Any advice is much appreciated

[jason121]

Been having talks with customer regarding ground mounted installation for a month, so i decided to submit G59 application and have approval for 95 kw. In the mean time i have shown my customer a ground mount completed a week ago, He has taken some pictures of the mounting system and inverters. He sent me email this morning asking me to submit planning for him. While on the phone this afternoon he has told he wants to make the ground mount, supply the panels and inverters all from china. Also wants to do all the work himself except for the wiring.

What should I do, charge him an consultation fee or walk away.
If I do charge him a fee I think I would need contract drawn up before the planning starts.

Any advice good or bad neede.
Thanks

 

[jason121]

Can this be moved to the green lounge please

 

[SolarCity]

No probs. Done

 

[jason121]

China solar panel,solar panel installation,solar panel manufacturers,flexible solar panel,solar panel cost,solar panel prices,solar panel price,solar panel efficiency,how to make a solar panel,solar panel manufacturer,solar panel kit,make a solar pan
These are the panels he wants to use 300watt

 

[Gavin A]

As the bangles put it...

the Egyptian bit is optional, but we all know this is going to be a nightmare customer and you'll be left swinging in the middle of a field with the panels still stuck in customs or something.

Up to you of course, but I'd also bet he'll squeeze every last penny out of the price for the labour as well, and balls up the string designs when installing the mounting system etc.

 

[Worcester]

It really depends upon the customer!

We had one wanted to do that, and turned out to be one of the easiest jobs to do and we ended up with a bunch of referalls from him (he was used to importing from china as he does it all the time as he has his own plastic mouldings plant out there) There are lots of financial pitfalls though with importing it yourself = #1 Unless you have the financial acumen, the panels will be held in customs until all duty and VAT is paid - you can't offset it you have to pay it to get the panels released from the bonded warehouse.

We had a contract drawn up in place that covered the base services and additional work - planning is an expensive process.

We have also walked away from these and other ones on a normal basis as the client wouldn't listen to any advice from us.

 

[SibertSolar]

Don't forget that if you are the importer of the panels into the UK then you are classed as the "Producer" from a PVCycle UK point of view, regardless of whether they are from bonded, cleared or free-circulation stock. This incurs a financial and operational burden.

 

[The Solar King]

Also be aware that if you are deemed to be the importer, don't get involved in any malarky over prices less than the EU tariff. They are out gunning for people who have received things such as 'marketing subsidies' etc. The level of fines could be impressive.

 

[SibertSolar]

Indeed...

UK solar firms facing audits as part of import duty dodging crackdown | Solar Power Portal

 

[whinmoor]

Are the panels MCS accredited?

Sounds like a nightmare to me.

 

[Worcester]

Are the panels MCS accredited?

Sounds like a nightmare to me.

It's > 50kW MCS Rules don't apply - It's an M&E/Civils project