Should I train as a domestic energy assessor (DEA)?
HIP-Consultant.co.uk has develop its services and areas we can provide Home Infomation Packs (HIPS) over a relatively short period. This expansion has been carried out gradually to ensure the continuity of quality remains; and that we do not fall foul of sacrificing customer service which has been key to the high level of customer satisfaction we have achieved.
HIP-Consultant.co.uk receive enquiries on almost a daily basis from current or potential domestic energy assessors (DEA) as I am sure other organisation will do. The discussion within the industry continues to be one of concern in regard to the current and rising number of DEAs; concerns which HIP-Consultant.co.uk mirror. The question which is inevitably asked by prospective DEAs is ‘should I train as a domestic energy assessor?‘
The Government released figures as of 6th March 2008 shows there are currently 11,246 in the system and widespread estimates including those shared by the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors (IDEA) are that only approximately 3.000 are actually required to service the related EPBD legislation.
In any market supply and demand forces take effect and domestic energy assessors (DEAs) are currently experiencing the negative consequences of this situation at present. There are many assessors who have re-trained and made large personal investments in time and money to make a success of this newly founded career. Unfortunately, this has not worked out for many DEAs in the manner they envisaged and in some circumstances were lead to believe it would by unscrupulous training providers.
Even with present DEA numbers, some training providers of the Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment continue to make unfounded claims of potential earnings of £75,000 p.a. This can and is leading people into paying and enrolling in the training course to find at a later date that this may not be the case.
So what can be done?
The following is intended to increase debate, discussion and thought around this issue and are not necessarily the views or recommendations of HIP-Consultant.co.uk.
- Maximum allowable numbers of DEAs in the system
- Tighter entry level requirements
- Increased publicity of the actual and estimated required DEA numbers
- Training providers to be required to state the over subscribed situation on course advertising publications
- Limited area licenses to practice
- Accreditation schemes to raise entry requirements
The solution is not one of any single action and the issue needs to be addressed and have ownership taken by the combined related industry organisations and professionals.
HIP-Consultant.co.uk would welcome the views and opinions of others whether in the industry or not. We look forward to your comments.
Please support us if you have found reading this article and following comments useful. We would appreciate if you could vote for our site here, or consider a small donation to help fund our site, thanks.
UPDATE: The above links no longer link through to the official figures reported at the time of writing the original article.The web page which contained the figures has been removed and requests to view the page are now re-directed.
From our knowledge these figures are no longer published within the Governments’ websites. However, it is widely believed the number of DEAs has continued to grow.
We have applied for uptodate information from various Government Departments under the Freedom of Information Act and will be publishing up to date figures as and when we receive them.
Related posts:
- FOI act application re: Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA) numbers
- Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) and Home Inspectors numbers updated
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a DEA
- Home Inspector Training - a viable career ?
- What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Domestic Energy Assessors?
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July 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
A lot of people were lured into this profession with promises of making large sums of money by the training providers adverts for courses, like the American gold rush which attracted many thousands of prospectors, very few made their fortunes, the real winners were the people supply the picks and shovels!
This isn’t a new phenomenon, cash strapped universities started law courses as they saw it as a way of make money being more cost effective than science course where you need expensive equipment and laboratories, you can have a lecturer giving a lecture to 100 law students relatively cheaply. The consequence is many more people with law degrees chasing fewer positions as law firms close down. The music industry has change dramatically in recent years too as people take their entertainment in different ways, technology has played a big part in the dramatic drop in work opportunities for musicians as many shows and performers using backing trax. Despite this music colleges are still taking in large numbers of students many are now destined to become teachers. They produce more music students who will want to go to college and so it goes round and round demonstrating course providers are there in business for themselves and students are just customers with no connection to the needs of society.
We live in a free market economy where only the market can determine the numbers of Domestic Energy Assessors and levels of income. It’s unrealistic to expect legislation on the numbers of DEA’s that’s anti competitive and a restrictive practice, minimum fees cannot be dictated either, a manufacture isn’t not allowed to tell a shop keeper what price to charge for his product, that’s also anti competitive.
It’s inevitable with four times more DEA’s than required and a housing market in crisis many qualified Domestic Energy Assessors will call it a day, only the most determined, professional and business savvy will survive and that’s how it should be. In this day and age there is no excuse for not being able to find information and any new comers contemplating taking a course should do their research thoroughly and go into it with there eyes wide open. At the end of the day, they have only themselves to blame if things do not work out.
http://www.canterburydea.co.uk
July 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Two excellent articles which any aspiring DEA should read. My advice to anyone wishing to take up this line of work is don’t unless you already have the contacts and the work streams in place.
Do not believe the hype of the training providers; once they have your money they lose all interest in you unless you are willing to work for peanuts
July 5th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
A good site and I agree with GB comments, well done for setting up this site
July 6th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Graham, you make some interesting comparisons about where you feel this has happened in other industries and in times gone by. If this is the case; is this a wider issue that should be addressed or should we accept this within our specific field as it has and does occur elsewhere?
The rising domestic energy assessor numbers is certainly a concern for many DEAS within the industry?
If this is a problem, what is the solution?
July 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Good site and some good comments
My only advice is any one contemplating training to become a DEA is think long and hard and be sure the work will be there before entering into this Industry.
We have seen large numbers of people losing heart and most of all money as the original promise of earning potential is not there.
The housing market has noticeably declined, builders not building, Estate Agents closing, Solicitors laying off staff so with these factors in mind, is it worth spending out and training if you dont have guaranteed income at the end of it?!
July 6th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I can’t see how any new entry into this industry can even hope to cover their costs, let alone make a profit. The industry has 3-4 times the people it really needs, many of which have now been established since HIPs were first rolled out. Added to this is the fact that the housing market is in sharp decline and it’s all looking rather bleak.
There will be more work when rentals come on board but all letting agents and larger landlords have now been approached by existing DEAs and actually, there won’t be a sustained increase in work as rental EPCs will be valid for 10 years!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
You are of course all sadly correct there can be no legislative intervention to put a stop to Training Providers selling places on their now seemingly worthless training course…it really is a “Buyer beware” situation.
Having said that anyone contemplating any form of training without first researching the subject needs to stay exactly where they are, and ask themselves why they have not researched! This jump first mentality is the reason why so many Training Providers still advertise course…because there are those blinkered enough to buy!
The only thing that can be tackled is the advertising message they put out, it must be legal, decent, honest and truthful. Some of the claims and lures used break this code.
In terms of Graham’s point on fee fixing he is of course right about “price fixing” in a free market situation, although where a product or service is mandated by law as in MOT testing prescribed charges can be, and are fixed.
God speed to the housing market recovering!
For those of us already early qualified and progressing further levels of qualification it might have been cheaper and less stressful to have gone to Uni and achieved a degree in a building discipline, if you believe the RICS there are areas of extreme staff shortage like Quantity Surveyors and Building Services Engineers.
