Official Free Boilers and Insulation guide discussion

Hi, I'm pretty sure that as long as you qualify at time of installation then you wont have to pay when your son finds some work, fill out an online application and when the advisor calls to check eligibility you can always double check with them

Hi Everyone

To all those who have tried to get a free boiler through the ECO SCHEME via the ENERGY SAVING ADVICE SERVICE and come across problems and been rejected because you have received a letter from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. With the reason for rejection being that the DWP could not confirm that you were in receipt of any benefits. (When you know that you do receive benefits that qualify for this scheme) DONT GIVE UP!!

I just thought I would post up my experience of trying to get a free boiler through the ECO Scheme which has been a nightmare. Something that should have been so straight forward like the Energy Saving Advice service taking my details correctly, making sure that i qualify with regard to the qualifying benefits, choosing a supplier, verifying my benefits with the DWP, passing that on to the supplier, who contacts me to come and assess the situation. New boiler fitted happy days!! As the advisor at the Energy Saving Advice Service said to me, T"hat should be fine you should be contacted by the supplier within two to three weeks". NO PROBLEM you would think!!!


"ERR NOPE" no sign of a boiler that was back in April this year 2013 when my ten year old boiler gave up so no hot water, and no heat. We are now in mid July 2013, over 3 months later, and still no boiler. After making umpteen phone calls to the ESAS, going through 4 advisors, and a supervisor here is how it all went wrong.


The first time it got rejected I received the usual letter that the DWP could not confirm that i was in receipt of any benefits so i copied all my award letters and sent them recorded delivery to the ESAS at the DECC and received no reply.


Then after about a month I rang the ESAS to see what was going on and the advisor said he knew what the problem was it was because the previous advisor had entered the wrong date of birth, so he corrected it and said it should be no problem now.


So I left it another 3 weeks and nothing happened, so phoned back. This time the advisor said it had been rejected because, "err can I put you on hold" then cut me off.



The next advisor couldn't tell me either and said it looked fine etc. then said oh well we will do a new application, which we went through all the rigmarole again and he said that looks fine and said wait three weeks which i did and still no joy.


So I rang again and this time the advisor said he didn't know either, so do a another application which we did, At this point I am getting a little bit frustrated as no one can tell me why the DWP keeps saying I don't get benefits when I do. I suggested that I am the one applying in my name but the income support is in his name, could that be the problem? The DWP are searching for my name and coming up with nothing, because the benefits are in my husbands name and not mine. The advisor said no! If you are getting income support too that should not be a problem. At this time I am thinking that this is definately the problem logic tells me it is the problem so we argued a little about this, but he was adamant this was not the problem, and resubmitted the application.


Well low and behold it was rejected again. NOW I AM GETTING REALLY ANNOYED. So I phone back again this time the advisor says he will get a supervisor to phone me back, I said great maybe I will get somewhere now,and said when is that likely to be? He said "up to two weeks", I said," what are you joking here?", He said no they were very busy. ( I thought no wonder with clowns like you lot answering the phones).


So just to recap it is now mid June and I have done 3 applications one with British Gas one with Eon and one with Npower . Spoke to 3 advisors and now waiting for a call from a supervisor which guess what? In three weeks Never happened!


So today i phone again and ask for a supervisor and told i am speaking to one. I thought great I explained everything to him and he said i think i know what the problem is it is because the benefits are in your husbands name.
HALLELUJAH!!!!


The penny has dropped I thought! But I am not getting too excited you never know we could both be wrong.
So it has now been submitted again and I have to wait three weeks ha ha ha!!


So my advice is keep on trying to anyone who has been rejected because these advisors have not been trained properly and one day you may be lucky and fall upon one that has so good luck to you all!!


I am actually beginning to loose the will to live, or wash for that matter!! you have to have a sense of humour or you would hit someone!


I will keep you updated on this continuing saga and let you know if i ever actually do get a new boiler. LOL! kind regards LMS x