Free Boiler = Confusing Process = Expensive Boiler

loulala1

Free Boiler = ConfusingProcess = Expensive Boiler

Having received many calls offering free boilers I decidedto investigate and called the Energy Saving Advice Service. I spoke to a delightful young lady who gaveme a list of providers that offer the free boiler installation service. I was also told if I hurry I may qualify for cashback for making my home greener. Evenbetter!

1stcompany. I called a local company fromthe list provided who came out and told me I qualified for a free boiler beingon a low income. Result!

2ndcompany. The next visit was a surveyfrom a completely different company.

3rdcompany. I was then called by yetanother company saying that I did not qualify for a free boiler because theboilers were different. I was quoted£750 to carry out the extra work. I wastotally flabbergasted that they wanted such a large amount and was reluctant topay. They told me if I wanted the work Ineeded to pay upfront was hurried into paying quickly.

I called to double check I would get a cash back to softenthe blow of having to pay out £750 and was told I would receive £270 cash back.

I then paid the 3rd company the £750.

I am a happy lady. Iam the new owner a Condensed boiler. Inow try to claim my £270 cash back. Ittook almost 2 months of emails to be told in the end that I am not entitled tocash back. I was quoted

“The assessment carried out on your property was not aGreen Deal Assessment. Further to that, the work was sub-contracted out to anon-Green Deal registered Installer. Both of these are requirements that arestipulated within the Scheme’s Terms and Conditions. Unfortunately this doesmean that the work is not eligible for a Cash back claim”.

I was also quoted

“If you did wish to make a complaint then the remainingstep would be to contact the Green Deal Ombudsmen”.

Naturally being upset I complained to the Green Deal Ombudsmen whotold me they cannot deal with my complaint because I was not a Green DealScheme.

The whole thing from start to finish was a shambles. Thecompany who I paid to install the boiler are now ignoring my emails and I wanta guarantee.

Mr_Ted

loulala1 wrote: »

They told me if I wanted the work I needed to pay upfront was hurried into paying quickly.

This should have set the alarm bells ringing very very loudly, a reputable company does not need money upfront

Would you pay before you buy a car without seeing it or testing it, I dont think so

macman

Did you get any of these offers in writing? If not, why did you proceed? It seems that you failed to do even the most basic research about the provider before agreeing the install.
Your only remedy is a civil claim against the contractor-you can't expect the Ombudsman to get involved with a contractor who is not part of the Green Deal, but has simply misrepresented themselves as such. Write to them by recorded delivery (don't email, text or phone) with a 'letter before action'. But bear in mind that you need to prove your claim, and if all you had was a verbal agreement, then that will not be easy. And winning a judgement does not mean that you will be able to recover your £250 and expenses.

loulala1

Thanks for your comments. I agree it was stupid to pay upfront but they refused to do the work until I made the payment. I called the Cashback team and explained they wanted payment upfront. They assured me I would get my £270 cashback. At no point was I warned not to pay upfront. As they were on the list of Green Deal providers I had no reason to suggest I was going to have any problems.

I've had this email in writing.....................



Thank you for your recent Green Deal Cashback Application. Please find attached your Cashback voucher with Reference Number: GTC61AI9.

This has also been sent to the Green Deal Provider named within your application.

Once the work has been completed the Green Deal Provider will redeem the Cashback voucher. We will pay the Cashback into the account nominated in your application. This should normally be within 30 days after the work is completed

At no point was I told that I was not on the Green Deal Scheme.

macman

But did you check the installer's accreditation? Anyone can write that above email.
http://gdorb.decc.gov.uk/certification-body-search
On the bright side, you have received an (apparently) satisfactory new boiler install for £750: that's less than half the commercial price you'd have paid were it not subsidised.
You should be able to register the boiler yourself for the manufacturer's warranty as long as the installer has completed the Benchmark paperwork-I trust that was handed to you when the boiler was commissioned?

loulala1

Nope the paperwork was given to the company who used a 3rd party gas installer. I've sent numerous emails but they just ignore me. I'm getting used to be being ignored.

macman

Call them?

loulala1

Yes I will call, just wanted to send emails as its better proof than calls

The 3rd party company who installed the boiler said he wasn't being paid £750 for doing the work but the company who charged me £750 said I was only paying this fee so they could pay the installer. When will I ever learn. Is there any honest people left in this world!

macman

Yes, plenty-but they're usually not the ones who ask for payment upfront.
I think you've misunderstood the whole Green Deal concept. It's not a grant system, it's a loan system paid back through your electricity bills over the next 10 years, with interest.
https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures
Cashback is a small part of it.

Dan-Dan

I`m confused , why didnt you go with company 1 ?

loulala1

I called the Energy Saving Advice Service because I was looking to see if they had a list of companies who install free boilers for people on low incomes.

They gave me a list of companies. They didnt say I had to be on a Green Deal Scheme to get the cashback.

I called one of the companies from the list. They came out then the next contact I had was from,
C&L Green Energy who then sub contracted
Van A Gas to install the boiler

I was really confused by all the different people coming out. I thought they were all working for the same company. It was only when things started to go wrong that I realised, none of these companies were related. I am fed up of being ripped off and mis guided!