Anyone used the Mark Group?

MrsSC

I will contact Watchdog also as we have written proof from one of their sales reps to get the work done - her telephone number and instructions to alter our property beforehand are clearly on our paperwork it wasn't just verbal!

larimar

I've just cancelled my appointment with them because I'm not at all impressed. The first contact was a cold call at the door. The girl tried to drill a hole in our outer wall without success. After an hour or so of spiel and filling in paperwork, we arranged a surveyor visit. A couple of days later a man from the group called asking for access to the house to check the girl had done it right. I obviously looked surprised because he then asked if we had holes to fill in and he would phone his boss. He filled in the holes the girl had made, then left. The surveyor came at the appointed time, and said that the main part of the house was stone, and as only the extension could be insulated, he wasn't sure whether it would go ahead. He phoned his office who said they would contact me in ten working days with a date. He assured me that I would definitely get the loft done, but I didn't feel convinced. Ten working days later I was called by the local office who made an appointment for the work to be done in March. I asked if they were definitely going to do both the loft and the wall cavity and she said the paperwork had not been officially signed so she would check it out and phone me back. She didn't phone back but this morning two vans arrived out of the blue with workmen intending to do the insulations. I phoned and complained. The girl said the job had been given the go ahead and an appointment made quickly. She apologetically admitted she hadn't phoned me to let me know.

ericcuthbert

It’s not surprising that so many people are suspicious of cold calling with so many scams and horror stories around. The thing is this is a genuine offer from a genuine company backed by the government, I have never been on any kind of benefit and I have had my loft and walls done 100% free, YES I found it hard to believe but it really is true. It made a huge difference to how warm my house is now. We noticed this the next day also our bills have gone down.
I have always felt I pay too much TAX so this is a good way of getting something back from the government if you get the chance to have the offer GRAB IT!

shugrz

zaksmum wrote: »

Just had a young man turned up at my door, with a folding ladder under his arm, offering free loft insulation, saying he was from the Mark Group. He asked to check out our loft and O/H allowed him in to do so, obviously keeping an eye on him.

He said there was no charge whatsoever but didn't ask if anyone was on benefits etc.

After asking who our energy providers were - why was this relevant? - he gave us a date to have the loft insulation done, stipulating there's no charge. O/H signed his form which stated that we agreed to pay the installation team on completion of the work, but the "Amount Due" figure was zero. The man said it was a free summer offer.

Bit worried now though - I always thought these government based schemes were conditional on certain benefits? There were other young men in the road knocking at neighbours' doors, and I did check the ID of the one who came here...it just hard to take anyone at face value these days, especially when they're cold calling.

So has anyone used the Mark group and are they a reputable company?

yes myself. i had this very situation, i asked the guy about the cold calling and what they do is usually door knock five to ten houses either side of the one they had a confirmed appointment with. i again was very cautious but proceeded. ive read a few stories about the company not doin there job right, again if someone does a good job u may tell four or five people but if they do not do a good job!!! you will tell everyone. research the stats on them it is very impressive. do you know they were voted the uk's fastest and most successfully growing business last yr over any business? that basically means there wasnt a single type of business to grow at there speed last year. they do 700 installs a wk. so for the amount of complaints they have to the amount they install it is pathetically low!!! ive had to get this out there as im fed up of seein all these complaints. dont be so narrow minded. we all moan things are expensive. but the minute it is free we still moan!!! it doesnt matter if your on benefits or making £100,00 a year if your house is in a deprived post code then you will get it free regardless of income. they specifically target poor post coded areas as they are guaranteed to have it fitted free. i did have some issues with my cavity, i had to chase them for three weeks but guess what????? it is done, it was free, and im happy. people should do there research better before jumpin on the band wagon of people whove had a worser experience than myself. now check out marks and spencer, theuk's apparentley best super market, however they have one of the largest complaints files online!

i hope this information helps?? check out elmhurst web page there was info yesterday statin the green deal thing will be extended untill 2017 im sure it was?

R_P_W

Caveat wrote: »

MrsSC

Unfortunately you are not alone. The more I research this company, the more I find a worrying pattern of unacceptable behaviour. Not forgetting a lot of this is taxpayer funded work.