Maybe those contemplating DEA training should be advised to look for the the gaps in the work place as above if they are hell bent on working with property/buildings.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Any one contemplating a move toward a property based career at the moment should have to have their head examined.
With estate agents loosing their jobs throughout the country and agencies closing down daily it would simply be isane to attempt to have anything to do with that market.
Dont get me wrong, I enjoy the work and the people and properties I meet but I wouldn’t advise anyone to enter this proefession until things have properly settled down which is going to take a long long time.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Thank you all for your comments to date.
Sthgloshi you are very right in my opinion ‘buyer beware’. The industry seems to be in agreement that there is more than enough DEAs to service future requirements and though it is not seen as legislatively viable or just to stop training providers delivering future courses to cease the rising numbers of DEAs; tighter standards could be enforced.
With the concern from practicing DEAs and examples being given of some training providers practices which could easily be seen as misleading ’sales pitches’ increasing; is it not time that this was looked into to and acted upon if poor practice was being found to be used.
There will always be those blinded by the shining of the uncovered gold. If this article and everyones comments is dispersed amongst their search for DEA related information; it may reach them and give a ‘truthful’ insight.
July 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
The current situation is dire for DEAs even those who have been involved from the start. No one should consider this as a change of career now. Training companies are still promising the earth. It has been a big disappointment from day one and it will be a struggle for most to carry on. Even the Government have lost track of how many DEAs there are!!
July 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Hi Dave, it will certainly be of interest when they publish the next updated numbers of DEAs. However, these numbers are those in the system and not neccesarily those practicing. It would be of even greater interest to know how many DEAs qualified and have since ceased practicing and gained other employment.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I found this site today after having attended an ‘interview’ with a Training Provider in (city name removed, sorry!!) this morning.
I found them to be very sales driven, telling me I was ideal for the role and their ‘Recruitment Director’ kept saying “I think you should do it”… well of course he would, it pays his wages!
In the end I turned round and said I wanted to think long and hard about the financial commitment and I’d get back to him.
They want £3,965 for a four module training course which would take place over 8 days. He told me that I could earn that money back in less than a month! (Now I knew he was full of ****!) That would mean being able to do about 40 in one month (working on the assumption I’d earn £100 per report). He also told me to charge £50 per bedroom of the property… therefore charging most properties in my area £150-£200!! I know for a fact that nobody would pay that so it is unrealistic to expect this level of income. I also know how quiet the property market is at the moment so assuming I even got to do 1-2 a week, it would still take me over a year to pay it back…. ‘Nonsense’ he said… you can earn your course fees back in a month.
They were full of promises of fast-tracking me so that I was qualified ahead of 1st October - something I am sure they tell everyone.
Whilst I was in the interview, he took a call from someone who he told me was a single mother who had struggled to raise the money for the course and she had finally managed to scrape it together and would be taking the course over the coming months because she wanted to generate a new life and a new career path. I wish I’d grabbed the phone and told her to save her money and spend it on something useful!
I often think that if something sounds too good to be true then it usually is. It seems that this is the case with becoming a DEA and the training providers are only out to line their own pockets.
Surely the Government need to regulate this more effectively?!
July 16th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Well done on promoting this issue with DEA numbers.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:17 am
The only people to have made any real money out of this industry are the Training Providers and the Accreditation Companies.
Why do 12,000 DEAs (for domestic EPCs) have 8 of these august bodies when the countless numbers of heating engineers have only one body (CORGI)!
July 18th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Well done,
Lets see if between all of us we can stop this nonsense.
What about the Data Collectors. Recently CLG said that data collectors are allowed for EPCs. So, if we weren’t enough DEAs, now anyone can be a data collector with no qualifications or whatsoever.
Where is this heading ???
July 20th, 2008 at 2:20 am
First of all i would like to thank the person who created this site. This will at least prevent others from getting hustled into this scam.
Secondly,question to Hannah (July 16th), just out of curiosity, which training centre did you happen to go to?
Was it the one opposite the (description of location of training centre/provider ommitted due to possible legal implications, sorry!!!)
I was called in for a interview 3 weeks ago, and ’surprise surprise’ i passed the interview and the aptitude test. After that i said to them i need to have a think about this commitment. As £6800 is a lot of money. At first i was naive enough to believe what they were saying…
But recently i have been bombarded with phone calls everyday, i said to them i have not got the cash right now to enrol on the course at which point they wanted me to come into the office, so that they could fix me with a loan.
One of the interviewers even had the cheek to say that i should bring my father in, so he can act as a gurantour!!
I just wanted to know if anyone esle has had similar experiences.
It was only by searching the net did i come across many forums slating the course. And with further reading and advice i am happy to say that i have saved myself a lot of time, and most importantly £6800!
Advice to others, please be wary!!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am
Message to Anon re your message of July 20th, 2008 at 2:20 am
I think that by the sounds of it it was the same provider. A (type of building removed, sorry!!) that houses a number of companies?
I was told that I didn’t even need to do the aptitude test because I was “so well-suited to the job”! I have had a call since my interview which I did not answer and I am expecting more calls today because of course their recruitment period “ends” tomorrow so they want me signed up (with all my money!) by then.
Even if I had the money to hand I wouldn’t be spending it on this. Thank you to this site and others for providing useful warnings to anyone that is considering it.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I am glad to have found and read this as i have recently gone to (college name removed due to possible legal implications, sorry!!) in (college name removed due to possible legal implications, sorry!!), passed the aptitude test and interview and been told i am worthy of a place. I was so excited about this opportunity as i thought i would have alot of work i could generate through contacts but i am thinking not to go ahead with it now as i know that even after maybe doing work for people i know, there will not be anything after that!!
July 27th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I couldn’t agree more with all the above comments. I too attended the (college name removed, sorry!!!) in (city name removed, sorry!!) (they squeezed my ‘Interview’ in with another candidate where the ‘Director’ said he would need to discuss my ‘Application’ with the other directors to see if if I was worthy of lashing out the best part of £4000.
It is just an elabotate sales pitch / scam and needs to be stopped. Its disgusting.
During my ‘aptitude test’ i had a quiet chat with my fellow interviewee and tried to calm him down. He’d obviously been sold on the idea. So far I’ve ignored all calls, but if they call again next week I’m going to have a chat and tell them what I think of them. Watch this space!
July 29th, 2008 at 8:30 am
It seems that are a few colleges out there practicing in the manner you have described which is very concerning. If they have a great opportunity why the need for such a hard sales pitch?
The question still remains, how do we address these issues now that we know they are there?
We have been overwhelmed with the strength of feeling and the number and quality of comments to date, though it is most welcomed. Keep them coming.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Interesting reading. I was about to reply to an advert in the local paper offering training to become a “multi skilled energy assessor”, decided to do a bit of research first and came across the link to here from the Singing Pig Forum. The advert mentions “multiple income streams” as a “Domestic and Commercial Energy Assessor, Flood Risk Assessor and Home Inspector”. Please can anyone clarify what a Home Inspector does and will there really be a need for 7500 Home Inspectors when the Government makes Home Inspections compulsory? Is it correct that there are currently only 1000 qualified Home Inspectors?
