What's the point?

[JulianC]

Semi-serious question, but in light of:

- a government hell-bent on the destruction of the UK solar PV industry, seemingly to simply save face and not admit they ****ed it up royally
- a future of ever dwindling FITs coupled to installation prices that can only go so low
- a majority of the population more interested in generating cash than anything ecological
- ineffective governing bodies allowing cowboys to thrive
- more and more hoops to jump though (eg. EPC's) for less and less reward
- an upcoming Green Deal that favours the big, one-stop-shop providers churning out poor quality work at rock bottom prices rather than the smaller operator providing a high quality service
- my own pathalogical hatred of REAL (bunch of w*nkers)
- dented customer confidence

are we deluding ourselves? Like many here, I love the whole idea of renewables, small scale generation and all the rest of it but for God's sake, if you look at the state of the market now, what rational businessman would entertain the idea of getting involved? Is it time to put emotion aside and get out, or am I just in a grumpy mood 'cos I was up all night with a fever and stomach cramps? (no doubt from wriggling around in a horrible loft fitting all manner of over the top bracing to a roof because our ****in structural engineer is too ****in scared to put his name to anything less.)

Never knew sh*t came in so many flavours...

 

[SRE]

You're not alone - I'm an optimist but finding it harder and harder to maintain the optimism.

We've got more work that we should complete before Friday, so we'll be on it all weekend - what have got after that? Sod all! What have we got to look forward to? More boom and bust!

Completely cheesed off today :-(

 

[whinmoor]

Yes, it sounds tough for you, SRE. Operating in a largely rural area isn't ideal, especially when the EPC requirement comes in.

I think we do it for a mixture of reasons but it's galling that the policy decision-makers in Government are making it so difficult.

It's difficult to see how we are going to hit our renewables target when the industry is getting squeezed.

 

[JulianC]

And to top it all, I'm looking into this new CRAPPI insurance or whatever it's called from unREAL. 'Cos we've only been trading for 5 minutes they want directors' guarantees such that in the event my limited liability company goes ---- up, they can happily hound me and my mate for any costs incurred in any warranty claims for the full duration of the warranty. Now of course, I don't intend it it to come to that but I'm buggered if I'm paying them £30 odd quid a pop for the privilege of being hounded by the parasites for their inflated 'costs' incurred on any warranty work that I'd be happy to honour anyway, whether or not my company is still going. Call me naive and stupid but I thought that paying an insurance premium usually means that the insurance company pick up the tab in the event that I ceased trading. I'm going back to bed.

 

[SRE]

They haven't asked us for anything just our terms and conditions. I didn't send any insurance details through at all. I'm still annoyed at having to pay £26.50 for something that I've already got covered via NICEIC just to protect a deposit that I don't use!

Just seen on Linked In that one of the quality assessors for EPC's hasn't yet come across an EPC that's correct but when he reports it no-one is bothered - sound familiar!

 

[whinmoor]

My main problem at the moment is completely different. It seems like I'm constantly being hassled by online marketing agencies promising the earth. In the last few weeks I've had Yell, Thomson Directory, Touch Local and a few others offering me both online and offline marketing campaigns. Of course, each costs hundreds of pounds but they are very determined to prise cash out of me.

Anyone else being pursued like this?

 

[JulianC]

All the time. Just hang up on them these days.

 

[TedM]

It's such a shame that Barker wasn't in the bar the other night when the fists were flying.

 

[SRE]

Us too and I gave in to the sodding Energy saving Commission who seem to have disappeared completely!

Just had an interesting conversation with a friend who suggested that by insisting on a D rating for properties in non gas grid areas the government are discriminating against people who don't have equal energy supply opportunities.

If you're in a natural gas area all you have to have is cavity wall, loft insulation and a relatively new boiler to more than meet the D rating and if you're a solid wall house you'd probably need the glazing and pv to top it up.

