It appears the “glazing grant” scam seems to have reared it’s head again recently. I bring this up as Mark Warren (@MarkWarren3) tweeted this earlier today: Anyone involved in the Double Glazing Grant Scam out there? Saying that there are Grants available for windows & doors when there are Not? I did point out to him that people aren’t going to openly admit that they were saying such things, but the sentiment is right.
Just to make this absolutely clear, there is absolutely NO grant for double glazing out there at all. I am not aware of any scheme or project (other than the botched Green Deal) that gives money to homeowners to fit new windows and doors. Mark Warren brings this up as I think he is probably aware of some less than honest companies leading customers on. And he is right to be annoyed.
Schemes and tactics like this target the vulnerable and the elderly who are too trusting and fall for false information like this. However it does happen and clearly continues to happen and only serves to tarnish the overall image of the industry. I have had customers come to the showroom actually asking about grants. Clearly they had seen a sales person who told them that grants were available. Either that or they had been reading some poor information online, but I think it would be the former of the two.
I don’t think it would harm if the industry got behind a new campaign to try and promote clear and true information, and to dispel myths and false data. Whilst wrong information is out there in the public domain, it will only serve to damage the reputation of the industry locally. It also puts honest companies in a more difficult position when they have to try and convince someone that glazing grants do in fact not exist, when they have already been persuaded that there are such grants. Who do they believe? What information is right? The more confused and unconvinced the customer gets, the more turned off the buying experience they become.
All comments welcome on this one. Have you heard of companies talking about grants?
OH How I chuckle
Quote Mark Warren (Via DGB
“Anyone involved in the Double Glazing Grant Scam out there? Saying that there are Grants available for windows & doors when there are Not? ”
Maybe he could try
“Anyone involved in the Double Glazing Solar Gain Scam out there? Saying that there are Great Solar Gains available for windows & doors when there are Not?
OH , whoops , I forgot , the ENTIRE industry is involved with that one , and that one is promoted from the very top .
I agree it is confusing, I read about the Warm Front Grant which clearly states on one page that ”Double glazing is an effective way of ensuring that your home retains heat, and can even cut down external noise. If you’re looking for a cost-effective solution to heat-loss then you may be eligible for an energy grant that will help you to make your home more energy efficient”, however when you dig deeper it would appear that the grant is for insulation or draught proofing which you would then offset against the cost of installing your own double glazing. Clever… Read more »
There is also a Scam that some Double Glazing Companies and Installers are using to generate leads. It works like this: Place an advert saying “Financial Support/ Grants available in your area for “Double Glazing” and wait for the calls to come in. Tell the customer that they can get 50% off their double glazing with a Grant. Double your price to the customer but tell them the Grant will cover 50% of it. Then only take 50% of your Inflated price and tell the customer that the “Grant” will come to your Company directly! There are no Grants or… Read more »
Mark , I have to pull you up on this one …
“It is also a way of bringing our industry into disrepute! and it takes work and jobs from honest and reputable businesses who do not lie to their customers to gain work.”
I believe the WER scheme is EXACTLY the same , promoting lies and misinformation to the customers to gain work . yet that has the full endorsement of the GGF behind it !!!
Indeed there are scams around, but what brings the double glazing industry into disrepute is the bonus discounts and so called “marketing offers”. (Apart from the energy labelling that is!) One large company has now re-introduced the “Scrappage Scheme”: Money for your old windows.
Yes, we need to start being honest with the consumer; we have nothing be afraid of; we can still prosper!
Anthony
Thanks for your comments I agree with you.
The Industry needs to continue growing professionally and delivering products and services honestly to the consumer.
We’ve made some great strides in the quality, range and energy efficiency of both our frames and glazing options over the last few years. Now we have to ensure that we are not dragged back into the past by people and companies using underhand techniques and scams that could bring the whole industry into disrepute.
Mark
Quote Mark Warren
“Now we have to ensure that we are not dragged back into the past by people and companies using underhand techniques and scams that could bring the whole industry into disrepute”
Well thats nothing new the WER scheme has doing that for some time now , though I guess I am being ignored by Mark !!
I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by a firm called Energy Glazing Solutions Ltd of Shipley. A chap came with a device to find out whether my windows were up to modern standards. He gave me a price then took off 40% as the Government Grant.
I have since investigated, and found that no grants are available. They also have no website, and are not affiliated to any trade organisation like GGA or Fensa. Having given me a price with no technical information, they kept bothering me. I have told them to go away.