Anyone heard of this Government Scheme ? scam

jess444_2

Hi,

OH has just told me that he has had a phone call from a company who said they were promoting a Government Energy Saving Scheme. They said they will complete a survey about your energy use and if they cant save you money they will give you £100 Marks and Spencer vouchers.

He has arranged for them to come along to complete survey next week, but I am worried that it is a scam and don't really fancy spending an hour doing this if it is.

Anyone heard of this? If so is it legit? OH didn't take any details, so I cant ring them up for more information.

Thanks

CashStrapped

I would not worry too much.

It is probably one of these cold call firms touting for business in relation to cavity wall insulation etc. Their survey will consist of some lackey looking at the house to see if it has been done before (looking for the little filled in holes). They will not be qualified surveyors.

If you have had it done already, or are not interested, just say you changed your mind.

Just do not give them any bank details on the off change they ask for them or enter into any kind of contract. Do not let them try to sell you somthing.

It is hard to say if it is legit or not. If in doubt, just say no.

brewerdave

...or someone trying to flog Solar panels -I've been plagued with phone calls plus a couple of door knockers in the past two weeks or so!!

cajef

jess444 wrote: »

He has arranged for them to come along to complete survey next week,

Watch out for the hard sell if they try to pressure you to sign anything.

jess444_2

Thanks for your replies. I did think it was probably insulation (which we already have) or solar panels, but wanted to check if anyone had heard of it.

brewerdave

...All the automated phone calls that I get (when I answer them !!) start with ""blah,blah Government initiative...."

[Deleted User]

@jess444

Personally I would go out when the person is going to visit so they cannot get access to the house.

If they phone to confirm, I would cancel saying you have an emergency and you'll call them to re-arrange. And then forget to.

Or if not, invites lots of friends round for coffee and cakes, so the "surveyor" cannot gone on and try a hard sell.

Safety in numbers and do not sign anything even the "It's just to say I've been here" excuse.

D_M_E

I agree with other posters - DO NOT SIGN any bits of paper they stick under your nose no matter what the reason or explanation they give for asking you to sign.

Also, as has been mentioned, DO NOT give bank details and DO NOT hand over cash or credit or debit card details either.
These energy surveys have been done by the energy suppliers for free but I think they are now being phased out - I would think that all they could do is try and sell you a new boiler or have led bulbs, probably a new boiler at great expense - cheaper to get a quote from a local tradesman if you do need one.

More likely, as another poster thinks, it could be a solar panel company selling panels - but I think the grants for these have been recently cut.

jcontest

If there is a scheme that gives away free stuff, you can be sure that a random phone call will not be needed to find people to take it!.

It is probably not a scam, but they are using the "Survey" to get into the door for you to sign up to something that's just there to benefit them.

I had a phone call a few weeks ago from the "FCA" who wanted to speak to my wife... They knew here name and nothing else, be wary of Phone calls, and be ready for someone to lie to you!... There's tons of "subsidy" type products out there, but paying £500 over the odds to get a £100 subsidy is just not worth it.

I wouldn't let them in, but that is just me.