July 29th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Hi Elaine,
In response to your question. Home inspectors (HI’s)were due to carry out Home Condition Reports (here is a sample of one) though the government made a U-turn on this part of the implementation of HIPS and made them voluntary. Due to this there has been very little uptake in HCR work and many HI’s have never completed a paid HCR instruction.
There is talk of HI’s being able to carry out a similar type survey in the future. However, this is far from being conclusively decided. Most within the industry including currently qualified Home Inspectors feel that the HCR is dead and will never return. This obviously, understandably so leaves many feeling upset and let down due to their substantial time and monetary investment in their training.
There are multi skilled energy assessors though please remember that this means more than one training course and related fees.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Thanks for the clarification. Think I will save myself the cost of the phone call and bin the advert!
August 1st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thank god I read this, I was about to put my youngest into childcare and sort out after school clubs for my other children to train as an assessor in (city name removed, sorry!!) (over 60 miles away). After reading this I’ve just rung ands canceled, thankyou one and all!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
I was just about to sign up for a DEA course in (city name removed, sorry!!), on my credit card, with a ‘60% funding available’,which I still could not afford but it all sounded too good….. So I thought I would just check it all out on internet, and thanks to all of you I wont be signing up.Pity though because I thought that EPC’S for all the buildings in the UK could just the first and vital step for a full assessment of our housing stock and its energy demand. I was a bit suspicious of the reduced Data standard assessment procedure used though -RdSAP-. When you simplify to much you can guess the conclusions, most houses in UK average out as not efficient and should all just have best insulation and efficient heating, plus owner guidance before you have to measure anything. We would be better of with a massive campaign, Govt. funded, to bring every place up to a best standard, to reduce our national energy needs. I was looking forward to the DEA training and doing my bit but thanks to the internet I have been able to access the views of hundreds of people and thus avoid going into debt. Thanks again.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
This article has not been designed to put people off though to provide a realistic picture of the market place for practicing DEAs. In turn i am very pleased it has provided food for thought for those of you considering the DEA career.
In addition to this, it now appears that some panels are experiencing cashflow problems which is resulting in DEAs not being paid on the dates agreed they would be. There is an interesting article which i have recently read regarding late payments to DEAs. Draw your own conclusions.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
When one door closes another opens…
I am an estate agent and work for a small independent firm in Bristol. The local market is, well, bad to say the least!
The number of people pulling out on sales at the last minute or trying to re-neg is sooooooo bad that we have had to look in to other revenue steams.
One of the main problems with estate agency is that we have to wait 2-4 months once we have secured a sale before we actually get paid on the sale. For years Estate agents have been trying to come up with ways to secure some money upfront on every sale and it has been found! HIP’s are the upfront fee agents have been searching for (thank you labour!) It is instant money and a very good revenue stream.
However, with EPC’s being part of the HIP it wont be long before they are carried out in house to secure another revenue stream. I have just trained as a DEA which means i can offer Estate Agency experience, lettings experience and now EPC’s! I have the advantage of having a guranteed source of houses (rental and sales) and the ability to undercut any self employed DEA - it also makes me ‘needed’ by my company!
So, anyone new who wants to train as a DEA i would highly recommend that you have a source of EPC stock BEFORE you train otherwise you will be wasting your money in the long run.
It wont be long before the Estate Agents catch on to this and they trian themselves up. Therefor emy suggestions would be to get trained as a DEA and apply for jobs as an estate agent or letting agent - that way you have a guranteed stream AND the ability to command a better salary than if you were working independently.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:01 am
God, I am soo glad I found this site. I too have been invited to an “interview” in a nice glossy training centre in (college name removed, sorry!!). I had my suspicions about them when they called me back for the telephone interview which was supposed to be an informal chat until they started to ask me about my qualifications, and then it really turned into a sales/recruitment pitch. They left me with questions such as is the scheme governemnt funded, what costs will i pay. they weren’t willing to discuss this until the day of the interview which is supposed to be this afternoon. I have now cancelled!!!!! I have already been made redundant because of the credit crunch, there’sd no way I’m gonna get scammed and loose even more money
August 5th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Like many at the moment I am currently facing redundancy, so I am looking at all sorts of options. I think I’m a reasonably switched-on person, who is able to spot fools-gold from a golden nugget, but like many I responded to the Multi-Skilled Energy Assessor advert in the local paper last night. I phoned, and not surprisingly, I found that I was ideally suited and have been offered an interview. As there’s no such thing as a free lunch, I decided to research this golden opportunity. Google soon came up with this site. Thanks to you all for confirming my suspicions.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Hi there, I’m laughing at myself as I just phoned them to “BECOME A MULTISKILLED…..” Few minutes later I foud your website (thanks mother nature for such inventions like internet). Some of us give different prices on that course, does it mean that they are just vary or it depends on place? I am thinking if I could haggle about it? What do you think? Is it time worth? And question for those who done this course - what does this assessement really consist in? Thanks for any information.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Hi Mizuna,
I am glad that you have found the article of interest. In response to your question please visit this link to see what the domestic energy assessment involves.
Please support us if you have found reading this article useful. We would appreciate if you could vote for our site here to improve the articles exposure.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I went for an interview at said college yesterday and all I had drummed in to me was how i was lucky enough to make it from 1500 people down to the 100 asked for interview! more like 100 people actually applied. I’m waiting for a call this morning and I already know regardless of how my interview went they are going to offer me the place and say am lucky enough to get the ”golden ticket” as they put it.
They tried to tell me if i worked 30 hours a week and had 6weeks holiday a year I could still earn £117,300! I feel sorry for anyone who actually falls for that load of rubbish. There is no guarantee of work and they just feed you figures rather than facts! The fact is there isn’t that much work out there especially considering the numbers of DEA’s already in the market.
If they think im going to hand over £3965 for a few letters after my name and not actually make anywhere near the money they claim they must have bumped their heads. I was also told the most fantastic story (sarcasm) about a single mother who didnt have the money for the course and decided on the interviewr’s advice to pray for the money! low and behold she won the lottery (cough cough B*** S***) just enough money to pay for her course as well… how convenient
I really hope anyone thinking about this farce looks here first
August 13th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Thank Goodness i found this site. I too have been suckered into this. Becoming an multi skilled energy assessor seemed a very good career path from what i was told at their (city name removed, sorry!!) branch and I believed everything the recruitment director told me. I am already on the bread line (with a low income and two children to take care of) and could not afford the fees, but with promises of a potential income of at least £1000 per week, i thought i could not lose by getting a loan from the bank. Thank you all for saving my life XX
August 14th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I agree that the only winners in this [ and i mean all short courses especially building trades],are the recruitment/training agencies that claim either the shortage of tradesmen or the 50,000 per year salary!!!
