Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

larkim

Just a quick to post to inform that I had been progressing this with the Eon package (prepared to pay £99 to have it handled via a company that I have had good experience with to date). Initially my enquiry was rejected as they didn't think we faced south enough, but they called a few months later to say that they had changed their criteria and we now might fit the bill.

Survey was done last week, and the surveyor commented that we'd need to pay the extra £175 for scaffold as we had box windows at the front. They then called yesterday to speak with me about the survey results. I was expecting either them to say we still weren't suitable, or I would reject it on the basis that £274 in total was too much to spend for a marginal benefit.

However, they surprised me by saying firstly that we did fit the bill, and secondly that they were waiving all fees so neither the scaffold nor the the £99 admin charge would be levied.

So the Eon deal appears to be completely free at the moment.

On that basis, I'm prepared to go ahead and instruct my kids to play on the Wii loads on hot summer days :-)

Matt

spam28red

How many panels are they fitting, Larkim?

spam28red

There is definitely no shadow from my top roof on to my bottom roof as it's an extension, and they both face due south. (I've just been out to check at 3.45pm in Autumn).

zeupater

spam28red wrote: »

There is definitely no shadow from my top roof on to my bottom roof as it's an extension, and they both face due south. (I've just been out to check at 3.45pm in Autumn).

Hi

Get a R-A-R company in to see if they're interested then .....

Z

larkim

spam28red wrote: »

How many panels are they fitting, Larkim?

I think it was 14 that they quoted on the phone; waiting to get the docs in the post today / tomorrow.

Matt

garyhubert

I sent off a completed application form for solar panels to 'A shade greener' about 10 weeks ago now and have had no reply whatsoever.
Since then I have sent emails three times where they promise to reply within 48 hours...guess what? no reply.
I would like to know if anyone knows whether this company has gone out of business or is just a scam?
It seems strange that they never reply.
They are I believe still advertising stating that the change in feed in tarrifs will make no difference to their offer.
BUT can you get them to actually TALK to you?
no.
Any body got any information about this company please?

John_Pierpoint

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3322744

Perhaps they will be retiring/cutting back now that the Return on Investment has been "halved" on new installations.

They are probably desperately trying to get the paperwork registered on existing completed installations before the December deadline.

Cardew

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3322744

Perhaps they will be retiring/cutting back now that the Return on Investment has been "halved" on new installations.

They are probably desperately trying to get the paperwork registered on existing completed installations before the December deadline.

Being pedantic it has more than halved as for 'Rent a Roof' companies it drops to 16.8p/kWh next April where existing installations will attract something over 45p/kWh.

As you say, it is obviously in their interests to throughput as many systems as possible before the 12 Dec deadline and that probably rules out starting from scratch with new contacts.

With 5,000 units installed and over £4 million in subsidies(FIT) already collected from us, it is certainly a lucrative business.

If their new business model allows them to contemplate continuing in the 'Rent a Roof' business at 16.8p/kWh, the mind boggles at the profit margin at 43.3p/kWh.

zeupater

Cardew wrote: »

.... If their new business model allows them to contemplate continuing in the 'Rent a Roof' business at 16.8p/kWh, the mind boggles at the profit margin at 43.3p/kWh.

Hi

One of the issues may be the winding up of contracted equipment supply.

I doubt that the larger concerns would be buying in volume from wholesalers at spot market prices, they'll have long term schedule contracts based on a combination of firm customer orders and forecasted installations. Standard business practice would be to place orders on the supply base on a firm, tentative and planning forecast basis as the time horizon increases and therefore benefiting from lower pricing as a result of bringing stability of planning & supply to the manufacturer. Within the time horizons the purchaser, upon supply cancellation, will normally be contract bound to pay for the whole product if within the firm scheduled period or for committed material purchases within the tentative period, with the possibility of even covering material purchases well into the forecast period on long leadtime materials.

Considering the above, it's almost certainly more advantageous for the larger concerns to take delivery of whatever they will be committed to purchase/fund and install the equipment to make a small return rather than writing off large amounts of money for no return .... I'd find it most interesting to see the long term schedules for supply of goods as it would be the only way for someone outside the respective organisations to deduce their true intentions.

HTH
Z

John_Pierpoint

Cheap "distressed sales" in January?