Comments on: CLG assess cheap EPC providers and accreditation schemes http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Chris Grant http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-24890 Chris Grant Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:26:14 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-24890 Market forces have simply come into play in the EPC market. Energy Assessors need a huge reality check, as they have been spoon-fed work from the HIP companies for too long. You are running a business and need to start putting both time and resource into marketing yourselves. A newly qualified chartered surveyor - starting a surveying practice from scratch would have been delighted to have got work from simply registering on a panel. Instead they are required to work hard to generate business and the same principle needs to be applied to the EPC business. Market forces have simply come into play in the EPC market. Energy Assessors need a huge reality check, as they have been spoon-fed work from the HIP companies for too long. You are running a business and need to start putting both time and resource into marketing yourselves. A newly qualified chartered surveyor – starting a surveying practice from scratch would have been delighted to have got work from simply registering on a panel. Instead they are required to work hard to generate business and the same principle needs to be applied to the EPC business.

]]> By: Tim http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10679 Tim Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:00:32 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10679 How ironic the people given the responsibility of raising EPC standards are infact lowering them and being paid to do so. How ironic the people given the responsibility of raising EPC standards are infact lowering them and being paid to do so.

]]> By: At last http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10678 At last Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:39:01 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10678 You now have 2 camps. The cheap cheeful and likely to eventually bring court action EPC providers and those that a are reasonably priced for level of time and effort involved. If your willing to risk a poor assessment, unreliable service and the need for a court case, go with cheap dodgy providers. If not pay a sensible going rate and get a proper job done. Unfortunately, this seems to also apply to accreditation schemes. However, can really believe they wll get taken to court..... mmm ??? You now have 2 camps. The cheap cheeful and likely to eventually bring court action EPC providers and those that a are reasonably priced for level of time and effort involved.

If your willing to risk a poor assessment, unreliable service and the need for a court case, go with cheap dodgy providers. If not pay a sensible going rate and get a proper job done.

Unfortunately, this seems to also apply to accreditation schemes. However, can really believe they wll get taken to court….. mmm ???

]]> By: John Martin http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10657 John Martin Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:03:15 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10657 The simple answer is, don't do an EPC cheap. I won't do one for less than £57.50, and the truth is that you cannot assess a house, go home and spend time on the computer for £30.00!! Also how many EPC's do you have to do to have mony available for your CPD, the prices of courses are nothing short of extortion and a money making scheme. I will read a couple of books and declare 10 hours and see what my accreditation scheme says. I will not work every hour god sends just to top up the coffers of my accreditation scheme. The simple answer is, don’t do an EPC cheap. I won’t do one for less than £57.50, and the truth is that you cannot assess a house, go home and spend time on the computer for £30.00!! Also how many EPC’s do you have to do to have mony available for your CPD, the prices of courses are nothing short of extortion and a money making scheme. I will read a couple of books and declare 10 hours and see what my accreditation scheme says. I will not work every hour god sends just to top up the coffers of my accreditation scheme.

]]> By: Dom http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10600 Dom Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:17:25 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10600 dont be fooled anything will change fast. Pizza men will still do EPCs, accreditation schemes will still undercut their own members and HIP companies will cease trading. dont be fooled anything will change fast. Pizza men will still do EPCs, accreditation schemes will still undercut their own members and HIP companies will cease trading.

]]> By: At last http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10599 At last Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:03:32 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10599 Finally CLG do something, so there is still life in their offices Finally CLG do something, so there is still life in their offices

]]> By: Mark T http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10591 Mark T Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:30:24 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10591 If the accreditation schemes continue to focus on training more people who are not needed, then further pressure will be put on their prices with more reduction in quality. I have been forced to change accreditation as they did not seem to have any staff available to provide technical/software support. It is true that standards within DEAs have slipped since introduction. Am afraid that some DEAs are probably actually offended monkeys with the comparison. If the accreditation schemes continue to focus on training more people who are not needed, then further pressure will be put on their prices with more reduction in quality.

I have been forced to change accreditation as they did not seem to have any staff available to provide technical/software support.

It is true that standards within DEAs have slipped since introduction. Am afraid that some DEAs are probably actually offended monkeys with the comparison.

]]> By: T. Davis http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/clg-assess-cheap-epc-providers-and-accreditation-schemes-123/comment-page-1/#comment-10592 T. Davis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:51:25 +0000 http://www.hip-consultant.co.uk/blog/?p=1925#comment-10592 I have no sympathy for some accreditation schemes. They have been skating too close to the wind. One scheme even went as far as saying we will reduce your fees if you accept there is no support with software and tech enquiries. Is this an accreditation scheme or software company? The schemes should be increasing price to DEAs and providing more towards supporting their memebers, not competing against them. They teach DEAs about conflict of interest and then do exactly that themselves. Who would of thought it, an accreditation scheme who trains you, accredits you and then goes after work they trained you to do. O......... and also offers discounts to panels who are known to be absolutely unconcerned with quality and let them do their own auditing. The CLG report is a good thing but they have not gone far enough. I have no sympathy for some accreditation schemes. They have been skating too close to the wind. One scheme even went as far as saying we will reduce your fees if you accept there is no support with software and tech enquiries. Is this an accreditation scheme or software company?

The schemes should be increasing price to DEAs and providing more towards supporting their memebers, not competing against them. They teach DEAs about conflict of interest and then do exactly that themselves.

Who would of thought it, an accreditation scheme who trains you, accredits you and then goes after work they trained you to do. O……… and also offers discounts to panels who are known to be absolutely unconcerned with quality and let them do their own auditing.

The CLG report is a good thing but they have not gone far enough.

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