This is a perfect example of a advert i come across every day… TRAIN TO BE A PLUMMER IN 10 WEEKS, and yes my friend did just that, but can he get a job? Well he should be able to, after all there’s such a big shortage in plumbers so they said?? The answer is no. Seems there was no shortage after all. So while the government try to decide what this really is, “domestic energy assessor” or “domestic arse assessor”, i think anyone interested should stay well away. I to feel an absolute fool for even looking in to this! What a joke!!
August 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Hi, My husband is currently in (city name removed, sorry!!) having an interview for one of these roles…. I will let you know how he got on when he returns, he is a natural sceptic and not particularly impulsive so it will be an interesting “sell” for them.
August 15th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Please do bondie, a sceptical nature should determine that it was a complete waste of time and money. For example, at any point during the interview did they actually tell your husband a FACT?? If they have to sell THEMSELVES to prospective employees, then that should say it all. Its possible that alarm bells should be ringing!!! “ring” “ring”
August 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I have just been on here to check how it is going and see if anyone else has experienced the same as me and I am appalled at how many people are being targeted by the colleges based in (city name removed, sorry!!)….
The ’single mum’ story that I was told in my interview was definitely true because she happened to call when I was in there. In fact, I made a mental note of her name and I was so concerned I tracked her down on facebook and sent her a link to this page!!
I wish there was something that we could all do to combat these colleges who are blatantly lying to people and rinsing them of their hard-earned money.
I just hope that people are aware of the risks and make educated decisions about going into this business instead of rushing into it, especially in the current financial climate with a very poor property market.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I was meant to call my female ‘recruitment director’ back on Friday to arrange my registration for training, but after reading this site on Wednesday, i obviously didn’t make the call. She called me on Friday afternooon and i told her that i was no longer interested. She asked me why and i told her that i had done my own research and that there actually isn’t any work at the moment for energy assessors, and she said ‘yes, but you will also be a home inspector’(that was admitting that i was right about the energy assessors not having work)I told her that HI’s also have no work. In the end i had to put the phone down on her as she got really snotty with me, and would not accept that there was no way i was going to gamble £6,800 for a very uncertain career. She was obviously upset because she thought i was a garuantee for her commission, but thanks to this site….
I just wish more people could be informed of the actual facts. The training centre in (city name removed, sorry!!) was full of people already training, who have already been sold the story and paid over the fees.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Loraine says
Many thanks for the creator of this site - my unemployed husband went for an interview at (city name removed, sorry!!) today and the cost of the training was £6,800 plus over £1000 with exam fees etc.
this was for home and energy assessors training. I’m so glad we found this site!
We won’t be asking the bank for a loan.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Was the site in (city name removed, sorry!!)…. have an another in (city name removed, sorry!!)…. In London? I have been there, and the classrooms were full, all 4 clasrooms with 12 people in them. But i must thank this site, as I have also been to the one in (city name removed, sorry!!)…., not impressed at all, no one in these classrooms.
I shall not be foloowing this line of work.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I have an interview with a training company in (city name removed, sorry!!) tomorrow in regards to me training to be an home inspector/ energy assesor. now, i admitedly dont know anything about this industry, just what ive been told. and all ive been told is theres a small amount of energy assesors, and theres a rapidly rising demand for them, with the goverment changing things and making these tests compulsary for selling your home. they say there an abbe approved assesment centre which has been specificly designed for the training. it all sounded great and i had high hopes…..until i read this.
now my question is, should i even bother going tomorrow? as from what ive read on this site, its all a load of rubbish?
August 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I feel it needs re-iterating though has been described before on this post and within comments by others.
Domestic energy assessors can undertake EPC certificates for domestic properties.
Home Inpesctors can undertake home condition reports (HCR) and EPCs for domestic properties.
However, it must be remembered and very very important in my opinion; at present there is little or no demand for HCRs as they are completetly voluntarily.
For those interested in becoming a Home Inspector there are many Home Inspectors who have done very very few HCRs some zero. The strong belief and feeling within the industry is that HCRs will never return or be compulsory.
There was a training company who was investigated - nothing was able to be proven.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I was due to go to (city name removed, sorry!!) on Tuesday 19/08 as I ‘PASSED’ the telephone stage. I mentioned this job to a old work mate who sent me the links. WOW , all I can say is thanks mate, you have saved me a tank full of petrol and a wasted day. I have been made redundant and was looking for a ‘new career’ and thought, foolishly , that this could be it. Oh well theres no fool like an old fool and i certainly was nearly that.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Hi all,
Well this is interesting. I’m just preparing for an interview in (city name removed, sorry!!) this afternoon. It seems I can’t give out the name, but they’re listed on the ABBE website and seem legit.
I guess there is nothing to lose by going. I too am not easily suckered in to scams. Besides, if they try and sell me a course costing £4,000 there’s no way I can afford this anyway.
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Thanks
August 19th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
To Tim J,
Is it by any chance £6,800.00? Im sure you met a ‘Recruitment Director’, who told you that there is a gap in the market (with all of the Gorverment Legislation that they are following very closely), for Energy Assessors. This is clearly not true. Dont forget that the government are already considering abolishing the energy assessments and if the Conservatives get in the next election they have already said that they will abolish them.
Please do let us know how you get on!
August 19th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
thank you all very much for your feedback. i am due to go to an interview tommorrow in (city name removed, sorry!!) but i aint going to bother now. i to was selected because the greedy idiot on the other end of the phone felt he had a “gut feeling” i was just what he was looking for. i just hope more people thinking about the course find this site
August 21st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Hi All
I can not thank you enough for this site, like every one else my partner is out of work due to the credit crunch and was in search of a new career as a DEA/HIP Assessor.
He had a phone interview and was then offered a real interview in (city name removed, sorry!!). He passed the interview and the aptitude test and was offered a training place for £6,800 by the “Recruitment Director”. We phoned the Learning Skills Council to find out if this company was resisted in order to apply for funding from a Careers Development Loan (which it is not!) and they told us that loads of people had phoned enquiring about this company. This initially caused us concern as the careers advisor had previously informed us that is free for company’s to register with the Learning Skills Council!
We were completely taken in by this SCAM, thank goodness we couldn’t raise the funding!
Their advert is in all our local papers in Wales. So please be warned!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Further to the above the Government have now released the latest figures of Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA) and Home Inspectors in the system. See here for official government figures as of 22nd May 2008.
Please remember that there are about 3mths extra DEAs/HIs to be added onto these figures at the time of writing and it is suggested by many industry professionals that only about 3000-4000 assessors are needed to undertake the domeestic energy assessment.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
We have been pleased at being able to help bring this issue to light and really appreciate your thanks.
