discussion

Richie-from-the-Boro

writeaboutnow wrote: »

I'm still at the stage of working out how to subscribe to this thread!

Green button called 'thread tools' click on 'subscribe to this thread' - best of luck !

OAP80wallace

writeaboutnow wrote: »

Hello, I'm new to the site and have been following this discussion with great interest as it applies to my set of circumstances as well. I'm at the stage where I've been without a functioning boiler since last Sunday, at the end of a relentless week of chasing up the company dealing with my application. Had already had my house EPC assessed three weeks earlier and was simply after an update. I finally received an email yesterday confirming an actual conversation on Monday (!) that due to the energy efficiency of my property, they will require my £600 contribution to proceed. I had asked them to provide a cost breakdown, which they said they couldn't give me. They also said that they couldn't give me an installation date until I had agreed to pay!?! Back to the email, I am advised that the funding for the scheme is due to run out very soon and it will be a case of first come, first served. They have given me a week to decide. I am going to ring the Energy Savings Trust again for advice, but thought I would ask a few things here as well as there is obviously a lot of knowledge and experience on this thread. Can the company get away with not providing you with a cost breakdown like this? How do I get a copy of my EPC? I have attempted to find a local company to go through but no joy as yet. Apart from the financial aspect, I am very reticient to proceed with this company due to my experience of their service so far. I can't imagine their after-service is up to much either and for me that is a really important consideration.

You can get your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate )on line, if the firm has added it to the list. As for the contribution asked for, that is shrouded in mystery. Some say it an equation worked out from your EPC, others for work needed over and above the free boiler. Yesterday I had a letter from the Dept of Energy (see my other post yesterday) and it states"While the Government envisaged that measures installed under the Affordable Warmth element of ECO (meaning Energy Company Obligation)would be fully subsidised, it is not a requirement." Read that how you may, but it states further "in such cases it is at the discretion of the customer whether to proceed" How kind!!!! As for getting a breakdown of the contribution, that seems a state secret.
I can only say, don't give up. Thank goodness for this wonderful site. You are not alone.

writeaboutnow

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Green button called 'thread tools' click on 'subscribe to this thread' - best of luck !

thanks Richie, i clicked on it and it offered me the option to unsubscribe so I guess I must have done it whilst stumbling around and not realised... note I have requoted

writeaboutnow

OAP80wallace wrote: »

You can get your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate )on line, if the firm has added it to the list. As for the contribution asked for, that is shrouded in mystery. Some say it an equation worked out from your EPC, others for work needed over and above the free boiler. Yesterday I had a letter from the Dept of Energy (see my other post yesterday) and it states"While the Government envisaged that measures installed under the Affordable Warmth element of ECO (meaning Energy Company Obligation)would be fully subsidised, it is not a requirement." Read that how you may, but it states further "in such cases it is at the discretion of the customer whether to proceed" How kind!!!! As for getting a breakdown of the contribution, that seems a state secret.
I can only say, don't give up. Thank goodness for this wonderful site. You are not alone.

Thank you, I must say I was feeling verrry alone until I discovered this thread. I am in two minds about the reason for the 'shrouding of the state secret'... I know from my own previous experience on the other side of the fence that cost breakdowns are not something businesses are keen to divulge to the paying customer... but I also know that is because it would reveal how much they have hiked it up at your expense! I appreciate these companies want to make some profit for the work involved but I personally don't want to pay the company I'm currently lumbered with because they don't appear to understand basic communication!

fellsider

writeaboutnow wrote: »

Hi fellsider, thank you so much for that advice, I had already tried to find my report on this site but hadn't noticed you could search by postcode so thought I had reached another brick wall! And it has allowed me to save a copy so even better! When the assessment was carried out, my boiler was limping along and working erratically so I still had random hot water... I notice from the report they have given 4 stars for the boiler and 3 for hot water, which not only weren't even checked when he was here but now don't even apply because I have neither! When I requested that another assessment was done due to the change in my situation, they were reluctant to do so and said that means you'd have to start again. Also, thank you to wishicouldaffordit - I have already written asking for 'managerial attentions' but they appear to be shielding anyone above team leader level from my demands and determination to get answers... the email I received was sent by the admin supervisor! I'm thinking I should go back and let them know I've seen the EPC and call their bluff about the week's deadline...

By the way, not sure if I'm replying correctly as I notice people requote what they are responding to... I'm still at the stage of working out how to subscribe to this thread!

