Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

Lostrider

SarahLucyD wrote: »

I swore not to post ever again on this thread. However I do monitor it from time to time to ensure that we are not being defamed.

I must say, Lostrider, that I am sure I know who you are and your post is somewhat misleading and quite unfairly so in that you omitted to say that we sorted that out and I told you that I was aghast at the way you were approached by this particular member of staff and it has been sorted internally and will not happen again. If you are who I think you are we positively encouraged you to seek legal advice. If you are not who I think you are then why haven't you contacted me to express your concern over the tactics and the lease? I encourage people to contact me if they aren't happy in any way.

We have even PAID homeowners legal fees so that they could take independent legal advice as regards the agreement and the lease. We do not expect people to sign anything unless they are entirely happy and we positively discourage high pressure tactics. Our people are not paid a commission, so there is no reason whatsoever for them to use such tactics. Unfortunately, this particular member of staff's experience in the past is sales, perhaps he couldn't get it out of his blood! It is, however, sorted internally and should not happen again.

Lostrider - as regards monitoring the output. We don't just intend to send a report, according to my records (if you are who I think you are) you should have received an email from me explaining that there will be an 'app' on our website soon where those who have their system installed will be able to monitor what is being produced by their system. This will be exactly the information we have. You can also buy an energy meter at very little cost from most major DIY stores and if the cuff is placed correctly this will show you realtime. If you buy one, I will arrange for an electrician to fit it. In fact, give me a ring and I will buy it for you!

Sarah Dyson - A Shade Greener.

I wrote an full A4 page answer to this and it appears to have dissapeared. I will keep it short this time. Where was I misleading anybody? I am trying to be as un-biased as possible about this Sarah. All I have stated are FACTS. As you will be aware I was contacted by your company to sign the agreement again last night before I had heard from my solicitor. And again today before I had heard back from her. What happend to the no pushiness? Thankfully I have now got some answers from my solicitor, even if they were not what I wanted to hear.

Alan

Lostrider

Cardew wrote: »

It would be nice to know how much of that 7.42kWh you were using in the house - 3kWh???

Hi Cardew

I have sorted out the meters now, after a little help from a techy guy at Ashadegreener. I have one recording solar panel output and one recording home power usage. I will let it run for a week and then post the results for anyone who is interested.
I am bit of a sad geek for spreadsheets / graphs etc and as such I have been keeping records of my gas and electric consumption since 2006 watching the changes after the fitting of double glazing, loft insulation, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulatin so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next year.

SarahLucyD

Lostrider, you're not being un-biased you're being selective with what you are saying and it's not fair. Before she went away yesterday, our in-house solicitor, Anne Emmerson, was told by your solicitor that she had spoken to you and that there wouldn't be a problem and to contact you - hence Alix rang you! You asked her to ring back again today as there were still some issues that you wanted to speak to your wife about, so she did as she was asked by you and rang back today - so she was not being pushy she was doing what you'd asked her to do - it was only this time that she found out that there were still some issues to sort out with your solicitor. I was next to Alix when she rang you today too and there was no pushiness at all when she spoke to you. I can't help but feel that whatever we do as a company the negative 'spin' will always prevail. It is rather depressing and I am reminded why I stopped posting on this forum.

Sarah Dyson - A Shade Greener.

Lostrider

SarahLucyD wrote: »

Lostrider - before she went away yesterday, our in-house solicitor, Anne Emmerson, was told by your solicitor that she had spoken to you and that there wouldn't be a problem and to contact you - hence Alix rang you! When Alix rang you yesterday, you asked her to ring back again today as there were still some issues that you wanted to speak to your wife about, so she did as she was asked by you and rang back today - it was only this time that she found out that there were still some issues to sort out with your solicitor. I was next to Alix when she rang you today and there was no pushiness at all when she spoke to you. I can't help but feel that whatever we do as a company the negative 'spin' will always prevail. It is rather depressing.

Sarah Dyson - A Shade Greener.

What your company appears to have, in all aspects, is some serious communication problems. The pushiness does not relate to Alex as a person, but to the repeated contact from your company to sign a document of some inmportance to me, that had not been fully dealt with by my solicitor until late this afternoon. Why are you trying to rush this through?

Lostrider

SarahLucyD wrote: »

Lostrider, you're not being un-biased you're being selective with what you are saying and it's not fair. Before she went away yesterday, our in-house solicitor, Anne Emmerson, was told by your solicitor that she had spoken to you and that there wouldn't be a problem and to contact you - hence Alix rang you! You asked her to ring back again today as there were still some issues that you wanted to speak to your wife about, so she did as she was asked by you and rang back today - so she was not being pushy she was doing what you'd asked her to do - it was only this time that she found out that there were still some issues to sort out with your solicitor. I was next to Alix when she rang you today too and there was no pushiness at all when she spoke to you. I can't help but feel that whatever we do as a company the negative 'spin' will always prevail. It is rather depressing and I am reminded why I stopped posting on this forum.

