Solution a warm welcome

Jun 26 2011 Sunday Sun

CAROL Richardson feared she would be left out in the cold over a Government heating scheme.

She qualified for a grant towards a new boiler under a Warm Front grant.

But the claim was hit by a series of delays and mistakes until she asked for my help.

The work is due to start any time now after I asked Warm Front what was happening.

Carol, of Blyth, Northumberland, said: “I applied for the grant last year as my heating has not been working properly.

“It was several months before a surveyor came and he said a frame would have to be made to hold the tank in the loft but that would be done by the heating firm who got the contract.

“The contractors came but they didn’t know anything about having to build a frame.”

By this time Carol was recovering from major surgery and could have done without the hassle.

At the same time there was a temporary loss of funding for work under the scheme.

Carol said: “I phoned Warm Front and their contractors Total Trade many times over the following weeks.

“Eventually I was told I would have to apply again next year and I was in an awful state.

“My house was upside down ready for the work to start and I had a lot of hospital appointments.

“I don’t see why I have to wait for months again when I already had a date and it was not my fault that the job was delayed.”

I couldn’t agree more and passed the complaint to Warm Front.

A spokesman told me: “The good news is that this is being resolved quickly for your reader and our customer.

“Technical difficulties at the original survey have delayed this work longer than anticipated and we apologise fully for the inconvenience caused. We are now able to proceed and we have been in touch with Mrs Richardson to arrange installation within the next few weeks. She is happy with this course of action.”