Interesting that you too were given 4* for heating not working and 3* for erratic hot water.
I was too, in exactly the same position, no heating and intermittent hot water, with a very cursory EPC survey!
Last man to do EPC in January was here 3hours!
Measured whole house. Inside and out top to bottom
Took photos of everything.
Did all kinds of calculations uploaded it on an ipad.....and...nothing!
No sign of it on EPC website and surprise surprise, company has no funding. STILL advertising they are in the scheme though!!
I wonder. Do these companies charge or get a grant from the govt or power companies for these, I suspect, erroneous epc's?

pippin18

Ive had no hot water or heating since 8th Dec. yet we failed the ECO score, was told on 7th Feb new funding is available from mid feb, was told yesterday still no funding for 6-8 weeks! Yet they are still advertising free boilers ,we went with https://www.boilergrants.co.uk have contacted Energy advice they are reffering us direct to british gas... so watch this space!

fellsider

Be prepared for a long wait Pippin. Within a few days you should get a phone call from British Gas confirming your application. This is reassuring but then you'll wait and wait and wait I'm afraid.
Just when you think it's all gone wrong again you'll receive a call asking for all the information again that you've already given. (re eligibility)
Be patient with the caller and just give it again.
If you rent your house you;ll be asked for a signed letter from your landlord giving permission.
If this is applicable it would be a good idea to get one from your landlord now.
Just needs to be To whom it may concern saying that he/she is aware of your application for a free boiler under the ECO scheme and give permission for the fitting and any ancillary work that may need doing in connection with the fitting.
If you can, scan/copy this as you can email it to them.
You need to tell them you have this letter when they ring and you can send it by post (keep a copy!) or email it.
It;s important that you tell them you have this letter already, otherwise they will contact your landlord to ask for the letter and it could take ages and delay things even more.
You'll then be told that yet another person will come to assess your house yet again and you'll be contacted in the next two weeks with an appointment.
That of course is a British Gas two weeks.............
That's where I'm up to now.
Waiting for the assessment appointment.
Also it isn't worth phoning ESA again as they can't offer any more help.
They'll just say that they don't get involved.
Their job is done, it appears after they've referred you to British Gas.

Hope this helps and gives you a bit of clarity for what's to come.
Good Luck!!!

pippin18

thanks fellsider,, no we dont rent the house is our own....Ive just looked at our EPC on line from 13th Jan 2014 when boilergrants sent out a surveyor. TBH I didnt understand a word of it! BUT they gave us 4* for heating and 3* for hot water even thou we have neither as the 18 year old boiler is pooped. On the score thing at the bottom we are rated at 59? Can anyone explain the findings to me. Energy advice said we wouldnt hear from them again unless we dont qualify for a free boiler thru british gas.... they said once they had confirmation from DWP of our benefits we would be passed to British gas. so all we can do is wait...and wait...and wait... but lets face it we have been waiting since 9th dec when I first contacted boiler grants so whats another 2/3 months

fellsider

I am constantly being inundated with email spam from companies promoting the free boilers.
Some of which are from companies who I know have had their funding cut.
How can they be allowed to dupe people this way?
No one seems to be interested in dealing with this it's always someone else's responsibility.
People should be aware of these companies and make the reasoned choice to avoid them.
The companies that I am aware that are still promoting this or recommending installers with no funding are:
Greener Energy Management. Manchester

Free boiler at Quotatis.

My experience would suggest that you don't deal with a third party who may email or cold call you.
You may be led to believe that they are the companies installing but in reality they are third party agents who will wash their hands of you the minute you complain.
Deal direct with the ESA and choose British Gas.

captainhindsight_2

All the EPC is required to do is to suggest a new boiler replacement, the EPC isn't actually used to make the calculation of the amount of savings being made and thus the amount of money available to install the new boiler.

The information from the EPC and the make and model of the new boiler is inputted into different software which calculates the saving that the new boiler will make in that individual household.

So the amount of money available is likely to vary from installer to installer and house to house.

This saving is then multiplied by the current price per unit.

The reason no or hardly any companies are installing 'free' boilers is because the price per unit is now around 7pence (11Feb2014) down from 24pence (12Feb2013), this is because the annual target has been met.

But in the new financial year it is believed this price per unit will rise and 'free' boilers will start to be fitted again.

The quickest way to get a boiler installed is not to go to one of the big six it is to go direct to a local green deal installer who can usually do the job in a couple of weeks inquiring (when the funding has gone up)