Trading Standards warn consumers about bogus Green Deal costs

Trading Standards is warning consumers to be aware of an incident in the Wirksworth area.
NEWS: News.NEWS: News.
NEWS: News.

A consumer received an unsolicited call from a business which claimed to be working on behalf of the Government.

The caller told the consumer that all homes must have a ‘green deal assessment’ by 2020 - this is untrue.

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The business also told the consumer that he would have to pay £179.

The Green Deal is a Government initiative to improve the energy efficiency of homes by offering loans to pay for energy saving measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation, double glazing or new boilers.

The loan is repaid through savings made on electricity bills, therefore bills shouldn’t be any higher than usual.

When the loan is paid off consumers can take advantage of the energy savings made.

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In order to apply for Green Deal finance, a consumer must have an energy assessment from an assessor accredited with the Green Deal Quality Mark.

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On 24 July 2014, the scheme was closed as all of the funding available had been claimed. In April 2015, more funding will become available, but full details of the new scheme have not been released.

Trading Standards is concerned that some unscrupulous traders may be misrepresenting the Green Deal scheme by making it appear that assessments are compulsory when they are not.

Reputable companies do not usually advertise for business by calling at your home uninvited or cold-calling via the telephone.

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They’ll also explain your consumer rights which rogue traders will not do.

If you receive an unsolicited call from any business offering this kind of scheme, our advice is to ignore it and do not agree to a visit.

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Consumers wanting to purchase energy saving products or any other goods or services can use Derbyshire County Council’s Trusted Trader scheme.

This includes details of hundreds of local traders who have been checked out by Derbyshire Trading Standards service and have agreed to abide by a code of conduct.

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For more information on the Trusted Trader scheme Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058.

If you have a complaint or concerns about rogue traders/trading practices you can call Citizen’s Advice Consumer Advice Service on 08454 04 05 06.