Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

Gizmosmum_2

spennipc wrote: »

SIS solar – Congratulations. You are eligible for the ISIS free solar power offer.

What happens next?

We will send you our contract. Once it has been signed and
returned we can arrange a survey.

We need a signed contract to arrange a survey. Please use the
prepaid envelope to return it to us as soon as possible.

What do you experts think about it? Is it OK?;)

Mmm I can see the business reason behind having you sign a contract and I suppose if I were ISIS I'd do the same BUT what do you do if you have queries about the contract, having someone face to face to explain the consequences of entering a 25 year lease would be good practice you'd think.

If the contract is anything like British Gas's you need to be really savvy about what you're signing, their contract says you're responsible for all sorts of things like tree growth & shading in the future. Personally I'd want legal advice about it so I know exactly what I'm entering into. If you understand and still want it then that's great - I still think it's a great offer if you haven't got the cash to buy and the maintenance (which is virtualy nothing) is included.

Mind you, quite a few people have been told they were getting a contract in the post and it hasn't arrived yet!!! If you get it - it would be great to share it with everyone.

Just remember, you have a 7 day cooling off period after you have signed the agreement so you can still cancel if you have second thoughts within that period. If you get cold feet after the 7 days there won't be a lot you can do about it.

Good luck

Mcfi5dhc

Cardew wrote: »

From memory Mcfi5dhc who has had a solar PV system for a couple of years posted that he uses around 500kWh a year from his panels in the house(with a wife and children at home all day) so about a £50 saving.

That is correct

skelly01

Cardew wrote: »

Notwithstanding the standard disclaimer on the Estate Agents brochure, IMO they would have a case to answer under the Property Misdescriptions Act.

Firstly they must mention the fact that the owners have rented out their roof for 25 years under a legally binding agreement that applies to the new owners. - which would detract from the value of the property for a great many.

Secondly, they simply cannot make claims of £400 savings without some form of checking the accuracy of that statement. - It is doubtful IMO that many people would save £100.

Actually I suspect that many owners have no idea just how little savings they do make from these panels.

From memory Mcfi5dhc who has had a solar PV system for a couple of years posted that he uses around 500kWh a year from his panels in the house(with a wife and children at home all day) so about a £50 saving.

I know that the threads etc in this forum predominately apply to England and wales, but just to point out that in Scotland conveyancing of properties is done somewhat different it would be the3 job of your solicitor to point out all legal matters regarding title deeds etc etc. Apart from that all other points are valid, with regards to savings etc.

Gizmosmum_2

skelly01 wrote: »

I know that the threads etc in this forum predominately apply to England and wales, but just to point out that in Scotland conveyancing of properties is done somewhat different it would be the3 job of your solicitor to point out all legal matters regarding title deeds etc etc. Apart from that all other points are valid, with regards to savings etc.

Yes, exactly the same as in England/Wales, however, if you are in the process of buying a house without understanding the legalities of taking on a lease and you don't find out until your solicitor goes through the details then you could well have incurred search, mortgage, valuation and solicitor fees before you even realise there's a lease.

I'm with Cardew on this one there should be more information and the £400 electric savings is clearly wrong. I'm having 3.9kwp installed and I'm hoping to reduce my electric costs by about £150. I've seen the pictures of the bungalow very similar to mine - won't be any bigger than 3.9kwp.

I'm not against free solar pv, but if it were me I'd want to make an informed choice.

John_Pierpoint

About 6 months ago, I checked out a community of terraced houses, which had no access to the gas mains.

A special grant had given the owners the rights to a energy make over (10" of loft insulation and cavity fill plus new windows) and they also qualified for subsidised air source heat pumps.
On the face of it the owners with their night storage or bottled gas heaters or still burning coal on open fires, should have bitten off the arm of this charitable offer and I believe the majority did.

However the enhanced homes seemed to be offered at much the same price as the unimproved ones - the only noticeable factor in the price seemed to be the fact that two on offer were repossessions!

I sent off for or down loaded the HIPS involved and got in touch with a couple of Estate Agents threatening to report them for marketing houses inaccurately (quite frankly their staff did not understand what they were selling).

I would expect to find the same ignorance over solar thermal and solar PV let alone the 25 year legal restriction on these rent a roof deals.

Cardew

Gizmosmum wrote: »

I've seen the pictures of the bungalow very similar to mine - won't be any bigger than 3.9kwp.

I'm not against free solar pv, but if it were me I'd want to make an informed choice.

All ASG systems are 3.3kWp.

BargainGalore

There is a interesting article in DM about solar panels especially the free ones

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316082/Can-solar-panel-savings-eclipse-costs.html




Consumer groups warn that householders should think carefully before entering into contracts with companies offering free panels. The contract normally ties you in for 25 years and there are potential downsides to installing something you do not own on your house.

Liz Laine, of Consumer Focus, says: 'Customers need to go into these deals with their eyes open. Asking the right questions and getting legal advice could help them avoid the potential pitfalls.'

Depending on the contract and the company, householders will not be able to remove the panels for 25 years, which may be a disadvantage if you are unhappy with them or are trying to sell your house and the new owners do not want to inherit the deal. After 25 years, the panels are yours to keep or throw away.

Ms Laine adds: 'Check the company will pay for maintenance and insurance of the panels - and whether or not they will be liable if the equipment causes damage to you or your neighbours.'
It is also worth remembering that you will benefit much more from free solar panels if you are in during the day, not out at work, when the sun is shining. However, working households can still benefit at weekends and on summer evenings, and energy generated during the day can power appliances such as fridges which are switched on all the time.

Consumer Focus has a useful list of questions to ask any company offering to install solar panels for free - go to consumerfocus.org.uk.


http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/news/go-into-free-solar-panel-deals-with-your-eyes-open-%E2%80%93-warn-campaigners


Factsheet

A free copy of the factsheet and questions (downloads a PDF file)

Cardew

An interesting point from the REAL code is this:

3. How is the energy measured, and how will the benefit to the consumer change if the rollout of smart meters requires the export to be measured rather than estimated (or ‘deemed’) as at present?
4. How much is this worth to you, and has the provider calculated this on the basis of your actual use?

As far as I am aware nobody(including ASG?) gives consumers any written estimate of how much they will save for 'renting their roof' or any explanation of how this figure is calculated.

Perhaps if the did, they might have less takers if realistic figures were given!!

M4ximillion

Cardew wrote: »

An interesting point from the REAL code is this:



As far as I am aware nobody(including ASG?) gives consumers any written estimate of how much they will save for 'renting their roof' or any explanation of how this figure is calculated.

Perhaps if the did, they might have less takers if realistic figures were given!!

You have a right downer on them don't you? All people have to do is ask them, like I did, nobodies forciing anyone to apply - you make out as if there is nobody home at ASG or as if theyre hidigng something - I sent a load of questions to them and they came back to me the same day by email! They aren't hiding anything, even told me about how I'd benefit if I bought them myself off another supplier - even told me how much they'd expect in income from my roof. On savings they said it depended entirely on how I managed my leccy - based on some of their current homeowners who were keeping statistics they said I might see between 30-60% off my annual leccy bill. Suits me. I'm not doiing anything else with my roof, I couldn't be that precious abotu it - its a roof! nobody else wants it so i might as well get some free leccy from it:D As logn as its ok - will let you knnow how survey goes

skelly01

I dont know why the debate rages on and becomes clouded. The title of the original post was Free Solar Power Is It A Scam. In one simple answer............... NO