Free Boiler and Cavity Wall Insulation from UK Energy Management - Is it a scam?

Tyga

Reps for a company called "UK Energy Management" are going door to door in my estate, offering a free boiler and cavity wall insulation. I'm aware there are schemes out there, however this one has no eligibility criteria apparently. I've seen them do the install on a few neighbours, always in unmarked white vans (and apparently they have had issues with their heating after...). 

Just to be clear, I don't claim any benefits, however the Reps insist I am eligible, as "the funding comes from UK Energy Companies, not the government" - this is all they'd tell me. 

I've done research on this, and can't find any such schemes that I'd be eligible for. 

It all seems very suspicious to me - are they trying to scam me, or one of the government schemes? 

The flyers make no mention of which company they are from, and the form they gave me following an energy assessment is on a badly photocopied letter head... It doesn't seem legit... 

MWT

Scam unfortunately.

The two schemes they mention are both related to benefits / income etc. and they even got the name of one of them wrong...

It is HHCRO not HCCRO

Have a look at some of the reviews on Trustpilot, not comforting reading...

Tyga

Should I report them? Would it be to Trading Standards? Or police? 

MWT

They have not yet done you any harm, so not a lot you can report at this stage and I certainly wouldn't let them go far enough to actually cause a problem.

SpacemanSam

I had the same cold call. The surveyor appeared diligent and has a bonafide linkedin page. I also could find UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd on a list of Green Deal Accredited installers. However, as MWT says, both LA Flex funding and HHCRO funding are only for residents who are claiming benefits. I was a little concerned that the paperwork appeared amateur and didn't really detail what work would be done. I did find out that they would look to install an Ideal boiler, which I know are a good make.

Due diligence had me looking online. I found the same handful of negative reviews on Trustpilot. S.Littler had poor customer service and unexpected extra charges which she did not end up paying for and S.Murrell had a no-show but decided to call that a scam. On their Facebook page there are several unhappy customers who have been left waiting after initially agreeing to the work but no one else complaining of being scammed.

Looking up UK Energy Management (NE) Ltd at Companies House I see that they were incorporated in June 2017 and by June 2019 had done no trade whatsoever and are due to post accounts June 2021. The company director Steven Copeland is also the director of a number of other companies in the same sector. His company B-ECO-SMART Ltd were incorporated in March 2016 and went into liquidation September 2020, and were also Green Deal Accredited installers. This company operated out of the same premises and as can be seen on this very forum had a similar M.O. Here is a list of the other companies Steven Copeland is director of:

SFA CONSULT LIMITED (10495360)
GLOBAL VANTAGE PROPERTIES LIMITED
ECO FUNDING SOLUTIONS LTD (08393508) (Dissolved)
ECO HOME ALTERNATIVES LTD (07448119) (Dormant)
AKSC PLUMBING & HEATING LIMITED (07132699)

Owning multiple companies is not illegal or even sketchy - there are many good reasons to do so and there are a couple of bad ones too. All the information I have posted here is in the public domain.

In summary, I have no proof but it all feels very odd. I have told them I am not interested in their offer.

SUPER_RED

Similar leaflet is still being "pushed" at people in January 2022 in around Chorley, Lancs.

It is hard to beat MSE for sound impartial advice on free stuff: https:// www.moneysavingexpert.com/ utilities/ free-cavity-loft-insulation/

DevonJedi

I would avoid. I was referred to them for help by a local community support place last summer, because my heating doesnt work. They booked a surveyor to come and check my walls and heaters and insulation. They were very communicative checking i would be home for the surveyor - who never turned up and never communicated about any lateness or not being able to make it, which has seriously messed up my ptsd and anxiety, as I had sent UK Energy management personal stuff to show my eligibility for their scheme. They claimed I would be eligible for free insulation, new heaters and solar panels under a government scheme

LizzyLandlord

My tenants have been advised by UK Energy Management to install a heat pump, new radiators, solar panels and a new hot tank - all free of charge as they are on benefits. I'm concerned that this won't heat the house as efficiently as the current LPG boiler and will be something I'll regret. Both the company and heat source systems have worrying reviews - but have heat pumps improved and is it something I should do for my tenants? The house is an end terrace, solid wall construction dating from the 1800s with about 200m of insulation in the loft. I only agreed to the free survey because I thought the house probably needed more insulation in the loft. This whole new system seems a bit of a big deal! Has anybody got any advice for me?

QrizB

LizzyLandlord said:

My tenants have been advised by UK Energy Management to install a heat pump, new radiators, solar panels and a new hot tank - all free of charge as they are on benefits.

Your tenants can't install anything (assuming a standard boilerplate assured shorthold tenancy). This can only go ahead if UK EM agree it with you.

LizzyLandlord said:

I'm concerned that this won't heat the house as efficiently as the current LPG boiler and will be something I'll regret.

Do you mean efficiently, or cost-effectively? The new system should (assuming it's properly specified and competently installed) heat the property just as well as the current boiler does. However if it's not carefully operated by your tenant, it might end up costing more.

LizzyLandlord said:

Both the company and heat source systems have worrying reviews

There are lots of companies doing ECO 4 installations and there's no need to go with UK EM if you don't trust them (and I can appreciate that you might not, cold callers are rarely the best option). Your tenant's currently electricity supplier might be a good pace to start.

LizzyLandlord said:

have heat pumps improved and is it something I should do for my tenants?

Yes they've improved. Is it something you should do? That's your decision.

FreeBear

QrizB said: There are lots of companies doing ECO 4 installations and there's no need to go with UK EM if you don't trust them (and I can appreciate that you might not, cold callers are rarely the best option). Your tenant's currently electricity supplier might be a good pace to start.

Or Octopus - They are doing some really good deals at the moment, and if they can tap in to ECO4 funding, it would bring the cost down even further.

LizzyLandlord said: I'm concerned that this won't heat the house as efficiently as the current LPG boiler and will be something I'll regret.

...

 The house is an end terrace, solid wall construction dating from the 1800s with about 200m of insulation in the loft.

Itwould be well worth increasing the loft insulation to 300mm or even 400mm. A few rolls from Wickes or B&Q, and a few hours to unroll them.

As for the amount of heat needed - I'm currently watching my (gas) central heating warming up a late 1920s semi (part cavity, part solid brick) on just 4kW. OK, I have new windows & doors and have plugged all the cold draughts I can find as well as adding insulation to some of the internal walls - Based on current data, I'm not sure if the IWI is making much of a difference...

Unlike a gas boiler, anyone fitting a heat pump (under ECO4 or the Boiler Upgrade Grant) will need to be MCS accredited and should do a full heat loss survey before undertaking any installation.