So much for REAL

[dansk]

Good god - (rolling my eyes) they really "f" it up for us - i had a good experiance at 9am yesterday, a bloody double booking, wife booked me for 9am and husband booked someone else for the same time...and i got there first followed by another knock at the door 2 minutes later.

what a laugh...not

 

[poheZ]

3-4k on training, crikey didnt cost me that!

 

[dansk]

You mustnt had any loss of earnings then!

 

[SRE]

We've only just started to take a wage and a small one at that and we were certified at the end of October! We'd have had no money for stock otherwise -still not vat registered either - but looking forward to rebate when it comes!!!

 

[njcuk]

Some really poor people quoting and giving very over optimistic figures. Currently, I am constantly following a company who say their 3.88 sharp poly system will produce over £2.2k a year with around 4400 kwh a year and the savings. And the inverter they use is better than any others as its start up voltage is lower. Does start up voltage really make them that much better? I thought the overall efficiency of and inverter was more important.

 

[SolarCity]

Do you know who the firm is? Report them. Those figures are, frankly, b*****s and it's utterly unethical for a firm to be using them.

Do you know what inverter it is that they use?

 

[njcuk]

Yes I know the firm, if it carries on I will. The firm may not realise they are over quoting the production, but I doubt it.

They may use two inverters, one was SEA Australia and then another customer said to me it was Phase - one.

Start up voltage is 150v.

 

[SolarCity]

Yes I know the firm, if it carries on I will. The firm may not realise they are over quoting the production, but I doubt it.

Whether they know it or not, they are misleading the customer. Like you, I doubt the over-estimating is a mistake.

 

[MCS Renewables]

Here is a link to Ideal solar and Everest getting ejected from REAL.

Solar companies suspended - February - 2011 - Which? News

Unfortunately Ideal have got their original subbies to get their own MCS so now Ideal Solar salesmen can say and do whatever they like........no change then ....so now they are completely outside the system and unpoliced.
You cannot blame REAL for this, as it is a massive loophole in the MCS system.

 

[SolarCity]

Unfortunately Ideal have got their original subbies to get their own MCS so now Ideal Solar salesmen can say and do whatever they like........no change then ....so now they are completely outside the system and unpoliced.
You cannot blame REAL for this, as it is a massive loophole in the MCS system.

Aren't the MCS firm (whoever they may be) ultimately still responsible for these salesmen even though they don't technically work for the same firm?

 

[HotSpot]

Aren't the MCS firm (whoever they may be) ultimately still responsible for these salesmen even though they don't technically work for the same firm?

Yes, I would have thought that the 'MCS' subbies now have the responsibility to provide the accurate quotes as they will be the ones signing the jobs off. I just can't understand how this could possibly work!!!

If this sort of behaviour is going on by Ideal/subbies I'm sure MCS would love to get stuck-in, if they found out.

 

[SRE]

Reported my first rogue seller to Real today who were really helpful and agreed to protect my anonymity. More than double the allowed discount, no details about solar modules and no inverter details could all have been produced by Mickey Mouse in Florida for all the customer knew. Cost is about 20% more than most other installers I know - although obviously that's nothing to do with REAL. These guys are doing mail drops in our area regularly.

 

[Ramjam]

If we want a clean and honest industry then we need to all play a part and report dodgy salesmen. We also need to lobby REAL and MCS to Ban for Life companies like Everest and British Gas who have no excuse for not complying fully. If a large firm like them can break the rules then get a slap on the wrist then the governing bodies are truly toothless.

 

[Markc]

If we want a clean and honest industry then we need to all play a part and report dodgy salesmen. We also need to lobby REAL and MCS to Ban for Life companies like Everest and British Gas who have no excuse for not complying fully. If a large firm like them can break the rules then get a slap on the wrist then the governing bodies are truly toothless.

I 100% agree BUT a life time ban to BG or Everest will never happen. Consider the amount of money these companies could spend on legal representation and the weight they have with government.

I agree we all need to do our part and I have also delivered material to REAL for them to investigate.

 

[Ramjam]

I appreciate your point but if they put it in the terms then if you join then you agree to the terms, cast 'em into the wilderness I say! Just because you're big doesn't mean that you have the right to rip people off and offer shabby overpriced systems.

Just imagine, they could be the first credible consumer focused regulatory body, that would work well for an emerging renewables market.

It's not like any of these big firms have taken any risks in order to take advantage of the opportunity. Most small businesses in this market have taken substantial risks to get qualified, buy tools and equipment and finance installations. It shouldn't be a god given right for big business to move sideways to steal market share, fine if they abide by the rules and act ethically but if they don't then burn 'em!

 

[Markc]

I agree they shouldn't get away with it. 100% with you it's just the case if anyone does stand up to them they will have a fight on their hands.

Look how many times British Gas has been on watchdog? Who still buys Gas from them or has their boiler serviced or even worse on some form of maintenance contract with them. Some people will ALWAYS go to the big names and they know it. What difference does it make if they spend fours hours with a customer and then rips them off IF the customer is happy with the service they have received?

WE can only say it's wrong as WE know it, the client probably will not. We know the rules and abide by them. (Some) Big companied know the rules but don't give a ----, the likely hood they will be caught out is slim, if they are they are given a slap on the wrist and sent on their way until the next time and so it goes on. A small company will probably not take the risk for exactly the reason you said. Cost to be registered in the first place, but if they do I expect the governing bodies will come down far harder on them than the big boys.

For any scheme to be proven to have teeth examples must be made. No probation. No second chances. One strike and you're out and can not reapply for another year (or more).

I was criticised by our REAL auditor for having the word "Harmful" before CO2 emissions on my website and flyers. I was told to remove the word from my website and not distribute our flyers anymore until amended. My flyers went in the bin and our website was edited. Next time you go looking on the big boys websites make a note of that one word and you will see my point. Take the opportunity to notify REAL about a website using that word and see what happens. Come back to me if something does happen. Now take a small company website and do the same and see what happens!

I'm sorry to be skeptical on REAL but so far as I see it they are there for a logo on the letter head and certificate in the folder and little more. Just another few hundred quid a year on fees.

 

[Ramjam]

They could if they had the balls, make this the best, most honest industry and create positive publicity for all the honest members. I'd love to see someone from Real on the Forum engaging with the members who pay their wages....challenge !!!!

 

[jtw11373]

Here in California as soon as a company does a job in the neighborhood, be it window replacement, heaters, solar panels, swimming pools, you name it, they send their salesmen around to everybody living near by offering a super deal because they are all ready in the area, when truth be told, they are usually a local company that has maybe 15 minutes of travel time to get to the job. It's amazing how gullible old people are, they always end up victims of fraud, you'd think it would be the opposite after so many years of living with salesmen everywhere. Buyer beware!
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[Markc]

They could if they had the balls, make this the best, most honest industry and create positive publicity for all the honest members. I'd love to see someone from Real on the Forum engaging with the members who pay their wages....challenge !!!!

They know we're here and at UK Solar Installers....I've told then and shown them the sites!