Free loft insulation - is this a scam?

light-light

i have the same experience,
but i'm only a tenant,
somebody came into my door and asked some general information about the postcode and etc. then finally asked my name and for my signature,
he told me the insulation is completely free of charge, today some guyz came and installed the insulation, they gave me an invoice, but the total amount i have to pay is "0",
i don't know if they will charge me further in a hidden way or not,
i hope not, as i want to move to another flat (probably) within a few months

Dontfallintothetraps

Hello all,

This is my first post on this forum ! On another note, I wanted to comment about the people who are knocking on doors to book appointments (i.e. "cold-calling"). I was working for one of these marketing companies (unfortunately) which were "giving out" the grants in Leicester (name of the company is Innervision Inc).

We were drilled to get leads and "sell" products (Miller Patterson was supposedly a client of ours who provided loft insulation for customers). Our "surveyor-training" duration was 1 hour on the 1st morning of the job (i.e. THERE WAS NO FORMAL TRAINING we weren't qualified or trained surveyors just trained to sell). I got suckered into this (my 1st job), thinking I was actually helping clients (yes I was quite gullible), and realized after a while that it's a sham in most cases and they were duping people, so I took the decision to leave.

Some of these people will say that government standards have changed and you are required to have X amount in inches in your loft and that (after checking your loft) you have fibre glass insulation (which we were taught to say has been banned). However, there has been no formal training for these "surveyors" so it's impossible for them to determine the type of insulation you have.

Always ask for I.D. first! Don't let them talk their way out of trouble. The badges we were provided with by the marketing company were really terrible like bad photocopies that can be mass produced. If someone forgot their I.D. they would be provided with another person's I.D card (the pictures were terrible so they would give you an I.D. of a person of similar appearance)! I.D. cards are meant to be clear; if you can't see the photo of the person your talking to as well as their name clearly plus a contact number and a proper S.I.G logo then don't let them in!

Ask for a leaflet of information instead; if they don't have one then don't give them the time of day. Don't sign anything either. The field sales agent will try to get you to sign up by saying things like "most of your neighbors have had this done such as Mr/Mrs X at number Y" (usually made up) or another one is "these grants are only available for a limited time only!" Don't believe a word of it. Just trying to inform other people of this.... don't be fooled and if your curious about these grants then ring the appropriate authority or do some research. These marketing companies don't limit themselves to loft insulation either, they will go around with agents for solar panel grants as well (basically they cover a wide range of products adjusting what to sells based on figure in a period of time).

P.s. to light-light. Even though I wasn't trained as a surveyor, I'm pretty sure your not eligible for a grant since you are not the home-owner so it's very odd that they installed insulation but ring the company that installed it and explain the situation to them.

prowla

Our wall insulation was done by British Gas.
They sent around an inspector who checked things out and confirmed it would be free.
A date was booked but nobody turned up.
I called BG and then got the installer's number.
I called the installer who said BG hadn't booked with them, and set up another date.
They came on the designated date and did the job.
Our house developed a kind of hush, similar to the effect of having double glazing.

brounosgr

To all those who are a little apprehensive, I would like to put your minds at rest. Rest assured, Direct Savings are a professional, sound company, and the offer is 100% free - regardless of income status. I say this on 2 grounds:

1) I used to work for them; I was one of those canvassers, in fact - based in Scotland. I only left because I wasn't 100% comfortable with commission only work.

2) I had my own loft done and have seen a number of different customers' lofts, after the work was done. It has made a major difference to the heat retention in our house, now, and our fuel bill has taken a noticeable tumble.

There are other, energy efficiency grants coming out as well, that will allow you to get free biomass boilers, solar panels, double glazing, etc....Yes, free. No catches.....

The saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" was most probably coined by an inherent cynic. In respect to free loft insulation - and all of the other freebies, above, it is both very good, and very true!

Also, Direct Savings offer the most top up insulation (still free) , even compared to the so-called 'larger and more reputable companies'.

In fact, by not taking advantage of this genuinely free work, you will end up paying: fuel bills are going to rise in order for them to re-coup some of what they have been compelled to spend, courteously of EU carbon emission reduction targets.

Not to mention the money that is being wasted in poorly insulated homes....

In summary: Direct Savings get an absolute seal of approval, in my humble opinion!