Do a Google search using the terms "Review Centre Mark Group" and the horror stories there starts to reveal the scale of how bad they are. A lot of these people are vulnerable households, which further compounds this scandal.

I have reported Mark Group to my local Trading Standards office, and also to the British Board of Agrement (but this probably isn't relevant to you yet as it deals with problems relating to the actual instal).

Next step is to see if the OFT will investigate them for not complying with Treating Customer Fairly provisions, a bit like your example demonstrates.

I have also contacted BBC Watchdog (perhaps if others did the same they might consider this story worth airing??) and am planning to contact my local MP as well.

Mark Group seem to rely on delaying tactics to exhaust customers they can't be bothered to help!

Which part is funded by the tax payer ?

amc63

Well, we had a survey and we had the go ahead and given an install date for cavity wall and loft insulation. The first appointment was cancelled, but a new date was set. The day was spent clearing the loft making it all good for the team.

Today came and no team turned up, waited til 1.30pm and rung them only to be told, "oh haven't you been contacted , your work has been rejected, because your cavity walls are too narrow and you have a damp problem in your loft, oh and theres a problem with the funding in your postcode area."..

To say i was annoyed is an understatement. If i had read the reviews i would never of applied. I was quite rude to the guy on the phone which i do not feel bad about. IDIOTS!

captainhindsight_2

The scheme is not paid for by taxpayers it is paid for by the big six energy companies (and indirectly by their customers) this can be seen here. Its a good scheme which helps lots of people and you don't have to be on benefits, mark group is just one of may reputable companies offering the insulation through the scheme.

papercliptank

Hi everyone,
I live in Peterborough and had a cold call from the Mark Group about a week ago offering free cavity wall insulation, I agreed to let them drill and assess my house for free. Today the Energy Assessor came and completed an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and I have been given an install date of 3rd April.

The cold calling salesman promised that the install is 100% free, there has been no mention whatsoever of the Green Deal scheme and besides I would still consdider the use of that scheme as a cost.

My wife and I both work and are on no benefits.

I will let you know what happens on the 3rd or if I get any contact with them in the meantime

Cheers,
Dave

Malcdrew

I sent several properties to Mark Group to survey - they are hopeless and the most disorganised company I have ever used - dozens of phone calls, missed appointments, contacted several managers and CEO but hopeless!

zaksmum wrote: »

Just had a young man turned up at my door, with a folding ladder under his arm, offering free loft insulation, saying he was from the Mark Group. He asked to check out our loft and O/H allowed him in to do so, obviously keeping an eye on him.

He said there was no charge whatsoever but didn't ask if anyone was on benefits etc.

After asking who our energy providers were - why was this relevant? - he gave us a date to have the loft insulation done, stipulating there's no charge. O/H signed his form which stated that we agreed to pay the installation team on completion of the work, but the "Amount Due" figure was zero. The man said it was a free summer offer.

Bit worried now though - I always thought these government based schemes were conditional on certain benefits? There were other young men in the road knocking at neighbours' doors, and I did check the ID of the one who came here...it just hard to take anyone at face value these days, especially when they're cold calling.

So has anyone used the Mark group and are they a reputable company?

papercliptank

papercliptank wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I live in Peterborough and had a cold call from the Mark Group about a week ago offering free cavity wall insulation, I agreed to let them drill and assess my house for free. Today the Energy Assessor came and completed an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and I have been given an install date of 3rd April.

The cold calling salesman promised that the install is 100% free, there has been no mention whatsoever of the Green Deal scheme and besides I would still consdider the use of that scheme as a cost.

My wife and I both work and are on no benefits.

I will let you know what happens on the 3rd or if I get any contact with them in the meantime

Cheers,
Dave

UPDATE:
Hi,
Well Mark Group came and installed the cavity wall insulation as promised. Two guys, well mannered and professional. They were here for a couple of hours, lots of drilling and filling so a noisy/dusty process but they cleaned up after themselves and I had no issues with them. I have had no contact with the sales team or customer services since the appointment was booked so it's looking good that it was indeed genuinely free.


Cheers,
Dave