Anyone used the Mark Group?

Ravabevy

AVOID THE MARK GROUP. They lie.
The Mark Group have consistently lied to me since the moment a very friendly chap came into our home swearing blind that we were eligible for free cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. Appointments were made and not honoured and then we were told we weren't eligible after people had drilled holes in our walls that have still not been filled, Then after giving up and think the Mark Group were a minor irritation they came back and said they'd made a mistake, we are eligible and another appointment was made. They never showed despite my wife taking the day off work to be home as they insist you must be. These people are scum, give them a wide berth, I'm so irritated by the long list of grievances I have against them I have taken to sharing my anguish so others might avoid the same fate.

connect2me

I was contacted by Mark Group and I signed up for free wall insulation. 2 guys came spent whole day and insulated only 50% of the walls. They explained that this will do the job and that I should now see 75% improvements.

After that the inspector came and told me that they have not done a good job. they should come back and complete the insulation on remaining walls.

I got another appointment with Mark group and this time I had 6 people from Mark group. They checked the house and agred that job is poorly done and is incomplete. But they refused to do this as they will not get paid for the job.

Rearranged another appointment and no one turned up.

Got EPC certificate from their assessor and Energy Performance has gone down instead of improving.

This has been my experience till today. I am completely lost.

EmSavage

The Mark Group advised me I qualified for free loft insulation, I advised I do not receive any benefits and gave my details but they we're adamant I can get it, a surveyor came out and confirmed I can have free loft insulation, I thought great! However one week later I had a call from the customer services saying my postcode no longer qualifies under the scheme.....yet there is another scheme I may qualify for and a new surveyor needs to come out. As employed people know this is a pain as time off is needed to sit and wait. I said surely you can use the same report from the previous survey.....but no! Second survey day arrives and they do not turn up......brilliant a wasted day off work.

My concern is, are they claiming grants/money from the government by telling them they are doing the work yet they don't, is this possible? Is there no one we can report this company too? The original survey said I could have free loft insulation has this been recorded to the government as having been completed so they receive money?

captainhindsight_2

EmSavage wrote: »

The Mark Group advised me I qualified for free loft insulation, I advised I do not receive any benefits and gave my details but they we're adamant I can get it, a surveyor came out and confirmed I can have free loft insulation, I thought great! However one week later I had a call from the customer services saying my postcode no longer qualifies under the scheme.....yet there is another scheme I may qualify for and a new surveyor needs to come out. As employed people know this is a pain as time off is needed to sit and wait. I said surely you can use the same report from the previous survey.....but no! Second survey day arrives and they do not turn up......brilliant a wasted day off work.

My concern is, are they claiming grants/money from the government by telling them they are doing the work yet they don't, is this possible? Is there no one we can report this company too? The original survey said I could have free loft insulation has this been recorded to the government as having been completed so they receive money?

What you are suggesting is not possible, they cannot record doing the same work several times on the same property and claim for it multiple times.

The scheme that is paying for the insulation is CERO (carbon saving communities obligation) which is a part of ECO (energy companies obligation) which is a part of the green deal.

In short, the government are forcing the biggest 9 energy companies to pay approved companies to fit energy efficient improvements that meet the criteria.

The criteria for CERO is it must be recommended on an EPC and the house must be in the lowest 25% of income areas + neighboring areas in the UK.

I am guessing, the first surveyor did not collect all the required data so instead of admitting a mistake they just made an excuse.

Any complaints about this scheme can be directed to DECC (department of energy and climate change) or GDORB (green deal over sight and registration body)

martanne

I've recently had the Mark group arrange for 'free' cavity wall installation. Everything seemed OK, survey etc, I was told it was free so was happy for them to carry out the work.
The work was completed 17th July, upon on completion the installer said I needed to pay £299, I explained that I was told it was free and will not be paying, he replied that it's probably a mistake by his office and not to worry about it (which I didn't).
I then received a letter on the 1st Sept stating that I needed to pay £299 within 7 days.
I received another letter on the 12th Sept stating that if I didn't pay within 7 days that they would commence legal action. As I was working overseas I didn't receive this until yesterday (19th Sept). I did try calling them but no reply.
Today (20th Sept) I received another letter saying that they are now issuing me with 'formal litigation proceedings' against me, saying CCJ's will be issued and and instruct bailiffs to attend my property. They have also said that I will be charged a further £100 admin costs plus interest on the balance at 8.5%!!
I've checked all the paperwork that I signed, and where it says upon completion of work I am required to pay £... and it has been filled in with £0.00 (this was filled out on the initial visit a representative from the Mark Group).
I have no intention of paying, can they proceed to take me to court for payment as I was told it was all free??

now_I_am_64

I had cavity wall insulation fitted by marc group ltd in 2007, cost £299, invoice for payment dated 11/9/2007.