 

[JD6400]

As i have said before , we have let our solar tickets lapse for the moment anyway .
I have to admit that every time i see a new install i get that little feeling of disappointment at the loss of a sale !
But I can truly and honestly say that my stress levels and the probability of a heart attack have now gone to 1/100th of when we were MCS !!!!
It brought it back to me only last week when i browsed a thread on here about someones upcoming reassessment and I could physically feel my stomach knot up and my head tense up for a second or two , until the realisation sank in that I do not need to give a """" for the time being !
All the best to those of you that are still in it at the moment and i take me hat off to you !

 

[BruceB]

And to top it all, I'm looking into this new CRAPPI insurance or whatever it's called from unREAL. 'Cos we've only been trading for 5 minutes they want directors' guarantees such that in the event my limited liability company goes ---- up, they can happily hound me and my mate for any costs incurred in any warranty claims for the full duration of the warranty. Now of course, I don't intend it it to come to that but I'm buggered if I'm paying them £30 odd quid a pop for the privilege of being hounded by the parasites for their inflated 'costs' incurred on any warranty work that I'd be happy to honour anyway, whether or not my company is still going. Call me naive and stupid but I thought that paying an insurance premium usually means that the insurance company pick up the tab in the event that I ceased trading. I'm going back to bed.

That is tearing the backside out it it. It seems unfair that they can unstitch the concept of a limited liability company. They seem to be making up requirements for us at a whim with the government's acquiescence.

 

[solarsavings]

I've never been so despondent as a working man as I am now. Opposite our office is a large buildings maintenance company that works for councils and housing associations etc they have gone into the renewables business in a big way to benefit from the social housing rush to renewables, ( I don't blame them for that ) What ****s me off big time is that their blokes keep rining me asking how to the job they're on because no one in the company knows.

They borrow equipment too because they're too tight to buy their own and just today one their sparks rang to borrow a set of mc4 crimpers, I should tell them to **** off but don't. (MUG) And now they are doing domestics in our town too and because of their size and buying power and history we are loosing work to them. I'm seriously thinking of calling it a day in may.

 

[whinmoor]

I've never been so despondent as a working man as I am now. Opposite our office is a large buildings maintenance company that works for councils and housing associations etc they have gone into the renewables business in a big way to benefit from the social housing rush to renewables, ( I don't blame them for that ) What ****s me off big time is that their blokes keep rining me asking how to the job they're on because no one in the company knows.

They borrow equipment too because they're too tight to buy their own and just today one their sparks rang to borrow a set of mc4 crimpers, I should tell them to **** off but don't. (MUG) And now they are doing domestics in our town too and because of their size and buying power and history we are loosing work to them. I'm seriously thinking of calling it a day in may.

Charge them for your expertise or try to partner up with them somehow?

 

[dansk]

its a intersting time at the moment and i feel the same as the op, as it happens ive just paid the unREAL invoice for renewal, only based on my MCS i due in August and i wont be renewing if sales dont come in, ive completed my last solar before the 3rd this week and unless anything happens thats it. The epc thing is a farse and i for one dont see it working out TBH, margins are down, companys working for next to nothing and im loosing quotes to guys with an elastic tape measure telling folks they can get bigger systems on than i quote (maybe after 50+ installs i forgotton how to measure up?).

Anyway i feel its screwed.

I'll never forget during training the guy said "youve got 5 years then get out' at the time i thought no way mate, but bloody hell it was less than 2!

 

[Markc]

Done three this week, all ground mounts and have two next week and that's it. Haven't had a serious survey call for an age either. Yes had calls for the ones who want it tomorrow but I tell them to go else where. Not interested in getting stitched up by a none paying customer after pulling every hour going.

What happens after March only time will tell. I'm certainly not looking at the EPC training and spending more money until I'm convinced the work is there. If this means we drop out of MCS in June so be it. Tell REAL to sod off and bin the QMS! (OK shelve it)

If something changes we can always opt in again in the future but as for now anything that's has a government ticket on it can go run and jump.