"Free" Loft insulation that costs £ 108

spiritus

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My 80 yr old mother was cold called by a company offering free loft insulation as part of a Government grant scheme.

They came around this week to measure the roof and in the last hour my mother has received a phone call from the company to try and arrange an installation date. They then went onto say that although the insulation is free my mother would have to pay £ 108 as the "free" insulation is only based on the roof space being 47 sq metres whereas her roof space is 65 sq metres (it's only a mid terrace !).

I've spoken to the company and had a struggle getting them to admit that the insulation wasn't free. They also explained to me that the government only subsidises approx £ 322. If the work costs any more than that then the home owner has to pay.

Can someone verify that what they're telling uis is actually true ? Are there any other options ??

Many thanks

DNK

Have you been here ?

There is a query form on there to confirm it. I'd go there first prior to signing anything.

EXPAT_2

My parents were recently offfered £2000 in grants for insulating walls & loft & new boiler Etc.

All went smoothly & nothing to pay. This was partly due to the benefits as OAP's they receive.

maninthestreet

Does the roof actually need insulation? Is there any already present, if so what thickness is it? 65 sq metres equates to just over 8m by 8m. It's unlikely the frontage of a mid-terraced house would be 8m wide, but the depth of the house (front to back) could well be more than 8m.

spiritus

There's no insulation at present so I'd say it could do with some.

I'm just not happy with the way they've tried to reel my mother in by telling her several times over several months that the insulation is completely free and then at the moment it's time to arrange an appointment for the fitters they then tell her she needs to pay.

George_Bray

My parents had insulation fitted free to their loft and the document / certificate thing shows the contractors measured it at over 60 sq metres. There was nothing to pay. It may even have been 65 sq metres. I'll try and get the exact figure and confirm it here later. The charge of £108 sounds suspicious.

spiritus

Thankyou George. I'd be very interested to hear that.

spiritus

Just wanted to post an update on this topic as I think there's something fishy going on.

I rang three other loft insulation companies whom all claims to install free insulation to over 70's. They said this is free to over 70's. I explained the house is a mid-terraced 3 bedroom house and they still said it would be free.

I then went on to tell them about the company that is asking my mother to pay over a £ 100 and asked them if they themselves had criteria that has to be met before offering free insulation i.e. does the loft space have to be below a certain square metrage. Every single one of them hummed and ah'ed about his and couldn't give me an answer. Even British Gas there might be some restrictions but she wasn't sure. She told me they could send someone round to survey the loft space and they would then give me a recommendation.

I told them we've already had one company survey the loft space and the measurements were given to us so I douvted their surveyor would tell me anything different. I asked her why could she not tell me what the criteria for free insulation is BEFORE they send someone round but she couldn't answer me.

Is this a con ???? Are companies taking advantage of government grants and advertise free insulation but at the last minute spring a surprise on some customers by telling them there is a surcharge to pay ??

oldwiring

Have you thought of going back to Free Insulation ( EnergyLink Ltd)....0800 5200527? From what is on their site there seems to be no get out clause to permit a charge on an over 70. See

[B]Loft Insulation & Cavity Wall Insulation GRANTS[/B]

         [B]Insulation Grants[/B] are available to completely cover the cost of Cavity Wall Insulation & Loft Insulation. Even if you are not entitled to a full grant, you can still receive a partial grant!
          A poorly insulated home can lose up to 60% of it's heat. Apply for an insulation grant today and start saving on your energy bills.
  
         [CENTER]           [IMG]http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/img/loftcavityheatloss.gif[/IMG]         [/CENTER]
  
 [CENTER]      [CENTER]  [B]FREE INSULATION[/B] is available to households where:

Anyone is [B]aged 70 or over[/B] OR 

Anyone is in [B]receipt of certain benefits[/B], 
tax credits or allowances

[B]OTHERS[/B] can still receive a grant of [B]up to 75%![/B][/CENTER]
      [/CENTER]
         

[B]Sounds Too Good To Be True?[/B] The grants are part of the government's new Carbon Emmissions Reduction Target (CERT). The major utility companies (British Gas, NPower, Powergen etc.) have to meet targets to reduce carbon emissions by paying to insulate domestic properties. It does not matter who your energy supplier is, you can still apply through us.
        Grants are available to all UK Homeowners and Private Tenants. Extra charges may apply to very large properties or lofts that are already adequately insulated. If scaffolding or other special access equipment is required, this may also be chargeable.
  
  [CENTER]  Click [URL="http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/apply.asp"][B]here[/B][/URL] to apply for an [B]Insulation Grant[/B] now!  

(landlords click [URL="http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/landlords.asp"][B]here[/B][/URL])  [/CENTER]

There it would appear that either the installer is acting outside the schem and needs to be reported, or the advertisement is misleading, in which case FreeInsulation ( EnergyLink Ltd) should be reported to the ASA.

George_Bray

spiritus wrote: »

Thankyou George. I'd be very interested to hear that.

Sorry for the delay. I've mislaid the certificate/form document but I'm reasonably sure it was for 66 sq metres. I will find it and I'll report back here when I do.

spiritus

oldwiring wrote: »

Have you thought of going back to Free Insulation ( EnergyLink Ltd)....0800 5200527? From what is on their site there seems to be no get out clause to permit a charge on an over 70. See

[B]Loft Insulation & Cavity Wall Insulation GRANTS[/B]
 
         [B]Insulation Grants[/B] are available to completely cover the cost of Cavity Wall Insulation & Loft Insulation. Even if you are not entitled to a full grant, you can still receive a partial grant!
          A poorly insulated home can lose up to 60% of it's heat. Apply for an insulation grant today and start saving on your energy bills.
 

         [CENTER]          [IMG]http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/img/loftcavityheatloss.gif[/IMG]         [/CENTER]

 

 [CENTER]     [CENTER] [B]FREE INSULATION[/B] is available to households where:[/CENTER]

 
[CENTER]Anyone is [B]aged 70 or over[/B] OR [/CENTER]
 
[CENTER]Anyone is in [B]receipt of certain benefits[/B], 
tax credits or allowances[/CENTER]
 
[CENTER][B]OTHERS[/B] can still receive a grant of [B]up to 75%![/B][/CENTER]
      
[/CENTER]

 
 
[B]Sounds Too Good To Be True?[/B] The grants are part of the government's new Carbon Emmissions Reduction Target (CERT). The major utility companies (British Gas, NPower, Powergen etc.) have to meet targets to reduce carbon emissions by paying to insulate domestic properties. It does not matter who your energy supplier is, you can still apply through us.
        Grants are available to all UK Homeowners and Private Tenants. Extra charges may apply to very large properties or lofts that are already adequately insulated. If scaffolding or other special access equipment is required, this may also be chargeable.
 

  [CENTER] Click [URL="http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/apply.asp"][B]here[/B][/URL] to apply for an [B]Insulation Grant[/B] now!  [/CENTER]

 
[CENTER](landlords click [URL="http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/landlords.asp"][B]here[/B][/URL])  [/CENTER]

There it would appear that either the installer is acting outside the schem and needs to be reported, or the advertisement is misleading, in which case FreeInsulation ( EnergyLink Ltd) should be reported to the ASA.

All of the companies which have revealed to me that there are conditions attached have this information glaringly missing from their websites.