Buyers Beware

[The Launderer]

Just in from surveying a job in West of Scotland. Customer thought he would get a second quote as he thought the first company were expensive.

How about this for expensive? Quote for 3.76kW system is £27,500 but the salesman informed him he has 25 systems at a special price and could do it for £19,880.

Apparently going like hot cakes because when I was in the house the salesman phoned back to tell him there were only 2 systems left at the special price.

These people should be getting locked up for fraud - absolutely shocking behavior.

 

[Eco Deal]

We have done a few jobs in scotland last year and done one last week and started one today.

Major price that.

 

[SRE]

We have done a few jobs in scotland last year and done one last week and started one today.

That's some travelling for you

 

[FB.]

Just in from surveying a job in West of Scotland. Customer thought he would get a second quote as he thought the first company were expensive.

How about this for expensive? Quote for 3.76kW system is £27,500 but the salesman informed him he has 25 systems at a special price and could do it for £19,880.

Apparently going like hot cakes because when I was in the house the salesman phoned back to tell him there were only 2 systems left at the special price.

These people should be getting locked up for fraud - absolutely shocking behavior.

I wonder what the return on investment was projected to be? :shocked:

 

[The Launderer]

I wonder what the return on investment was projected to be? :shocked:

According to salesmen annual benefit is £1800 per year :laugh3: on a 270 west facing roof.

 

[GaryM]

According to salesmen annual benefit is £1800 per year :laugh3: on a 270 west facing roof.

Dream on! Lol

 

[Gary K]

In the Norwich advertiser there is an advert for a 4Kw system for £6500 and quoting a 4 year payback. I won't be too disapointed if my 3.84 system pays back £1625 P/A starting at 43.3 but at 21p? Also stated is that it is only to 100 customers at this price.

 

[jupestar]

i relish those jobs to be honest, i quoted on a 17kwp in jan, gave him a price expained the whole install, he was happy but said he needed two other quotes he got one more from a fruity conservatory company, using chinese panels and some unknown inverter, it was double our quote, and they didn't even expalin the size of the ac cable (90mm swa was needed). That was enough for him we he didn't even bother with a third.

already seeing evidence of the cowboys disappearing, we are for the first time taking on sales guys, and it's brilliant they can't believe our pricing. backing them up with proper technical support, we are busier than ever.

 

[FB.]

In the Norwich advertiser there is an advert for a 4Kw system for £6500 and quoting a 4 year payback. I won't be too disapointed if my 3.84 system pays back £1625 P/A starting at 43.3 but at 21p? Also stated is that it is only to 100 customers at this price.

Yes, I've seen a reputable company in Cambs area which advertising that it has cut its pre-March prices by about 35%; down to £6500 (from £10000) for a 4kWp system.

I've also noticed quite a lot of leaflets in the area in recent weeks.

At £6500, with a 21p FiT, all I need now is another roof to bolt one to. Maybe it's time to do Buy-to-Let and have solar on the roof as a bonus.

 

[SRE]

I'm sorry but at that price they can't stay "reputable" for long unless they are desperate for work, have a container load of panels and a massive overdraft to make a dent in. It's just not possible to make those figures work and provide a quality service for years to come. Of course if they are importing the trades and paying them £50 a day or some of the other ridiculous rates and aren't bothered about the correct insurance etc then I suppose it could work.

Prices have barely dropped since March so ask yourself the question - were they 35% more expensive before March because they wanted to rip off customers or because they needed that amount to provide a quality service. Our scaffolding and roofing costs haven't increased in 2 years but they will have to shortly, the cost of fuel is killing us all in the rural areas I can only see our prices levelling off at best and increasing slightly at worst.

 

[finchy]

Launderer if your customer has evidence of the misselling eg quotes etc send it on to REAL. It's the only way we can kick out these rogue traders !!

 

[The Launderer]

Launderer if your customer has evidence of the misselling eg quotes etc send it on to REAL. It's the only way we can kick out these rogue traders !!

Definitely rogue traders but not stupid enough to leave anything in writing that could be used against them.

 

[finchy]

Well the customer can report them ! They might have other reports, so they might do a secrete shopper on them, catch them in the act !!

 

[jupestar]

if the rogue traders are not registered with REAL and presumably they won't be, can REAL actually do anything? Presumably they can only 'police' their members?

 

[Earthstore]

Anybody selling a PV system to be installed by an MCS registered company has to abide by a regulated code of conduct, and there is only one, REAL.
It is the MCS companies responsibility to make sure that all sales people abide by this code.