Free Boiler Scheme - Have I been conned ?

kingrollox

My wife enquired about the free boiler scheme - and we got in touch with a company called impact energy.

They agreed to provide a free worcester boliler and under floor insulation - we would have to contribute £350.

Day 1 - The guys came and did the under floor insulation - no problems
Day 2 - The boiler guys came to install - but demanded £350 in cash before the work started which I refused to pay. After much arguing on the phone it was agreed I would pay on com pletion
Day 2 - continued - The boiler was 'complete' - but would have to wait until the next day for the electrician to arrive to install the controls. In addition and because I was smelling a rat  -  I insisted on paying by credit card. they reluctantly agreed - but said there would be a charge. I paid over the phone. They didn't tell me the amount of the charge - but I checked my app and they had charged me an extra £70 !!!!!!!

Day 3-7 minor hassles with electrician and extractor fan people arriving at different times. but eventually it was also set up and working

Day 10 - Phone call from company - they needed to install floor vents which they had forgotten to do on day 1 - no problem they came and did these.

Day 21 - further call they needed to install and extractor fan in the kitchen. My wife agreed - but getting very suspicous I cancelled this install.

My worry now is that I am going to receive a bill for all this extra work - which I was told was needed to qualify for the grant.

Citizens Advice pass you to ofgem - who pass you back to citizens advice. I have nothing in writing from this company. I have stopped the credit card so they can not take any more money from this source. What I fear is that:-

1.)I will get bills for all the extra work
2.) As I have declined the work - they will say I don't get the grant and the whole amount is payable.

I really don't want to appoint a solicitor - but can't seem to get any help anywhere - any ideas - getting a bit desparate.

Mystic_CT

Forgive me for asking but are you and your wife pensioners? Did you become aware of this company via a leaflet drop or direct mail to your home address? There are a lot of scammers out there offering free boiler replacements when this is not the reality. I hope you're worrying unneedlessly. However, in case your worst fears are realised then I would suggest you contact your MP directly. Give him/her the full details of this company and your dealings with it. Good luck.

macman

They can't legally charge you extra for a credit card payment, though they are perfectly entitled to refuse that as a means of payment. You really should have established that before agreeing the install, rather than assuming it was OK.
Why you would even allow the install to go ahead without a written quote is beyond me.
Your account is very confusing-if the extractor fan was dealt with on days 3-7, then why do they need to return now to fit one?
Obviously if you have refused them access to complete the install, then the Benchmark paperwork will not have been done and the boiler will neither be legally commissioned nor registered, which invalidates any warranty.
Why do you need a solicitor when you have neither been asked to pay any more nor been billed for it?

Jaxer

This is just a guess but I don't think the extra charges on the credit card are "fees" but it looks like they know it's going through the books now, so it's being charged with VAT @ 20% which would be £70 on £350.

dj1471

Jaxer said:

This is just a guess but I don't think the extra charges on the credit card are "fees" but it looks like they know it's going through the books now, so it's being charged with VAT @ 20% which would be £70 on £350.

Possibly, still unlawful though. Consumers must be given prices inclusive of VAT, where applicable (Consumer Contracts Regulations).

ToomanyPies

This sounds like the same company https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.freeboilergrantscheme.co.uk