Should I be suspicious?

Stay untrusting oldwoman, and you’ll stay safe.
I only deal with letters that come through the post, at least I can verify them.

My husband works for a window company.
This is totally made up . There is no government scheme at all.
I'm not saying he is trying a scam but it is a way of giving you a quote for new windows.

Having said that, there are Heat Asessment Companies who will come out and give you a free quote if you contact them.
The difference is that they don’t cold call you.

I have had calls from them before, sure they are just trying to sell windows.
Told them I couldn't afford whatever they were selling and not interested in their so called survey.

Thanks Melanie I thought that might be the case.

Never engage with cold callers, or folks who knock on the door trying to sell you windows, double glazing or cavity wall insulation.
Use a local builder, someone recommended by others or someone with a well established business.

"I will just talk to my husband and son about this" - very sexist I know, but it will put them right off.

"Could you please give me the phone number and web address of your company?"

"Could you please tell me the web address of the government department making these grants?"

.....etc. etc. - or just put down the phone.

When I get cold calls I simply tell them I only deal with ethical companies. That often makes them put the phone down but occasionally they question it and I explain that no ethical company would call someone who is signed up to the TPS.

My (truthful) response to the 'grants for retired' for insulation etc is 'I live in a Listed Building'. It works for all kinds of building related cold calling. Feel free to use it, whether it is truthful or not

Look up on line for any titles etc given - it will always give a clue about made up or not, in my experience!

No no no

There was a Heat Loss Assessment questionnaire to be used by non-domestic users
www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/heat-loss-assessment-guidance

but this definitely sounds like a scam of some kind - someone has latched on to the name to try to bamboozle you.

Another response is 'I have no idea, I will ask the landlord/landlady'.

I live in Scotland and when I get calls about "government" schemes, I ask which government? If they don't know whether it's a Westminster scheme or a Holyrood scheme, that's usually a fair clue that it doesn't exist.

If it is not someone I know on the phone I just hang up immediately. Life is too short & I am too busy to waste time on these time wasting cold callers.
Friends use my mobile anyway.

Its made up. We get lots of them trying this type of approach. Put the phone down or leave it off the hook so they waste their time. Or block the number if you can.

I say yes yes yes... then right at the end ask them ‘shall I get in touch with my local council? I rent from them so they’ll be the ones paying the bill...’

Usually results in the phone being put down or an exasperated sigh from the other end...

Well, my phone doesn’t ring often... and it’s good to talk so they say

If in doubt block it out

I suppose your answer should be "I'm alright Jack!".

A couple of years ago I had free loft insulation installed under a 'government scheme'. It was pretty basic, but it WAS free, and they didn't try to sell me anything extra. They told me their biggest problem was getting people to accept that it wasn't a scam!

But yours does sound suspicious.

That used to be my (truthful) response MOnica but since we downsized to a smaller house I haven’t used it - maybe I should just fib!

You are absolutely right to be suspicious. It's a total scam - either trying to sell you something you don't need or, worse, trying to gain access to your house to case the joint for a subsequent burglary. Put the phone down, block the number etc...

Can't resist telling you about a friend of ours who had a call from a double glazing company. He put on his very strong Norfolk accent and pretended to be very interested in the conservatory they were trying to sell him and, as he is a surveyor he had lots of question he could ask. He kept them on the phone for ages and even agreed to them coming to do a survey. Just as the call was ending he asked them if he had to get permission from the flat downstairs! No, he doesn't live in a flat.

I have a friendly Jehovah witness man who has been coming to mine once a fortnight for about 30 years.
He had a very persistent person phone and tell him he had 'won' a free gift of two memory foam pillows, which had to be delivered in person.
(The person was hoping to demonstrate an adjustable bed)
My friend said he would happily allow this persons free gift, as long as he was prepared to listen to how there was an even more amazing free gift.
The gift of eternal life!
Salesman didn't take him up on the offer.