Keep spreading the word and vote for us here is you have found this thread useful.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
It seems i discovered this site too late,I’ve been conned already, thankfully it is only £ 10.50 that i have wasted on a return train ticket to (city name removed, sorry!!), oh and £ 3.80 parking, it could have been a lot worse (like 350 times worse). I too met the recruitment director after ‘passing’ the telephone interview(didn’t I do well?) He claimed to be an ex policeman, I wonder how many he has nicked for daylight robbery.
He finished the interview by asking me what he could say to the ABBE to convince them to accept me on to their course, I replied that me agreeing to pay them £ 3,965 would probably clinch it. I dont think the ‘recruitment director’ liked my response. I nearly didnt bother completing the aptitude test after, but if i hadn’t i might not get offered a place on the course(ha ha) i reckon if you answered them all wrong there would be a place for you.
Thanks a million for setting up this site, it has confirmed my suspicions, don’t waste your cash!
August 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hi all,
Well I went to the interview a week ago. I must say, it all seemed “ok”. The facts and figures seemed alright, although I was sceptical about the potential earnings spiel (up to £90k a year for working like 20 hours a week…?)
I took the aptitude test which I actually found ok, bar one or two tricky maths related questions and I was told I would hear back the following day. Looks like I don’t have to worry about whether or not to do it as I didn’t hear anything back! Lol.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I trained as a Home Inspector and I am a practising DEA (since July 2007).
The average Fee for an EPC started out at around £100, it is now down to about £40.
The property slow down combined with over subscription of DEA’s is driving the fee even lower.
I know of DEA’s who have not completed a single paying assessment yet - and are not likely to do so in the foreseeable future.
My advice to anyone who is reading this, and considering a new career as a HI - DEA, is simple - DONT BOTHER!
LOW WORK VOLUMES + LOW FEE’S + DEPRESSED MARKET = NO HOPE!
Spend your money on something that stands a chance of giving a return - buy Lottery tickets.
If you can’t afford to lose the Training Fee - don’t sign up because YOU WILL NOT RECOVER THE COST.
Listen to me, the REALISTIC earning potential of a lucky DEA is around £20K. The AVERAGE earning’s are @£11 - 15K and Most DEA’s won’t get near £15K.
Still interested? - Good luck (but just in case I don’t meet you after you have qualified - I TOLD YOU SO!)
August 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
[...] Should I train as a domestic energy assessor (DEA)? [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Hi,
As a qualified DEA my answer is simple - that is an emphatic NO.
My training cost £3,500, all the gear I needed - computer, printer, scanner, etc added another £750.
I FOOLISHLY gave up my day job. (Idiot that I am).
From a reasonably healthy bank balance last Christmas, my bank balance is now near to empty.
I have not even earned enough to pay for the equipment let alone the course fees.
WORK IT OUT YOURSELF.
Best Regards
Richard
August 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hi Richard/Ray - interesting comments. What are your views on the new legislation coming in to include rented properties? Would this make it worthwhile?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:18 am
All I can say is don’t do it. Even the comapny that is offering subsidised training is still costing you alot. Ask this question and you will find out that you are still paying over £3000 and he would not give me the amount and he told me that I was only trying to pump inforamtion out of him, ‘well no, I wanted to know how much money I needed to pay as in your paper advert it said subsidised training. When I approach a college they tell me what I need to pay and they don’t wait for me to come to an interview. Going to (city names removed, sorry!!) will be a cost in its self, can’t even remember your other centres.
I am so glad that I found this site. Any mums looking to change career or go back in to work think about this option before you part with your money, if a training company can’t give basic info over the phone, what hope have you got for trusting them not to give you promising hopes or the hard sales drive when you get to your interview.
Good luck!
August 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Hi
I attended an interview on Wednesday in (city name removed, sorry!!) and like an idiot fell for the sales pitch, I mean it all sounds so wonderfull, you want to believe it so you do.
I was accepted on Thursday morning and pencilled in for an interview next Monday to sign up and pay. How close to wasting £6800 that I don’t really have!! Thank god I felt it was to good to be true and found this web site, I now feel sorry for the other people who I saw there especially 21 year old Jamie who was borrowing the money and giving up his carpentry job to do the course.
Its a scam and wants stopping, this web site and others like it do a great job in revealing the truth
Long may you continue
Many thanks
Ken
August 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
There definately needs to be more awareness about what is being highlighted in this site. It took me about two days to find this information. Some people aren’t so lucky and have carried out their training because of a lack of the real facts.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I saw an advert online and called the number. looked good to me. something i could get my teeth into.i spoke to a lady and the training would be in bristol.( about 3/4 hr drive away. takin in to account kids, petrol etc, i did think this would b an ideal way to start a career now the children are older and was willin make the sacrifice to drive there on 1wk blocks for 8wks til qualified.there has been no mention of paying for the course and am now thinking of phoning them back up with some questions that i feel i wont get the answers i was looking for. they still tell you there are only 1,000 qualified as of yesterday.although the housing market is in crisis, i also have my own business which i was goin to carry on while doin this so i would not solely rely on it but how can they make these claims if they are not true? and do you think they will tell me how much its gonna cost, all of a sudden, when ive just spent 3/4 hrs drivin and £50 or more on a tank of petrol? I am meant to be going up for the interveiw this sat so quick replies would be very welcome rather than me waste mine and my families time. thankyou.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Hi Helena,
If you have legitimate questions, is it right that they are answered?
The figure of a 1000 may possibly refer to Home Inspectors, certainly NOT Domestic Energy Assessors; which in reality is the role you would be carrying out if you trained as a Home Inspector at present.
Please see here for official government released figures.
Home inspectors were intended to carry out Home Condition Reports - how many have actually be carried out in the last 6 months?
September 5th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Well I’ve been doing my homework since my above post and following on from interview with a college in (city name removed, sorry!!).
After this college told me that there aren’t enough DEAs out there to meet demand, I have heard completely to the contrary. I’ve spoken to an existing DEA in my area and an employer of DEAs and both said don’t do it - certainly not as a full time thing. There are already so many out there, and most DEAs have just had 1 or 2 assessments only since qualifying.
Sorry everyone - the dream of becoming a DEA, self-employed and a man/woman of leisure just isn’t going to be achieved through this profession - keep looking!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Just arrived back from “interview”. Luckily, I had googled DEA before going a few days ago. Their building was flooded, so had to go to another temporary place. Course cost was 3965 for level-3 DEA. and extra 2900 if Commercial EA done as well. else 1000 per module.
The Potential income section of the brochure says income “range from £50 to £120 per EPC”, ” a minumum of ten EPCs … with average fee £85 would generate …. £850 per week …”
I agree that if this is genuinely a scam then people need to mnow about it. WHy not interest “Watchdog” type BBC programs (consuner affairs) in it? They love this type of program!
