Warmfront???? Consumer has rights!

Jaz1 · 9th January 2008, 11:53

Hi all,

It has been very enlightening reading everyones advice and comments on certain issues, you're a very intelligent bunch!

I'm hoping that someone can give me some advice on a couple of issues i have with warmfront?

1. I applied for the grant online twice and got no response to in Nov 07 i called them and applied via phone, unfortunately the man who dealt with me decided to take certain pieces of info from my application so that he could email me personally! Yep....i know...very creepy cos he did just that!

I did not respond instead i reported it to the gentleman that came to survey my home a few days later....he did nothing with my complaint and i was very worried that if i contacted the call centre again the guy would find out it was myself who had complained and there may have been consequences.

2. Warmfornt sent me the cost of work and they required me to contribute £407 towards the work, they will not breakdown the cost and tell me what work would be done under the cost and contribution they were asking me to make.

Therefore my questions are: 1, What can i do about this gentlemans email and apparent disregard of data protection?
2, Am i not entitled legally as a consumer to ask them to tell me what the costs are for the work and what that work consists of?

Any advice on these issues is most welcome.
Thanks all

BADGER 69 · 10th January 2008, 11:56

Interesting one. as you are asked to make a contribution to the cost that makes you a party to the contract and as such you should be entitled to the info you asked for.

Jaz1 · 11th January 2008, 08:39

Thanks for the advice, it seems that i agree with you, however, as of yesterday, they will not disclose the costs. This is getting ridiculous as we have no heating or hot water and i have a 16 year old who's asthmatic!

How the hell do i get this resolved????HELP!

sidiboo · 11th January 2008, 13:03

Hi i had a warmfront boiler fitted in sept. Also had to pay £600 but local council payed it for me. I could not find out what would be fitted for the money after a few weeks I lost my rag with the installer. Who told warmfront they would not deal with me any more. And they apponted a new installer and they were great, could not have been more helpfull. Full breakdown ect. So mybe ask for a different installer. As for man at call centre I mostly spoke to women. So if man answers hang up ?

mariejader · 11th January 2008, 13:27

I had the same problem with them a few years ago, the answer I got they cannot give you a figure because they work on national average costs, the example they gave me was it would cost less to have a system fitted in Scotland than it would in London!!!!

I had quotes from another company who were cheaper and did provide a breakdown, so I told them this and also pointed out that I lived in the South East so going on the statement they gave me I would be in the higher area, so how could they justify the charges.

I wrote to my MP (again) who I have to say was very keen to take the matter up, but the company I got the quote from were not keen to get involved so I decided not to go any further with it.

There was a whole load of other problems also which I won't go into now, my advice would be proceed with care

Jaz1 · 11th January 2008, 14:16

Thanks for telling me that, how long did they take to refer you to another contractor cos i just tried that and the lady told me if i did that then i'd have to wait for another 6 months!

Jaz1 · 11th January 2008, 14:19

[quote=Jaz1;1321482]Thanks for telling me that, how long did they take to refer you to another contractor cos i just tried that and the lady told me if i did that then i'd have to wait for another 6 months!

for your attention too sid i appreciate the advice i'm getting, knowledge is power as they say!

sidiboo · 13th January 2008, 14:23

Hi Jaz it did take about another 3 months I had no heating for about 6 months in all. But I got a great system From a good installer in the end. So in my case the extra time was worth it. My local council said they would top up the grant by up to £1000 in my case it was £600 odd. Hope this helps

Jaz1 · 14th January 2008, 09:31

Thanks sidiboo, which part of the uk do you hale from? Just in case you're nearby and can give me the name of your installer, i'm from West Bromwich in B,ham.

sidiboo · 14th January 2008, 12:44

Sorry Jaz SE London. First installer struck me as a one man band. Trying to look big with flash address. And phone only answered 10-12 by snooty woman. The 2nd was a much bigger firm office open all day ect and could not have been more helpful. But mybe I just got lucky ? Hope you get on OK. Sid

MARTIN3030 · 19th January 2008, 21:31

Thread moved here where it may benefit others with similar questions.

PriorityOne · 19th January 2008, 21:55

Hi Jaz,

I had a Warm Front Grant about 4 months ago for a new boiler. A guy came round to do the assessment, then someone else to price up the work, draw up plans, etc. I was told to contact the Environmental Services Dept. of my local council, who would give a top-up grant to make up the difference (he wasn't supposed to tell me this though

).

To cut a long story short, the council queried the price of the work and asked the contractor for a written breakdown. The contractor liaised directly with the council at all times... and at the end, agreed to waive any additional cost over the WF Grant amount because they were unable to justify it.

I'm not sure if this was just my council being efficient.... but suggest you contact yours for some help with this because in my own case, they handled the lot. The only time I needed to liaise with the contractor was to arrange a convenient date for the work to be carried out.

judi3 · 19th January 2008, 21:57

An idea

Would you contact two local installers in your area and receive a free quotation for a boiler change for a true comparison of works .

MUST BE AN A RATED CONDENSING BOILER LIKE FOR LIKE

MARTIN YOUR PM BOX IS FULL

BADGER 69 · 20th January 2008, 14:41

For the info of any pensioners on benefit, like me, living in Wales. I had a condensing boiler and five radiators installed for free by the Welsh Assembly. Age Concern will help you apply.

ihavereclaimedmyrights · 20th January 2008, 21:52

For the info of any pensioners on benefit, like me, living in Wales. I had a condensing boiler and five radiators installed for free by the Welsh Assembly. Age Concern will help you apply.

same grant different name

I was told to contact the Environmental Services Dept. of my local council, who would give a top-up grant to make up the difference (he wasn't supposed to tell me this though

).

The contractor has already tendered a price for a boiler and five rads which should be within the grant. unless it needs a unforseen work i.e scaffolding or vertical flue etc etc the contractor has been told "swings and round abouts" you win some you lose some "

To cut a long story short, the council queried the price of the work and asked the contractor for a written breakdown. The contractor liaised directly with the council at all times... and at the end, agreed to waive any additional cost over the WF Grant amount because they were unable to justify it.

bingo ! i think a pattern could be developing and would welcome further comments to investigate .details of excess requests and work that was need.

Jaz1 · 22nd January 2008, 19:42

Evening all!

Thanks for all this info, makes for interesting reading. However, i'm still sat here, very cold and with no hot water! I followed some of the advice left by all you great people, such as contacting the contractor and asking them to re cost if possible, which they did on the 15th of Jan, they sent the info to Warmfront for repricing (as no one but Warmfront are aware of the exact cost of parts etc...The National Guard are still obviously guarding that secret very well!) i asked Warmfront how long this would take...the answer is 3 very cold and miserable weeks! I'm gobsmacked! It's only 7 lock shields to re cost, not reinventing the wheel for crying out loud! So after i was peeled down from the ceiling by my daughter i emailed Warmfront and asked for their complaints procedure...that was the 16th of Jan...an i'm still waiting for a response! I don't get it! I won't need the new boiler soon as i'll have died from hyperthermia!!!!!

I've also been in touch with the council and asked if there is anything left in their "Energy" pot, sadly nothing but dustbunnies, but i'm welcome to them if they'd help keep me in hot water and heat!

CAN SOMEONE OUT THERE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!! All ideas would be gratefully received excluding the one my brother just threw in to the pot "Just offer to sleep with the chairman of Warmfront!", my brother definitely isn't einstein!!

Thanks
Jas

PriorityOne · 23rd January 2008, 18:59

Have you asked the council to speak to someone re. applying for a Warm Front Top-Up Grant ?

If you ask them if there is any money left, so to speak... they will usually say "No".

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