Recently I was persistently called on my mobile by Marc Group and asked if the house could be surveyed by them, the inducement was £50 worth of high street store vouchers.

This survey was done on 9/9/2014, and involved taking photo's of the house on an ipad, and then inspecting the loft, airing cupboard and taking pictures of the heating boiler. The surveyor then made a phone call and told my wife that he was arranging a further technical survey.

The £50 vouchers arrived by post after a few days.

Marc group subsequently phoned to arrange another visit and on 18/9/2014 two workmen, not a surveyor, arrived at my house. They asked if works had been finished properly. I pointed out some unfilled drill holes from the work in 2007 which they mortered.

Next I was presented with two forms to sign. The first was a statement that a pre-installation inspection had been done, and that the final work was satisfactory.
I queried this form and was told without my signing they would not be paid.

The last form would have authorised an agreement with a credit company had I signed.

By now I was very unhappy and strongly suspected something was wrong. I phoned marc group and was told that a manager would call me back.

I did some research on the internet and read about the GREEN DEAL. This is a scheme whereby energy saving measures can be paid for with a loan that attaches to the property not a person and is repaid with interest via energy bills by the amount calculated to be the energy savings made.

A person from Marc group did phone me back, I said that I was very upset at being presented with these dishonest forms to sign and that I was in the process of emailing BBC watchdog as I suspected a scam. He offered a lame excuse about these forms which was unsatisfactory.

So I am unhappy that I ever agreed to these visits and have serious concerns about the integrity of this firm.
:mad:

captainhindsight wrote: »

What you are suggesting is not possible, they cannot record doing the same work several times on the same property and claim for it multiple times.

The scheme that is paying for the insulation is CERO (carbon saving communities obligation) which is a part of ECO (energy companies obligation) which is a part of the green deal.

In short, the government are forcing the biggest 9 energy companies to pay approved companies to fit energy efficient improvements that meet the criteria.

The criteria for CERO is it must be recommended on an EPC and the house must be in the lowest 25% of income areas + neighboring areas in the UK.

I am guessing, the first surveyor did not collect all the required data so instead of admitting a mistake they just made an excuse.

Any complaints about this scheme can be directed to DECC (department of energy and climate change) or GDORB (green deal over sight and registration body)

captainhindsight_2

now_I_am_64 wrote: »

I did some research on the internet and read about the GREEN DEAL. This is a scheme whereby energy saving measures can be paid for with a loan that attaches to the property not a person and is repaid with interest via energy bills by the amount calculated to be the energy savings made.

Not true, that is 'Green Deal Finance', the 'Green Deal' is a range of incentives including means tested grants, non means tested grants, cashback schemes and finance.

now_I_am_64

I got my info from The Green Deal Mythbuster, I suggest you check it out for yourself. I tried putting up the link for your convenience but was prevented because I am new to this forum. moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/green-deal is the link, just preface with www.

llawnroc

I wouldnt advise anyone to use this Company.I needed some electrical work doing in the loft and the electrician discovered that there were many areas where they had not installed the correct depth of insulation -11 inches.They had cleverly covered more or less everywhere with the 6 inch insulation but there were areas where the 4 inch insulation was omitted underneath ! (between the joists).It also explained a damp mouldy patch on the ceiling as there was no insulation at all in this area.The installers were incredibly quick and i can now see why -they bodged the job.Dont use this Company.

Kittyhed

fairydust1111 wrote: »

I would not use them, they have been to my door & offered me a similar thing, then I realised my own utility company (british gas) were also doing it for free - without having to sign a contract. At this point I had already signed, but had a 7 day timeline of cancellation, which I did and I had the installation from British Gas instead. They were fine with me cancelling my contract within the 7 days though, but if your utility company does it too - go with them as you can trust them. Good luck

I would just like to say that not all utility companies are offering this service, it just happens that British Gas do and they are the utility company you use