Thanks for having this site available, or I would have thought it a good investment.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:50 am
its a funny old world…
such elegant blogs.
if i was a trainer selling courses(only in it for the money),i guess id be exgagerating the truth.
if i was a dea(only in it for the money)i guess id be discouraging people to take a slice of my pie.
i find it interesting that there isnt one single positive comment(except toward the moraly supreme being that created this site),which there are many of….almost too many.
they say you shouldnt believe all that you read.
they also say ‘dont judge a book by its cover’….on the contrary i feel,for a book on any given subject is written with a particular reader in mind so its cover should be a good indication of whats inside and would market itself in that direction.
just an observation.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:03 am
In response to your post ‘me’, i would like to address your points and clarify a couple of areas.
1. All comments are genuine - 90% of commentors have left valid emails and many linked back to their site unlike yourself.
2. All comments have been published in full, apart from where businesses names have been mentioned and this has been stated as being so.
3. We have only not published one comment left on this article due to it being offensive.
This article has been written as there is widespread empathy with the DEA industry with the issue raised within this article.
We felt we had the opportunity to help publicise the issue; with the aim to give those not in the industry a greater awareness prior to entering into the business and investing large amounts of money and time.
We feel that this has being achieved and will continue to. We never imagined such a high response of comments though demonstrates the strength of feeling and concern within the industry and those considering it.
HIP-Consultant.co.uk obviously has a vested interest in our own industry and we are certainly NOT only interested in it for the money. It is recognised accross the industry; the more DEAs, the cheaper the fee. HIP-Consultant.co.uk employ DEAs and would benefit with reduced costs in this scenario.
We have never tried to disuade people from entering the industry; we have provided facts and figures and an opportunity for others to share experiences and their views. With this information people can make an informed judgement on whether they choose to train as a DEA.
Yes there have been many kind comments and thanks towards the articles which are all very much welcomed.
It has also been brought to our attention that people have quoted and referred to the article in places, including on internet forums which has undoubtedly helped towards the success of the article.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those that have taken the time out to leave comments including ‘me’.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Hi Tim,
Speaking to other providers is a great method of finding further information and most would be happy to share a short period of time discussing certain aspects.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Jeez louise, thank god for this site.
I attended an interview at the (college name removed, sorry!!) on Friday, and got a call today to say i had been ‘accepted’, i was really pleased but also bothered by the fact that im deep in debt and was struggling to find the money to pay the £3775+ vat was going to ask the mother-in-law.
The director said that the sister company would provide the work plus any we find ourselves being a bonus, sounded so good. I currently run my own business as a gardener and really want a change from being dependant on the weather, i really liked the idea of being a DEA and thought after October 1st the amount of work would be huge, i guess not.
Another dream burst, oh well. Thanks for the heads up guys.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Thank God I came across this blog. I am due to attend the interview and aptitude test in Bristol tomorrow morning. Guess what I have decided to spend the morning in bed instead. Thanks all for the honest information on what a complete scam this is I just hope anyone looking down this career path comes across this site again thanks…
September 11th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
jobs as DEAs avalable.
has any trained DEA applied for this?
is it genuine?
http://www.chrisrodgers.co.uk/recruitment/homes-and-energy.php
September 13th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Hi
A few weeks ago I had a discussion with my Bank Manager who advised me to complete the DEA course that I had signed up for he spured me on by saying that he had DEA’s on his books who were earning in excess of £50K PA.
Last week I had a DEA come to this dwelling to carry out a survey for the owners of the house. Of course I took the oportunity to ask relevant questions about his job and his remarks were “DON’T DO IT” in 2007 he earned just £5000 he was hoping to double it by the end of this year. He also said that most of the new opertunities that will arise in October this year would be taken on by CORPORATE organisations.
I was made redundant two years ago for a very well paid job in teaching, because of my age have found it hard to get into college lecturing again. I honestly thought that the DEA would be my salvation a way and means of meeting my bills I have my training week next month I will be raising some questions then.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Hello
I was invited to take a test and interview after passing the phone “test”. I was told I’d passed with flying colours and they would love to have me and offered me a role as a consultant once I’d completed the training.
I smelt a rat when they asked me for the money straight up. Other educational institutions accept payment in instalments.
I was saving up for a new car but thought, when I qualify, I can get a better car! Don’t think I’d be happy at all if I’d spent the money on the course and got nothing back.
Do you think the situation will change after 1st of October when the law comes into practice? ie will there be a need for more Energy Assessors?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Hi,
I notice a lot of comments relate to DEA (Domestic Energy Assessment)
What is you take on the commercial market, I have been considering Non Domestic Energy assessment Levels 3 & 4. Has anyone undertaken these courses and undertaken work in this field?
September 17th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Very interesting stuff. I am just about to qualify as a DEA and obviously the future looks gloomy. I too was wondering how the market for Non-Domestic Assessors was looking. Is it worth going straight into training for the commercial stuff?
Thanks for any advice. Rachel
September 18th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Hi Rachel,
The very best of luck in your new profession as a DEA.
Alan, the article is about bringing awareness to the specific area of becoming a DEA and/or a Home Inspector. We have recently published an article about Commercial Energy Performance Certificates and a reader has written his thoughts on assessor numbers though these are not confirmed figures.
The Non-Domestic qualification and market is very different to the domestic counterpart. The complexity of the Level 3 NDEA assessment procedure is reported by many as being far above that of the Level 3 domestic energy assessment.
It does appear at present that there is not a great over-suply of assessors in the commercial field as there is in the domestic field though this is very hard to confirm at this stage. However, to become a commercial energy assessor most training providers will and in our opinion should require the DEA course as a pre-entry requirement before progressing onto the NDEA course; unless you have a good background and experience in a related field.
Whether commercial energy assessor numbers expand at the same speed as domestic energy assessors only time will tell. Opinion seems to be split at present; some believing that history will repeat itself and numbers will be very high, some that the technical knowledge and requirements will be too high for commercial energy assessor to rocket.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Wow thanks guys and this website i was also thinking about doing the course luckily a little research and this great website stopped me
nice one
September 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Saw an advert in paper and thought thats a job for me!
Looked on internet and saw the training fees and thought why can.t I train myself?
Came across this site and was amazed at the content, well done for being so informative.
Now then does anyone know if you can train yourself and so avoid these fees?
September 21st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Glad to find this site - amazing!. Attended an interview / assessment in Bristol last week and really wanted to believe the slick speil from the ‘Recruitment Director’, but the one thing I couldn’t get over is that he refused to give me a copy of the ‘agreement’ or anything in writing come-to-that; other than some glossy marketing material. When I asked for a copy of the agreement, the RD said that I would get to read that when I go to sign-up and pay the full £6,800 (’subsidised’ training fee). Definitely a case of ‘buyer beware’, I think. Thanks everyone.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
well thanks to everyone and for finding this site. it seems i too beleieved i could start a new career as a ‘multi skilled energy asessor’ after seeing the advert in the local paper.
i now know to not bother and not waste my money and stay in the job im in. So beware it seems the advert is in every loclal paper tryin to con you out of your hard earned money.
thanks again!
