Cowboy builders and criminals are using the Green Deal name to defraud money from homeowners. Trading standards officers have reported that cold callers posing as Green Deal assessors are charging “administration fees”. Green Deal loans are only available through government contracted assessors who are identifiable through an allocated assessor number.
Complaints about fraudulent callers have so far been registered with trading standards officers in South Wales and West Yorkshire, where 12 complaints are being investigated. One 76-year-old said she had been offered an “old age pensioner discount” for double glazing – with a 20% discount if she signed up that day.
Door-to-door sales are permitted under the Green Deal legislation.
In February, when asked if this was a safe method of promoting the scheme, Energy Minister Greg Barker said there were strict guidelines and a cooling-off period, but people “at the bottom of society” were unlikely to respond to the internet and newspapers.
Consumers are advised to look out for the Green Deal Approved mark which proves assessors and installers are government registered.