Green deal: I must be very naпve ...

A question about : Green deal: I must be very naпve ...

I paid for a green deal assessment today for my property and had a very strange appointment. I wonder if I am just a little naпve .

I had little confidence in the assessors ability to actually work out the energy efficiency of my house and his attitude was quite poor.

However, he called me up in the evening and said that he has got me a deal for Ј2000 for external wall insulation via an approved contractor. I congratulated him and said that obviously I would want to have a chat with the installer to understand what they would do, what materials they would use and any other questions I might have.

The assessor was then quite astounded that I should wish to do this and said that this was not usual policy- he stated that the usual policy would be for me to give 25% as a deposit and then I would have a technical survey and could ask my questions at that point. When I said that I would never do this and trust with a contractor is everything, he switched off and said it wasn't usual policy and intimated that I was wasting his time and he wouldn't be spending much time on my green deal assessment.

Am I just being dreadfully naпve here and is this standard practice? I don't feel comfortable with doing this. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience or could give me some advice here?

Thanks in advance..

Best answers:

• Thank you- I was going to complain and ask for my money back. However, I wanted to know if this WAS standard practice as he was suggesting. I pay then I speak to the contractor. I also feel I need to protect others from this company (who are approved by the council!)
• When you say approved by the council, how was this? Is this one of the council top up grants that operate alongside the Green Deal?
  I've had an assessment for one of these and then am expected to get at least two quotes for the work. There doesn't seem to be any obligation to use the provider recommended by the council (Instagroup) as long as the one used is accredited for the Green Deal.
  You should be able to use your assessment that you now have with a different installer with a better way of working.
  Ed
• Having seen the mention of the Green Deal I thought it worth pointing out that one thing solicitors check when you are buying a house, is whether there is any Green deal finance attached to the house.
  If there is then they will want it to be settled before completion. Not how I envisaged the GD working but equally I'd be wary about buying a house where you were committed to repayments.
• I thought energy companies were doing free wall cavity insulation?