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 am
I am so glad I found this site. I too have been in contact with the training company based in (city name removed, sorry!!)….. I have already a very busy business within the property (mostly rental) sector and wanted to add to my services offered, so am thinking my circumstances not so crucial as someone entering a whole new world. However I am obvioulsy still worried by it all. After having my telephone “interview” (and of course passing)I was invited for the formal interview in (city name removed, sorry!!). Perhaps becaused I told them I was far too busy to contemplate booking a day from work to chat to someone about paying some money (I had to phone back and leave a message to ask how much exactly) and just needed them to send me the details of exactly how the course worked - I have heard no more!
However I have also spoken to another training provider - just dealing with DEA’s - much less money and starts with home study, 3 days training and then home study and practical thereafter. Part payment when you enrol and the rest before the training.
I am supposing that because I already have the basic set up - no need to buy computer etc. and customers who already know me, I will be ok, but after reading your site - I’m still waivering??
Am I still being a bit thick??
September 29th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Hi
We are DEA’s at present and about to take Level 3 & 4 of CEA.
I agree with the many comments posted but would also like to say that the info regarding pros and cons was out there from the start. We researched, researched and researched before deciding on becoming DEA’s and continued with our architectural practice alongside. I would say its a good add on/sideline for anyone wishing to diversify an existing business, but not as a stand alone career, the market is infiltrated. As for HI’s I would guess that this past year has been a waste of time and money, here’s hoping that one day soon they become mandatory. So I guess it’s a case of reading as much as you can, not being taken in by training companies who obviously are going to give the hard sell, after all it is their job and keeping your feet firmly on the ground. The old adage “if it’s too good to be true….” definately applies to DEA courses.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:09 am
hi all. same story as many above i’m afraid.recently made redundant, looking for a gap in the future work place to submerge myself 100% ..phoned up the number in the local paper and immediately smelled a rat…. no hard answers to my questions eg.is it possible to get help with fees from funding councils, how much is the course . how many practising companies are there .how many people are currently employed in the business etc etc.the techniques used to try to get me to the college were very INTERESTING.i always research anything i’m looking to commit myself to and the more i read and hear from people about this subject the more angry and frustrated it makes me feel. the set up at the ‘college ‘ i called was very similar to other hard sell scenarios i encountered a few years ago, many of which have appeared on watchdog and similar programs. legally everything they are doing may be correct . morally … i’m not sure . it would appear that some of the coleges are more reputable than others.having spoken to associates who were willing to go into debt to try and get themsevles out of difficult financial situations through this route i have found that upon deeper research this would be exceedingly difficult, especially in the present economic climate. the dream being sold would appear to be very different from the reality. other comments on this web site would appear to also confirm this .are the government aware of how their legislation is being carried out ? i’m currently writing an article on this subject and i would like to hear from ALL associated with this business through this excellent website. i’d recommend to anyone thinking of going into debt to solely become an assessor, to independently research the matter extensively. excellent comment from emma on the 29th sept and would appear very informative.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
In Reply To Andy
Definately not being thick, just cautious, which is no bad thing in this climate. I think if you are already in a business which allows you to utilise contacts you already have, then it could enhance it by offering DEA service. Just got to weigh up the money against how many EPC’s you are realistically going to achieve.
We probably did 80 in 12 months but then decided to chase work through bugging estate agents & solicitors, cutting prices for repeat business etc, so we now contract our agents, to ensure that we give best rates and they don’t “shop” elsewhere. Also worth sending out e mails to everyone you can think of in your catchment area now that October 1st is here, we picked up 50 in 2 weeks by doing this. Just some ideas that have worked for us, it really does pay to make a nuisance of yourself, eventually people give in!!!
September 30th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
In reply to Johnny
We used one of the first training centres in Milton Keynes whose software we still use. I have to say there was no hard sell, we weren’t given inflated figures of what we might earn, bearing in mind at that time we were one of the first DEA’s to be studying, so things looked a lot brighter then. I think best way for people to look into it is with reputable training centres set up solely to undertake Energy Assessors, rather than colleges and HIP providers online. They really are only interested in getting bums on seats and getting max money for little return. There is a huge variance in prices, we are currently studying CEA course and the difference in prices were £1500 between highest and lowest, so it does pay to shop around. Dont be afraid to grill these people before booking, if they can’t or won’t give you the answers then look elsewhere. Also another thing to bear in mind is that the software costs money each year too, as well as yearly registration, so it isn’t just the one off fee that you have to take into account.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Thank God for this website.
I feel so foolish for being half suckered in. Like so many others on this website, i saw the advert in the local rag for a Multi Skilled Asessor. Rang up passed the phone interview and got invited to go to a formal interview in (city name removed, sorry!!)
Went there all suited and booted only to be met by a man who was bored and just read me a load of facts and figures from a sheet, then gave me a glossy brochure abou the course then said all i need is £6800 pounds.
Now correct me if i am wrong. If it is a training course then why all the smoke and mirrors with interview and phone calls. Surely i should be able to just walk in off the street. lay down my near 7 grand and scream teach me.
Well when i phone up their sister training centres in (city name removed, sorry!!). not one of them could give me a straight answer. The “director” of the (city name removed, sorry!!) centre is phoning me up tomorrow to see if i have the money ready so we can book a date.
Now no threat or intention thereof but let me say, its going to be an emotional day for him should he dare call me tomorrow.
once again thank you for this site.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Went for interview at (city name removed, sorry!!). Today.
I must say that I was not promised the earth. £30k was mentioned as a target for 25-30 hours a week. That’s if work is available. They said that this could not be guaranteed. I was interested in saturation of the market but they could not give me total numbers of DEA’s (I know now!)
They are also looking for ‘consultants’ to qualify as there are not any yet in the market!!? These guys would advise on improvements and get commission on any work done.
Alarm bells rang when I was ordered to ring back the next day (tomorrow) to either commit or move on (all presented in the nicest possible way). Panicking I stumbled across this site. Hmmm who to believe?
October 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I paid £2300 for a energy assessors course, after being talked into it basically, I think our nation is sh*t and we are just out for ourselves.. why cant our trustworthy government stop these courses as they seem to have enough people qualified.. I passed my exam for the course and spent all my free time racing around 5 houses getting information for my portfolio, I thought I was doing so good after night upon night of sketching houses and working out dimensions, all this was done whilst taking a holiday from work!! Great!. So now I sit at home with my incomplete portfolio sitting in the corner after reading it over and over again, it states now that I have to produce letters and diagrams on my pc which I have got absolutely no idea how to do! I really recommend this course- to a fool
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Hi
I have just stumbled across this site and read the comments.I quit my Job and I signed up for this HI course back in March and paid £6800! Have just completed Mod 6 and studying for the exam!
