Would I or should I be offered compensation?

[Porkpie]

Evening Guys, I have a dilema. In 2004 I paid to have Cavity Wall Insulation in my house. It was one of the first discounted schemes whereby I, the Energy supplier and the Government each paid a third of the cost. Fast forward to the end of last year when I decide to replace the old ventilation bricks which had been filled with silicone with normal bricks. On removing the old bricks the cavity was empty, no insulation to be seen or felt. I complained to the energy supplier, who had sorted the insulation company to do the work in March and had to chase up my complaint in September to find there was no record of it! The Insulation company is still going strong and I am waiting for them to contact me, so what should they be doing for me?

a) Refill the insulation
b) Offer me a different insulation option
c) Offer me some sort of recompence

I must add I feel really 'had'. It's not often someone gets one over on me but I guess what you can't see can't hurt you.

Open for any advise or comments please.

Regards, Si

 

[dazza1975]

Inform the company that you will be contacting trading standards over this and putting in a complaint. Also notify the energy company of this.

What you should get back is your money (if you paid for the work) along with the works being completed in full. If you don't feel confident in the works being carried out properly you can ask for a company to undertake the works and for them to pay the costs. Also go for compo as you would have had a warmer house should this of been installed.

 

[bluenose]

get on watchdog :msn4:

 

[weeboll]

can you check elsewhere? most of our cavity wall insulation has been nicked by rodents (gliss gliss) for nests or creating paths through them to get to our loft! i know becuase i keep finding little piles of it under the house

 

[Porkpie]

Thanks for the quick replies, I have checked in three places so far: about a foot from the floor, about a foot from thefirst floor and when I installed a new cooker hood. I haven't dare check the back of the house! As for rodents I hope not and the house is built on a concrete slab too. I just hope they bring one of those camera things to investigate the cavitys.

Regards, Si

 

[dubselector]

You should get in touch with the service below for advice on how to set up a complaint. You may find a letter from them to you energy supplier gives them a brown pants moment!

Energy Ombudsman
The Energy Ombudsman was set up to sort out disagreements between gas and electricity companies (energy companies) and their domestic and small business customers.
PO Box 966, Warrington, WA4 9DF
phone: 0330 440 1624 or 01925 530 263
fax: 0330 440 1625 or 01925 530 264
http://www.ombudsman-services.org/energy.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[email protected]

 

[Porkpie]

Just a quick update. This morning I got a visit from a representative of the Insulation company who checked the cavitys with a scope and they were empty, apart from a little around the outside electric meter and a few 'slodges' here and there :x . At least they are phoning early next week to arrange for a complete fill - again! Hopefully warmer for this winter.

Regards, Si

 

[mattp]

I would suggest a fair deal would be that the cavity insulation is provided and that the difference in heating bills as a result of it not being there is returned -after all, you have probably been paying more than you should as you've not had the insulation

 

[Porkpie]

Hi Matt, I was kinda thinking the same thing, ie) Free refil, Money back from the job I paid them to do, 10 years of energy savings plus 10 years of being ripped off! But I also have a dilema 'cos although I don't like making a fuss... what about all the other customers of the Insulation company who may have been treated in a similar way?

Regards, Si

 

[Clem]

We had our house done last year or so, we got it all for free on the end of the scheme that was running at the time. The company came and did it, and did it ok, but in the pre-visit they were trying to get us to pay for the higher grade carbon type insulation balls and said we could pay extra to have them fill from less intrusions using carbon lances or something, we refused all that and just took the basic deal on offer. When they came they used the carbon fillings and used the carbon rods they had talked about - indicating we'd have paid a couple of hundred quid extra for nothing .... certainly it seemed they werent beyond a few scams on the side, so not actually doing the job in the first place isnt suprising!

 

[Lordain Volley]

If you want cheap and sound advice on this - subscribe to "Which Legal". I think they have an offer on at the moment - £38 for the year. They will give you great advice from their consumer lawyers.

LV :msn4: