Did not get Warm Home Discount from EBICO

Richie-from-the-Boro

Blue_Max wrote: »

@ Richie
Pension Credit letter from DWP state, "Your Pension Credit award consists only of the savings credit". So I guess she falls in to the 'broader group'. Wish they had explained about having to claim; like you did.
Ebico website say, "The Warm Home Discount scheme is currently under review and further information on next year’s scheme will be published on this page."
In the reply to my email, Ebico said, "The Warm home discount is dealt with by our supply and billing partners SSE. Please contact them for further information on 0800 300111."
The guy at the SSE said something about applying after July this year.

Yes Ebico does say come back to this page and check, and yes from your original posts it was clear that your friend did not qualify under the 'core group rules'. The last years scheme only concluded 10 days ago, the next years 'broader group' applications vary by supplier for example eON are open now either way its usually after June / July before anyone in the broader group is officially notified of a successful application although your friend will receive a 'receipt of application for' almost immediately after applying. Just keep an eye on the open for applications page and apply, follow up on the application to check + double check Best of luck.

Smodlet

"I don't know if they are allowed to talk to me about another person but I will give it a try."

If the elderly lady authorises the DWP (or anyone else) to speak to you on her behalf, they will speak to you. This is, of course, because of the Data Protection Act. Seems kind of moot, though, if she does not automatically qualify.

Certainly look into the boiler scheme but, if this is the lady's boiler and not yours, you will again come up against the Data Protection Act. We just failed to qualify by 1% but our boiler was a combi and only 11 years old so, at 25 years, you surely must have a better chance, I would hope. It seems SSE have different criteria to BG and Npower for this scheme. SSE outsource it to an outfit called One Green Place, who give me the creeps. They wanted almost £1k from us before they would even send out a techie to do a gas survey, as their funding seems to be on a sliding scale according to how efficient or otherwise your boiler is. Needless to say, we left them well alone.

BG and Npower use the same criteria as each other; if the boiler is less than 86% efficient for the dwelling, you can get a free one if you receive a qualifying benefit. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation
How they reach the percentage is a mystery to me but at least they do not charge for the survey. Best of luck, Blue Max, you sound like a really good friend to this lady. Sorry to go on so long. HTH.

Blue_Max

Many thanks Smodlet and Richie for your helpful advice. I have copied and saved your posts for future use.
May be this topic is better discussed in a thread about ECO Boiler Scheme, so that it will help anyone who is interested.

I am a director of the management company of a block of flats.
I came to know about this issue and others after her service charge account went into arrears for over one year. I suspect there are others in the block who need assistance.
When I have done more research and understand the terminology, ins and outs of the Warm Home Discount scheme and the ECO Boiler scheme, I intend to write a memo to everyone, just to make them aware. There appear to be big holes in the service provided Government and the energy companies.

Smodlet

You're the director of the management company of a block of flats??? Does this mean you/the company are this lady's landlord? Oh, please tell me otherwise because, if you are, either I am jumping to conclusions, in which case, I truly apologise, or you are just trying to get the government to pay for what your management company should be paying for, adequate heating.

http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/advice/renting_privately/advice_landlords/standards_of_fitness.htm

Just so you know my bias, most private landlords make me sick.

Blue_Max

Smodlet wrote: »

You're the director of the management company of a block of flats??? Does this mean you/the company are this lady's landlord? Oh, please tell me otherwise because, if you are, either I am jumping to conclusions, in which case, I truly apologise, or you are just trying to get the government to pay for what your management company should be paying for, adequate heating.

http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/advice/renting_privately/advice_landlords/standards_of_fitness.htm

Just so you know my bias, most private landlords make me sick.

These are leasehold flats. Leaseholders pay for their own gas, elec, telephone, council tax, etc.
The management company is responsible to the landlord and the leaseholders for the management and maintenance. It is funded by the service charges paid by the leaseholders. Accounts are audited.
Leaseholders are also shareholders of the management company. Directors are elected by the leaseholders/shareholders at the AGM. Directors are not paid.

Smodlet

Thank you for the clarification, Blue Max. This is completely different from my experience of management companies of blocks of flats, which I know does not make me any authority.:o They just wanted to make money out of we leaseholders for doing nothing other than cleaning the stairs and making our lives difficult, from what I could tell. We sure as hell were not shareholders. We lived in damp-ridden sh**holes not fit for a sewer rat and they did nothing at all. Clearly, you are from another universe compared to them. You actually sound as if you care.

I hope I covered my rear sufficiently by apologising in the event I was jumping to conclusions.:o;) I intended no offence but am still of the opinion that most, not all, private landlords are destined to go down where they will have no issues with staying warm, if you follow me.

Yet you mention a landlord... I am really confused; is this just the person the ground-rent is paid to, if they are leaseholders, or should he/she/they be maintaining the heating systems? After all, loads of tenants, including Housing Association and Local Authority ones, are responsible for their own bills, it does not necessarily mean they are responsible for their own heating systems. I'm lost and want to understand. Sorry if I'm being thick.

Blue_Max

Smodlet wrote: »

Thank you for the clarification, Blue Max. This is completely different from my experience of management companies of blocks of flats, which I know does not make me any authority.:o They just wanted to make money out of we leaseholders for doing nothing other than cleaning the stairs and making our lives difficult, from what I could tell. We sure as hell were not shareholders. We lived in damp-ridden sh**holes not fit for a sewer rat and they did nothing at all. Clearly, you are from another universe compared to them. You actually sound as if you care.

Yet you mention a landlord... I am really confused; is this just the person the ground-rent is paid to, if they are leaseholders, or should he/she/they be maintaining the heating systems? After all, loads of tenants, including Housing Association and Local Authority ones, are responsible for their own bills, it does not necessarily mean they are responsible for their own heating systems. I'm lost and want to understand.

We do not rent the flats from a privte landlord, Housing Association, Local Authority or whatever.
We pay £15 per year as ground rent to the Landlord, an amount that was set when the flats were built long time ago. At that time, a Management Company was set up. According to the lease, the Management Company is responsible to the landlord and the leaseholders/shareholders for maintainance and repair of the common areas, the exterior of the building driveways, garden, etc.

The Management Company is different to a Managing Agent. We have had problems with managing agents in the past. One of them (Warwick Estates) did little work and were mis-appropriating our funds collected from us.
Before I became a director, I had to take the Management Company to the LVT (Leasehold Valuation Tribunal). It was time consuming and stressful task. I had to suffer scare-mongering tacticts by Warwick Estates and by one of the then directors of our company. I was even physically threatened by this guy and malicious lies spread about me. A depressing period of three years.

At the LVT, after a hearing that lasted 5 /2 hours, I won. At the next AGM previous directors stepped down, Myself and three others were elected as the new directors.
I sacked Warwick Estates and after going through a careful selection process, appointed a new agent. We get good service from them; though we monitor.
Management Company then took legal action against Warwick Estates through the courts and through The Property Ombudsman. Recovered over £33,000 from Warwick Estates. Determinations by the LVT in November 2012 was the foundation to most of these claims against Warwicks.
For details see my posts 'Warwick Estates : Be Warned!' at
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.php?searchid=167369032

Smodlet

Reeeeespect! I really mean that, Blue Max and am so sorry for my misinterpretation. I have absolutely no idea about your situation and seriously apologise for my ignorance. I am glad if I have been of any help whatsoever and hope I can be so in the future.

Thank you for your patience and for taking the time to explain. Egg on face! I have never heard of a situation like yours before. I guess we are all here to learn. I hope you can forgive me for accusing you of being a landlord. Please?