Affordable Warmth Scheme fiasco

SidP

So:

On or around the 5th of June, I applied for a replacement boiler through the Government's Affordable Warmth Scheme (AWS). Since then there have been numerous delays and I've been involved with about three or four different companies, all of them sub-contractors under the umbrella of the AWS.

As an example of the chaos this sub-contracting has caused: I had an official surveyor from company C come round a while back, and a week later received a call from company B who said they were calling to arrange the surveyor. When I said he'd already been they were insistent he wasn't arranged by them. When I asked if I should consider him to have been a fraud, they said yes! In the end it transpired the AWS simply hadn't been in touch with Company B and that the surveyor was, in fact, genuine.

I'm now in the middle of waiting for the AWS Team to get back in touch with me to confirm that I'm actually eligible for the boiler, despite the fact that I was told:
a) on the website I used to apply (Company A)
b) by the company that initially contacted me (Company
c) by the surveyor who came round and brought an eligibility chart (Company C)
that the benefits I was on meant I was eligible. Each time I was asked which benefits I was on, I told them the same thing.

Now I've been waiting for almost a month since my last contact for the AWS team (the head honchos—Company D) to confirm with OfGem that my benefits mean I qualify.

It seems the problem may be that the ESA award letter the surveyor photographed—using the dedicated AWS app on his iPad—didn't include the Group I was assigned to. But I've had to work this out for myself, while OfGem and the AWS team drag their heels.

It's been 3 and a half months since I first applied!

The bit that really grates is that, after the boiler goes in, I have to pay to fix and re-decorate the mess they leave in the kitchen. In my case, because they're moving the boiler to an entirely new position, it's not going to be a small job. I'll also be losing an overhead cabinet.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth doing, tbh. Anyone else had/having problems with this scheme?

SidP

So, eventually they decided on the 17th September that I was eligible for the scheme! Unfortunately, in the same email I was warned that, though I myself qualified, my current heating system may not.

I had a surveyor come round on the 24th September, and today I received an email stating conclusively that I would not be receiving a new boiler, or any other assistance, under the Affordable Warmth Scheme.

Only took them close to four months.

Hey ho.

CharlieBilly

I applied in early July. Firstly the guy who came to visit us went to next door wrong house luckily I caught him. He checked my income, then assessed what boiler, rads we had. Took photos of them along with meters. He then said I should be eligible and gave me distinct impression it would be quick. Since then nothing from my supplier BG. I rang them 3 weeks ago they said he missed something off when he sent them paperwork and that's it. Said it shouldn't take long

SidP

All I can say is, good luck. Keep chasing them, make sure you document all your calls (record them if you can), blahblahblah. Let me know if you get it in by Christmas

Oh, and here's something I forgot: the guy that originally did my survey way back in August (who said, like you, that I should be eligible and give the impression of a speedy install) turns out to have left the company, taking some of the info he gathered with him.

I think it may be falling apart at the seams.

Like I say: Good Luck!

CharlieBilly

I chased up BG today and been told that they still awaiting the whole information from the assessor apparently he had issues with his ipad. Last time I rang on 26/09 I got same excuse. Does it really take a month to do this?