LisaLou1982

Dontfallintothetraps wrote: »

Hello all,

This is my first post on this forum ! On another note, I wanted to comment about the people who are knocking on doors to book appointments (i.e. "cold-calling"). I was working for one of these marketing companies (unfortunately) which were "giving out" the grants in Leicester (name of the company is Innervision Inc).

We were drilled to get leads and "sell" products (Miller Patterson was supposedly a client of ours who provided loft insulation for customers). Our "surveyor-training" duration was 1 hour on the 1st morning of the job (i.e. THERE WAS NO FORMAL TRAINING we weren't qualified or trained surveyors just trained to sell). I got suckered into this (my 1st job), thinking I was actually helping clients (yes I was quite gullible), and realized after a while that it's a sham in most cases and they were duping people, so I took the decision to leave.

Some of these people will say that government standards have changed and you are required to have X amount in inches in your loft and that (after checking your loft) you have fibre glass insulation (which we were taught to say has been banned). However, there has been no formal training for these "surveyors" so it's impossible for them to determine the type of insulation you have.

Always ask for I.D. first! Don't let them talk their way out of trouble. The badges we were provided with by the marketing company were really terrible like bad photocopies that can be mass produced. If someone forgot their I.D. they would be provided with another person's I.D card (the pictures were terrible so they would give you an I.D. of a person of similar appearance)! I.D. cards are meant to be clear; if you can't see the photo of the person your talking to as well as their name clearly plus a contact number and a proper S.I.G logo then don't let them in!

Ask for a leaflet of information instead; if they don't have one then don't give them the time of day. Don't sign anything either. The field sales agent will try to get you to sign up by saying things like "most of your neighbors have had this done such as Mr/Mrs X at number Y" (usually made up) or another one is "these grants are only available for a limited time only!" Don't believe a word of it. Just trying to inform other people of this.... don't be fooled and if your curious about these grants then ring the appropriate authority or do some research. These marketing companies don't limit themselves to loft insulation either, they will go around with agents for solar panel grants as well (basically they cover a wide range of products adjusting what to sells based on figure in a period of time).

P.s. to light-light. Even though I wasn't trained as a surveyor, I'm pretty sure your not eligible for a grant since you are not the home-owner so it's very odd that they installed insulation but ring the company that installed it and explain the situation to them.

I didn't want to pick all of this apart . however...

any energy saving grants are for a limited time. they can be pulled at any time . particularly if the local council are providing funding.

obviously I think most people know to check ID for anyone cold calling at the door.

loft insulation and cavity wall insulation grants were due to end in December. this funding has carried on in some parts of the country and is due to finally end in March.

you do not have to be the homeowner to get free insulation . if you are a tenant you can have it pending landlord consent.

those who door knock are providing direct leads for in the insulation companies, usually via an agency or contractors. ask who they work for and ring direct for an appointment if you're not sure.

for the Midlands, the main installers are carillion, Miller Patterson and SIG. there are some smaller ones

edited to add:

if you live within a warmzone area then make sure you contact them for your appointment. this is through the local council and often they have higher allowances for top ups and square meterage of property than through an installer direct

brounosgr

I can't comment on other companies; I can only go by my own experience. Direct Savings are a genuine company and the offer is just as genuine. It is human nature for people to be skeptical; those who are are just allowing their own cynicism to get in the way!

shammyjack

brounosgr wrote: »

I can't comment on other companies; I can only go by my own experience. Direct Savings are a genuine company and the offer is just as genuine. It is human nature for people to be skeptical; those who are are just allowing their own cynicism to get in the way!

Of course you do not have any connection to this company.

Newly signed up to MSE and both posts in defence !

Excuse my scepticism but I have to hit the SPAM button .

brounosgr

SPAM away,my friend- makes absolutely no odds, as far as my opinion is concerned....

macman

shammyjack wrote: »

Of course you do not have any connection to this company.

Newly signed up to MSE and both posts in defence !

Excuse my scepticism but I have to hit the SPAM button .

Since he confirmed in his first post that he used to work for them, I think you might be barking up the wrong tree here. He'd hardly state that if he was spamming on their behalf?

juju60

I've recently been dealing with a firm (MMW, Sheffield) offering me completely free roof insulation that works for houses with attic rooms. It all went fine, survey, guy measuring up for materials etc, until yesterday I got a phone call saying that I need to contribute £150 because the scheme is running out of money for my area, and my house isn't badly insulated enough for the full amount ( no cavity wall insulation, half double glazed 4in of insulation in accessible attic...) Not sure if this is a scam. HAs anyone else experienced this? Thanks