Who are these firms pushing this “government recycling scheme”?
QI’VEbeen phoned several times by people who say there is a government recycling scheme to replace old windows.
They say this is worth £2,000 but it will only be available if I am the homeowner and I decide to have their surveyors come round to my home the next day so that they can check my eligibility for this money and measure my home.
When I ask them who they represent, they mumble something about energy which I don’t quite follow. And when I say I am not that interested, someone calls me again within a few minutes to arrange the survey.
I am registered with the Telephone Preference Service which is supposed to prevent calls like this. What is this about? Jacqueline M
AWHICHSAYS: This “government recycling scheme” does not exist. Some callers admit this, saying the £2,000 is a discount by a window company.
This is meaningless, because window sellers know you have no idea of what the product should cost even if you wanted replacements. It will be £2,000 off a price inflated by at least £2,000.
They usually ask for you by name – even if you are ex-directory. Then they ask you if you have heard about the “government’s” or the “electricity companies’“recycling or scrappage schemes.
If you agree to the “survey”, they will pass your details to a window company which pays them for each “lead”. Some will say they have a “surveyor” in your area – and that your neighbours have already signed up.
With some of these call centres, slamming the phone down just produces more calls within minutes. Best not to answer. “Managers” try hard to persuade you to have a “no obligation” visit, sometimes within hours. Many won’t take “no” for an answer – once they know you are at home, they often bombard you with repeated calls. These unwanted intrusions come from centres using a variety of common names – often combinations of energy, saving, warmth, smart, intelligent, heat, wise, wisdom and so forth. These are not real names and are difficult, often impossible, to track down.
The Telephone Preference Service has ended pest calls from major companies including home improvement companies. But smaller, here today and gone tomorrow firms continue to plague consumers with double glazing, PPI refunds and injury claims services.