Sarah Dyson - A Shade Greener.

What I told my solicitor was that if the specific point were addressed I would have no problem signing the document. They were not. Communication again.
Alex said she would ring back today, I did not ask her.
Communication again.
I would have thought before Alex rang me, your solicitor would have checked back with my the solicitor confirming that the points I raised had been addressed and I was happy with them before she rang back. Oh, she's on holiday today.
Communication again.

Dont blame me for your companies failings in communication.

Sarah, do you really want to air all this in a public forum. I can't even remember how all this started, something must have touched a nerve with you in what was a totaly innocent post on my part. I have three pages of A4 regarding this subject which were original for your eyes only to help you understand how things can very wrong in realtionships with customers. If you want me to share it with other members of this forum I am happy to do that.

Lostrider

SarahLucyD wrote: »

Lostrider - as regards monitoring the output. We don't just intend to send a report, according to my records (if you are who I think you are) you should have received an email from me explaining that there will be an 'app' on our website soon where those who have their system installed will be able to monitor what is being produced by their system. This will be exactly the information we have. You can also buy an energy meter at very little cost from most major DIY stores and if the cuff is placed correctly this will show you realtime. If you buy one, I will arrange for an electrician to fit it. In fact, give me a ring and I will buy it for you!

Sarah Dyson - A Shade Greener.

I have checked both my inbox and spam folder and I have not received any information about monitoring my system form your website. Please email again.

Alan B

patman99

Lostrider, the original op of this thread asked a simple question as to whether or not this whole thing was leagal, if you want to start a spat with one of ASG's reps, then why not start a new thread?

I can't help wondering how easy it is to rig-up a system to divert surplus power to a battery bank for use after sun-down.

ASG get 41p per unit + 9p per used unit so they are on a win/win situation.

It's just a pity that they have no plans to operate in Essex as myself and my nieghbours have already discussed such a scheme with our management company as a way of off-setting our service charges.

RedcarD_2

Just to add my 2p's worth regarding my relationship with ASG is that it has been nothing but tremendous. ASG have been totally transparent regarding the process of an install, even sending me a preliminary list of T&C's.

Granted we had a couple of questions, but nothing major, to which ASG replied very promptly on email. I would not to think ASG would be judged on any of the 'negative' opinions on the thread.

The thread should be for solely discussions on the process of an install with people sharing the experiences of how good the initiative is. Any personal issues should really be kept on another thread if necessary - sticking to the OP would be good!

All meant with the best intentions and nothing personal.

Tomorrow is my sign up day, next week all being well should be the install.

ps. I would love to know more about the device to gauge the independent performance of the solar panels... Sarah, tell me more! (is. what exactly I would need from a DIY store).

Lostrider

patman99 wrote: »

Lostrider, the original op of this thread asked a simple question as to whether or not this whole thing was leagal, if you want to start a spat with one of ASG's reps, then why not start a new thread?

If you were to read back far enough to my original post you will find that I didn't start the "spat" as you call it. I was defending myself against an accusation that I wrote a misleading post. I came on this forum to add an un-biased experience of the install by answering a question, this is what forums are for. (156) More specificaly my reply (170) to a comment on the forum.

It was this reply (170) that caused the "spat". I wrote this innocently, factualy & without malice. A director of the company assumed I had done this maliciously which was untrue. I just didn't think it was appropriate on a public forum to go into any detail. The director decided to air it on public forum, not me. All I have done is give my experience of the process.

I have never been negative about the company, just a certain representative. Again, I am not going into detail. If the director wishes too, that is up the director.

To be quite clear, everything regarding the instalaltion of these panels has been done totally professionaly, The schedule of works was carried to the letter. I have no problem with the system. The output is as they said it would be. Yes, it is all free and not a scam.
My only grievence was with a pushy, representitive and what I considered to be a discrepency between the Air Space lease & the Placement Agreement. The company told me they had dealt with the representitive. The air space lease was another story.
As a layman I found the Air Space Lease a bit scary. I wanted time to look at it, but was pushed by the representitive to sign it there and then. I refused and when my wife called him to tell him we needed more time, he got a more "pushy" with my wife.
The company took the complaint seriously and assured me he would be dealt with. It was only when I complained to the company that there was any offer to pay my legal fees (which I was quite prepared to pay myself), for the advise from my solicitor.

If anyone else is planning to do this. I would give this advice, do everything through a solicitor. This a 25 year hold on your property you should understand the implications of this. You should not take this lease lightly. A lot of things can happen in 25 years.

SarahLucyD

Thank you Lostrider for saying all that - it is an extremely fair post. I also agree with you 100% that if anyone is in any doubt whatsoever, they should take independent legal advice.

Once again - thank you.

PS: forgot to say - yes a lot can happen in 25yrs - electricity prices could go through the roof!