Monday 17 February 2014

Householders warned to avoid Green Deal scam


A WARNING has been issued by police and trading standards about a Green Deal scam.

Bogus callers phone homeowners and tell them they are entitled to £10,000 of funding for home improvements. The person is asked to pay £149.99 for an energy performance assessment to be carried out.

However, the assessment is either never carried out or the work is undertaken but the householder does not receive a certificate which they should do under the Green Deal code of practice.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The Green Deal can only be delivered through government contracted assessors and providers, identifiable by a unique government allocated number. Consumers are advised to look out for the Green Deal Approved quality mark. Only Green Deal assessors, providers and installers can use it. This shows they meet Green Deal standards and are authorised to operate under the Green Deal.”

Consumers taking out a Green Deal require an assessment completed by an authorised assessor who will visit your home, talk to you about your property and your energy use and help decide if you could benefit from Green Deal improvements.

If anyone has any information about a possible ‘Green Deal’ scam, they should contact the police on 101 or Trading Standards on 01463 228700. Further details about the scheme can be provided by the Energy Savings Trust on 0808 808 2282.

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