Help with 'Free' Cavity Wall Insulation - advice needed

ozseagull · Jul 23, 2013

So this afternoon a friendly salesman chap from Brand Extension (www.beei.co.uk) knocked on the door offering free cavity wall insulation. Now normally I would politely so no thankyou but I though I would listen.

Anyway after the chat I have signed up for FREE cavity wall insulation pending a survey. He assured me that it was free but they may recommend other products on the survey (which is how i presume they make their money).

Anyway any experts out there who can give advice as the chap said that the Government have changed their funding and that the Government energy grant pays for it, hence it being free.

All I can find on the internet is The Green Deal which says you pay back a percentage of any energy savings.

My question is - is it really free? or should I cancel with the 7 day cooling off period?

My neighbour also signed up so would be good to warn them too, if dodgy.

Thanks in advance.

Elms · Jul 23, 2013

We signed up for this through British Gas, however following their survey it was concluded that they would require scaffolding (on the basis that we live in a house!) and that it wouldn't be a free installation afterall. Bizarre scheme. We cancelled.

Hillian1 · Jul 23, 2013

Elms said:
We signed up for this through British Gas, however following their survey it was concluded that they would require scaffolding (on the basis that we live in a house!) and that it wouldn't be a free installation afterall. Bizarre scheme. We cancelled.

Same as, free turned into quite bloody expensive overnight.

Told them to sling there hooks.

NEASTGULL · Jul 23, 2013

It may be available free under the governments CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) scheme. It would not hurt if you were to contact your local Energy Savings Trust on 0800 512012 as they will be able to confirm what schemes are currently available in your area.

Brian Parsons · Jul 23, 2013

Being a pensioner, mine was done for free under a combined main/local government grants scheme. The whole procedure took about 4hrs and the only inconveinience to me was shifting things in the garage so they could get to an original wall. During a very cold winter up here in Oxfordshire I was able to set my thermostat a lot lower than previous winters. They even keep the dust from when drilling the holes to mix with the cement used to fill holes afterwards so it all blends in.

thedonkeycentrehalf · Jul 23, 2013

There are some good offers out there through any company selling energy services. Generally they are either free or require a small payment depending on what is required. We did ours through Tesco last year but don't think they offere this any more. Got cavity wall insulation and also our loft re-insulated for £99.

The Brighton Buzz · Jul 23, 2013

I had a company contact me and sure enough they came did cavity wall and top up loft insulation for nothing about three months ago. Did not need scaffolding to CI, just a ladder. Got certificates and everything. I was told by the guy that Councils have been given grants to pay for Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation but when the money runs out that's it. There was no age limit (person) or size of house restriction. So reckon your chap could be genuine.

Eggmundo · Jul 23, 2013

I was on the dole this time last year and signed up as 'completely free'. When it was installed, the chav who was installing it said it was free for everyone regardless.
If it's free then go for it.

Cheshire Cat · Jul 23, 2013

Our energy supplier offered it free, but found we already had cavity insulation after the survey. They wouldn't do loft insulation as our loft space is too small

beorhthelm · Jul 23, 2013

its "free" because we are paying for it through our energy bills.

blockhseagull · Jul 24, 2013

Careful, CERT ran out last year and all funding has been stopped.

Including some to contractors who had done the work for householders for free and then didnt get the funds from the relevant grant funders.

There are still some schemes about which are supposedly free but I would check the small print very carefully about what you may or may not be liable for should the contractor that does the work not receive the funding themselves. And who the funding agent is.

Westdene Seagull · Jul 24, 2013

Got ours done for free by EDF last year and we weren't even customers !

cardboard · Jul 24, 2013

We had our wall insulation and loft insulation dome free last year. No come back, no extra to pay etc and we both earn good money! Quite bizarre but good none the less.

glasfryn · Jul 24, 2013

Westdene Seagull said:
Got ours done for free by EDF last year and we weren't even customers !

roof,cavity wall and a new boiler

all free
and we live in rented
ring your energy supplyer

watsongooal · Jul 24, 2013

Didn't have the wall but had free loft insulation and it has made a huge difference.

Lord Bracknell · Jul 24, 2013

No cavity walls at Bracknell Towers, but I'll endorse everything that has been said about the value of decent insulation. Our place is considerably warmer and much cheaper to heat, since we had loads of work done a few years ago.

knocky1 · Jul 29, 2013

Signed up with BEEI as well. I rang the 0800 number given above to check their funding. It is ECO funding and legit. Surveyor came today. We failed as they are looking for "problem" cavities or they cannot get funding. So my cavity is clean but failed as they wont get funding.

No payment involved so worth giving them a shot.

I could have knocked a hole in the outer wall and filled the bottom of the cavity with rubble and then they would do the job as they would get funding due to problem cavity.

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