Councils across Britain have reported an increase in doorstep cold callers, attempting to sell insulation products to residents.
Presented with a tick-sheet of improvements
Whilst some callers are legitimately informing residents they could receive a grant towards insulation for their home, others are using this as a way to “up-sell” residents to other energy saving products, usually at vastly inflated prices.
According to the Bolton News, 70 year old Mr Liptrot was presented with a tick-sheet of improvements that could be made to his home, after a doorstep caller informed him about cavity wall insulation grants. The caller then tried to sell him an insulation spray for his windows at a cost of over £1,000 (something Mr Liptrot later did himself using a DIY kit purchased for around £20).
“He wanted me to sign up there and then but when I told him that I wanted to check a few facts he closed his briefcase and made a swift exit.” Says Mr Liptrot.
Insulation grants
Insulation grants are available for cavity wall and loft insulation for up to 100% for those over 70 or on benefits. Everyone else can receive a grant for around 50% as part of the Governments CERT (Carbon Emission Reduction Target) funding.
However, be wary of doorstep callers attempting to sell you “add-on” products, as many residents have experienced pressure-selling techniques, which can be intimating, to say the least.
You can check the insulation grant you are entitled to at http://www.insulationgrants.info and apply directly to a legitimate, accredited installer in your area.
6 Comments to 'Fresh warnings over insulation cold callers'
09/25/2010
Received a call from India from the Home Insulation Grant Research Centre. I was asked some innocuous questions to start with. It sounded rather suspect so I gave some extremely silly answers, then challenged them to say what they were selling. They terminated the call telling me to go to bed and have a good sleep. Is there such an organisation or this as I suspect a scam?
11/24/2010
i had a very pushy cold caller from Miller Pattinson last night. I felt pressured and was told it was my one and only chance to be eligable for a grant and that it would cost me £2.500 next year and that I would also be charged a lot of money as their is a new co2 tax being levvied next year. I was told the form they wished me to sign was for applying for a grant only but when I read the small print it was a legal binding contract for the work to be carried out.
12/20/2010
The scheme is the first in Burnley to receive grant aid from Lancashire County Council s Climate Change Fund. The grant will help to pay for a new efficient condensing boiler as well as to the floor internal front walls and mineral wool to the floor suspended ceiling.
01/28/2011
I had the same – they hung up when I asked them for their phone number – ITS A SCAM !!
03/16/2011
Yeah just had a call from Home Insulation Grant Research Centre myself, we are ex directory, part of the telephone preference service and don’t give our number out to anyone other than family/friends. Gave the girl both barrels. Sounded like it was an overseas call centre.
07/07/2011
Another call tonight from the “Energy Grant Research Centre” who state the are backed by HM Gov’t. Calls stopped for a couple of weeks when I told them I was ex- D and registered with TPS. Told them again – will see what happens. In any event, it is probably cheaper for anyone with basic ability to (for example), insulate loft space yourself!
So save some cash and tell authorities like the Information Commissioners Office if they call you repeatedly.
Leave a comment