Advice Needed: GBIS Insulation Installation with Apex Nationwide & Eco Home Plans Ltd

chrisPhan

Hi all,

I’m scheduled for an insulation installation at my mid-terrace home (EPC D) under the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). The installation company is Apex Nationwide, but the coordinating company I’m dealing with is Eco Home Plans Ltd.

Some things have made me cautious:

• They say the funding company or energy supplier won’t be disclosed until after the installation is complete.

• No formal contract has been provided yet.

• Eco Home Plans Ltd is a relatively new company and doesn’t appear on TrustMark or MCS registers.

Has anyone had experience with  Eco Home Plans Ltd? Is it normal for the funder’s details to come only after installation? How can I make sure this is a legitimate free installation and not a scam?

Any advice or personal experiences would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

WiserMiser

There's no way I'd sign up to such an unusual agreement, sounds too much like the proverbial pig in a poke.

I'd have serious doubts that the variances would work out to my advantage.  I'd prefer to pay a bit more for peace of mind.

chrisPhan

Thanks,
I have a same doubt and currently asking them for the contract before the installation.
They keep saying its free, cost me nothing, and the installation company will give warranty of 25 years as standard but I want all of them in a writing contract before I can agree on installation.

If I have a official contract saying I wont be charged, and the material for insulation is approved, do you think any risk I am having with this.
Thanks

WiserMiser

chrisPhan said:

.. the installation company will give warranty of 25 years as standard

Or until they go bust, whichever comes first.

QrizB

WiserMiser said:

chrisPhan said:

.. the installation company will give warranty of 25 years as standard

Or until they go bust, whichever comes first.

If it's run like the MCS scheme, where he installer needs to be a member of a Consumer Code body, you'll get an insurance backed guarantee so it won't matter if the installer goes bust.

chrisPhan

Thanks for your information,
I just have a chat with Apex Nationwide which looks like will do the installation and just to confirm: "We as a company offer 2 years installation warranty. SWIP issues a warranty of 25 years for the material used in insulation". And looks like Apex are in Trustmark, so I think it wont be the master in the installer which they subcontracted to.
Just a bit concern about the one we are dealing with,Eco Home Plans. Btw, I also got a email confirmation about the installation but not the contract. I dont think It is as good as a contract to protect us from the future trouble or am I asking too much?

QrizB

Eco Home Plans Ltd is less than a year old and looks to be run from someone's home.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15785916

WiserMiser

Many sole traders operating from home provide excellent goods and services, but things can and do go wrong sometimes.

When making a high value purchase that has to last a long time I'd want a lot of reassurance.  I'd want to know the name of the person I'm dealing with and to see some examples of their work.  'Team xxx' and a mobile phone number wouldn't give me any such reassurance, and I'd prefer a business that's been established for a reasonable time.  Of course, everyone has to start somewhere (acorns / oak trees and all that) but I'd rather play safe.

How do they want to be paid?  If you're told you can pay only by cheque or bank transfer there's absolutely no protection; at that point I'd walk away.  You may have some protection if you pay by debit card, but the safest method (if the value of the goods is over £100 and not more than £30,000) is using a credit card.  Paying a small deposit still qualifies, it's the total cost that counts.

Even businesses that have successfully traded for many years can suddenly go bust; Glastonbury fans who booked expensive tented accommodation found they won't be there because they'll have no tickets and no accommodation.  Worst of all, as creditors they are likely to receive only pennies in the pound because Yurtel (Est. 2005) refused to accept card payments.  OK, that's an extreme example, but it shows why you need to be so diligent.