REAL assurance

[solarsavings]

I have had the displeasure of having to read and re-read the whole of the REA code of conduct, and I was lead to believe that the deposit was insurance backed by the REA, nowhere does it state that REA tell the installers to insure it.
So let me get this straight, they have a complete code of conduct, that, if you adhered to ever condition in it you would not be able to trade, and the only benifit to actually tell the customer is for peace of mind your deposit is insured by REA, our governing body, is now not true...
When we it all end and we can have some stability??

REA or REAL? REA apparently started REAL but are no longer connected to them in anyway, or so they say.

 

[loskie]

From a consumer's point of view I too have found REAL "real" poor. I contacted them at the start of Nov due to a number of non compliances in my installation(some important to me others more procedural that I wasn't too fussed about). Got the usual acknowledgement from them and heared nothing more so contacted them last week when they told me they had my case closed as actioned and resolved satisfacorily. This was news to me as I had heared nothing from either REAL or the installer.Some of the points I had listed they told me were " technical" and so of no concern to them!! I am yet to hear more although they must have been in touch with the installer and communications with him have been ok although remedial work not started yet which I understand due to weather, rush to beat FIT change etc.I audit various assurance schemes through work and the REAL consumer code looks good as a customer however it is only as good as the compliance by members and enforcement by the governing body. So far it has NOT come up to scratch.

 

[Earthstore]

Sorry, you may well be right, but maybe they should be called unreal.

 

[SRE]

When you register your deposit with QANW it is insured until it is used for materials. That's how I understand it - the customer then gets the option to pay £35 at the end of the installation to insure the work that the installers do. We don't have a specific client account because Natwest wanted to charge us for having one - we have a seperate bank account where all the deposits are put and we don't take the money out of there until the job has been completed and registered. We haven't heard anything from Real - YET!

 

[SRE]

When you register your deposit with QANW it is insured until it is used for materials. That's how I understand it - the customer then gets the option to pay £35 at the end of the installation to insure the work that the installers do. We don't have a specific client account because Natwest wanted to charge us for having one - we have a seperate bank account where all the deposits are put and we don't take the money out of there until the job has been completed and registered. We haven't heard anything from Real - YET!

 

[Harry Worth]

Durrrr - 3 of us!

 

[TedM]

From my rather sketchy understanding of REAL procedures the worst that can happen, if you have done anything wrong, is that they will give you a written warning.

You have to get three of these before they might throw you out. In the present circumstances I can't think they will want to do that to too many installers.

 

[Markc]

What would happen if we ALL stood up to REAL and said "No not this year, I haven't had the service I was expecting and I'm not paying you this year until you get your act together" If we ALL said this what can they do? There would be no MCS installers? I don't think so. I think they would suddenly and sharply get their back sides in gear and become what they should be. A governing body to be reckoned with!

 

[solarsavings]

Either I have this wrong or everyone else does My understanding is that REAL are in business for themselves and our customers they have no interest in us outside of us paying our annual fee and of course ensuring we do not do things like offering 5-10% discounts for an early sign up Expecting them to look after our interest is................................not in their business plan.

 

[moggy1968]

So why are people offering incentives to sign up.
And why is REAL, and the whole parasitic registration industry more interested in paperwork than the quality of installations.
Do you really need three different bodies involved to adminster a system?
It seems to me the only thing that is in their business plan is serving themselves

 

[BillyH]

I'm not going to renew my REAL assurance . I think the last month was one of the worst of my 30 year proffessional career. I honestly think i would have been better off sitting at home rather than taking on so much stress. My life has been totally consumed by pv during the last month and for what? Pleasing a load of greedy people and a few extra £££s.I have been slowly but surely turned into a performing seal by the various quangos(MCS,NICEIC,REAL What do they really do) the industy insists on implicating.
I believe i'm not alone with my views and would like to add, that a bright future,for pv in the UK, is all but doomed.
Its back to good old sparkying for me and bye bye pv
I appologise for the rant but just wanted to let it out

 

[JD6400]

What would happen if we ALL stood up to REAL and said "No not this year, I haven't had the service I was expecting and I'm not paying you this year until you get your act together" If we ALL said this what can they do? There would be no MCS installers? I don't think so. I think they would suddenly and sharply get their back sides in gear and become what they should be. A governing body to be reckoned with!

To be honest Mark the way i see it at the moment there are no mcs solar installers in the industry for at least another month or maybe even two or more , now!? :81:

 

[yellowvanman]

I'm not going to renew my REAL assurance .
Its back to good old sparkying for me and bye bye pv

Same here!

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Well that makes 3 of us..............If by a slim chance I do get a solar job confirmed after the FIT rate is confirmed I may pay my pro rata money to them, else forget it...............

 

[BruceB]

I am not giving up yet. I have accepted their 10% incentive!