'National Energy Department' phone call.

ThisIsWeird

Just had a call from these guys. They claim that we may be entitled to gov assistance to upgrade/maintain our PV system.

What's strange is not only that we are on the highest FIT and receive no gov benefits, but that this is seemingly a requirement for this assistance, or certainly no hindrance. Hmm.

They would pay to replace an inverter, for example (damn - missed that by 6 months...), or help to add batteries; that's something I'd consider, but it would depend on the cost.

Anyhoo, the company that's going to call round is 'Trusted Home Solutions'. I fully expect any 'gov assistance' to be minimal, in which case it's a non-starter, but has anyone else had experience of either group?

Thanks.

sammyjammy

Sounds scammish, no such Department as National Energy!

ThisIsWeird

sammyjammy said:

Sounds scammish, no such Department as National Energy!

Yes, it does sound a bit scammish - not in a completely "we're going to take yer money and run", way, but "once we get our foot in the door, we'll try and sell you a battery like the best double-glazing salesman..."

I'm ok with telling folk 'non', but don't want my time wasted if it really ain't going to be worthwhile. A warning bell was that they'd need my wife there, too, as joint home-owner. Very DG salesman!

'Trusted Home Solutions' does exist as a PV and stuff company, but I fear that the 'Dept of NE' was effectively just a cold-caller. Yuck.

tim_p

Why even engage with them? If it sounds too good to be true… you know the rest. 

FreeBear

Nothing of note turning up when doing a search for "National Energy Department" - Suspect it is a fictitious trading name of a lead generating company. Maybe a reverse number search will yield clues.

"Trusted Home Solutions" has 106 reviews on Trust Pilot. 4% are one star, and pretty damning. Of the 5 star reviews (88%), I wouldn't like to say how many are fake. I have my suspicions....

As for "your [wife/husband/partner] needs to be present" - The last time I had that, my response was a very angry "My dear boy, I do not need permission or agreement from anyone on how I spend my money". And yes, it was a DG sales pitch from a bogus energy saving "survey" booked via a cold calling fictitious outfit (EcoFrames, you can go and rot in hell with your false claims & overpriced windows. And thanks for the IR thermometer that your sales oik left behind).

Oh, and there are no government grants for upgrading or servicing domestic solar installations. It will be a hard sell sales pitch for stuff you don't need at a grossly inflated price. Give them hell, waste as much of their time as you can, and then kick them out of the door after using some choice words.

ThisIsWeird

That's pretty darned comprehensive
When they call to confirm booking, it'll be "no ta".
Cheers.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: When they call to confirm booking, it'll be "no ta".

Noooo..... Let them come. Waste a few hours of his time, and report back with the modus operandi.

Pretty sure it will be a BS laden sales pitch that will provide a few minutes of amusement for us.

brewerdave

I think I had a phone call of a similar nature from a "Government Energy Adviser" recently re organising a "free" survey of my loft insulation on the grounds that my old insulation could be very dangerous and contain asbestos.
Nice to know that the c o n men are still about !

oldagetraveller1

Received a similar call yesterday, said his name was Darren, it was the loft insulation subject.

Asked if I was the homeowner (I am) but as soon as I told him no, I rent, he hung up.

FreeBear

brewerdave said:

I think I had a phone call of a similar nature from a "Government Energy Adviser" recently re organising a "free" survey of my loft insulation on the grounds that my old insulation could be very dangerous and contain asbestos.
Nice to know that the c o n men are still about !

Sounds like an introduction to a sales pitch for spray foam insulation - They like to tell you that fibreglass/rockwool only has a live span of 5-10 years, the Asthma Association has found it to be a health risk, or a government report has found fibreglass/rockwool "not fit for purpose". When challenged on any of their claims and asked to provide evidence, they go very quiet.

Fibreglass/rockwool has a life span of 80+ years according to the manufacturers of the stuff.

The Asthma Association has not produced any reports about health risks connected with loft insulation.

The government is still pushing fibreglass/rockwool as a loft insulation, and is still widely used by the building industry. There are no government reports saying it is "not fit for purpose".

With loose fill loft insulation made from vermiculite, there is a possibility that it might have contained asbestos IF it came from one of two mines in the USA (mainly the Libby mine in Montana).

ThisIsWeird

Well, I had my visit.

To be fair, the guy from 'Trusted Home Solutions' was personable, knowledgable, and not in the least pushy. And their quotes - one 3.3kW battery £4.3k and two for £5 something - were in the acceptable region of what I expected. So, I have no issues with that company at all.

But I did point out that their 3rd-party 'lead generator' co was, imv, intentionally misleading, for which he apologised.

It would be something I'd consider, if I knew we were staying here for a fair few years more, but that's an uncertainty at the mo'.