I feel conned and a total idiot! Not sure whether to continue as it would seem a waste of time? But I suppose if I have paid for it I might as well complete it if I can pass the final exam.
Any thoughts?apart from no not another mug!
October 26th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Thank you. I was about to enrol on a course in (city name removed, sorry!!) tomorrow parting with £3965 after passing the interview. I will be keeping my money in my pocket, thank you. To think i believed all the bullsh*t at the interview angers me. In future i will research the course first
October 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Steve,
On a personal note i for one would continue to do the HI course without doubt if you have already paid for it.
Maybe, the HCR will become mandatory though am yet to speak to anyone in the industry who believes this. Am afraid that is my belief as well.
In fact most i have contact with, even those who studied as a HI have resigned themselves to the HCR never returning. Many HIs continue to undertake EPCs or have returned to their previous occupation.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:38 am
A big thank you to all that have read and contributed to this post and others within our blog.
We know many of the people who visit this post have found us via search engines though also where people have had interaction on forums.
If you have left links to this post on forums or have found it via a forum or some other method we would love to hear from you and about it.
October 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I’m an architect…and thought a career change whould give me flexibility for when I start a family. I passed the telephone test, the interview and aptitude test. I did think it peculiar why he didn’t tell me the cost of the course over the phone, and when I did find out 6,800 sounded a lot, but because of potential earnings it seemed like a good investment. I was told that I was over qualified and so didn’t suspect anything suspicious…and it all seemed quite professional.
I was suppose to register on the course last monday, and I was there reading through all the terms and conditions of the course before signing…I didn’t understand why they didn’t send it to me in the post to read beforehand!
Fortunantly I missed heard about the part that I had to pay the full amount for the course upfront on that day. So when I got there I hadn’t prepared for all the money to be in my current account.
He seemed a little stressed over the fact that my payment date would be different to the date of the signed contract. And asked if I had a credit card to pay instead. Or we’d need to fill in and sign the contracts again.
So I looked in my purse and realised that I had a visa debit card, and had a go anyway! Fortunantly my overdraft doesn’t stretched that much…so the machine declined the card! (BTW I saw about 7 credit card machines in that office all lined up next to each other!!). Because my card didn’t work I made another appointment to come back the following day. As I had signed two contracts one copy for myself and as he’d mentioned earlier we have to redo the contracts…I asked him if I could take a copy home to read through properly. His response was ‘no, I can’t give it to you without the receipt…and regards to the date that’s easy..we’ll just change that bit only!’
How bizare I thought…and that’s why I thought to do some more research and I found this site!
Thanks very much!
October 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
After reading the posts,
I think this can at this stage still be a lucrative industry.
But we need to stop recruiting. I appreciate this is a free market as far as education goes but should these training agencies be able to continue to quote enhanced earnings to encourage people to sign up just to pay a high course fees in anticipation for a good living.
As DEAs we are over populated, far to many to meet market conditions. Another industry springs to mind the Estate Agent (EA), in the boom days every man and his dog thought they could become an EA property developer but the credit crunch will see the ammeters leave the market and the professionals to do the job in hand “as will the DEA market”
October 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
A big thank you to all your honest comments,im pleased to hear their is still some honest citizens in this country
My interview would of been this friday(a 2hour drive)in (city name removed, sorry!!).,the day after my birthday,safe to say i will be having a much better birthday now,saving myself a small fortune.
I have no previous experience and like most people at the moment im not rolling in money so a lucky escape indeed,many thanks
October 29th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I was seriously thinking about a career change and becoming a C/DEA but now im having proper doubts after reading all the negative write ups.
I have an interview tomorrow(thursday)in (city name removed, sorry!!). they also have ofices in (city names removed, sorry!!)..
can anyone give me some good questions? so that i can test them to see if they are a bunch of blaggers.
October 29th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Try asking
-how many HCRs have been completed and lodged on the Governments database.
-how many DEAs qualified?
-and how many are anticipated needed based upon Governments’ estimation?
The answers to last 2 questions can be found here.
We have just been given an interesting press release about these figures which we will be writing an article about shortly. The figures are quite shocking really
October 30th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Had a disussion with (name removed) from (city name removed) Seemed a decent Enough Chap, Very happy I found this site
Is there no one with anything positve to say about this
Career ? other than the salesman chat that u will be working from
home 2 jobs a day getting u 40 K a year ,A load of Old KAK
October 30th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hi there, just found this website because i was looking for info about this `domestic energy assessor` training, and i’m very glad i did. The training sounds like a complete waste of time at present and i will not be wasting money on it.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Here is a link to the article about recent figures of how many HCR reports have actually been produced.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Hi All,
Like all of you i read the advert and decided this would be a great carreer change after being out of work so long and over 60 but very active.
I went to (city name removed, sorry!!). last Friday by train which cost me £22 return and had the interview and yes i admit was taken in with all the jargon the Director provided, yes i was really excited becuase it was a job role where you can carry out flexible work if and when you want it,
i was told two companies would invite me to carry out assessments and these would come to my email box m i did not have to except the work if i did not need it.
i was given the impression that there would be plenty of work once qualified and limked to these two companies(companies names i do not have) probably dont exist…
Anyway the interview went very well and carried out the aptitude test which speaking to the director the following day past easily and was offered a place on the training course for £3995 inclusive of VAT. I was told i would have to make another appointment to travel to (city name removed, sorry!!). again to sign the relevant forms and hand over the money, likeeverbody else this is a large amount of money when you are unemployed…. At the time I said I would have to get back to him with dates becuase i could not confirm my schedule. Like most of you you feel excited but apprehensuve that you could train for something that you could get your teeth into and really enjoy…..but fortunately for me i did further research and found this site…..many thanks to you all and for whoever setup this great site….there are to many greedy people out there ripping innocent people of of there hard earned money without any feelings for the consequences… Well done
Leachim
November 4th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
You tell us not to train as a domestic energy assessor and yet you post ad’s above the article promoting these thieving training companies?
November 4th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hi Paul
The ads you see are generated by google based upon the content of the article. We have limited control over which ads google chooses to display on each article. Each article displays different ads which are often very relevant to our readers and we feel adds to the end users experience.
In regard to telling people not to train, this is not our stand point. We have tried to bring certain issues into the public domain to promote discussion and awareness.
November 4th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I hope I am not wrong, but having read everyone’s comments I have to say that you are all very emotional and angry and are forgetting the facts.
1. Legislation changed as of 1st October 2008 making it compulsory to have an EPC for properties rented or sold, do you honestly believe only 3.000 people are required to service the related EPBD legislation? - That includes at least 1.8 million domestic rented properties, 500,000 domestic properties for sale and 200,000 commercial properties?
2. The Hard sales pitch is due to the companies inability to fulfill its contracts; there genuinely is allot more work than workers in this industry, they need workers or they loose money and contracts!
3. With no risk there is no gain. Yes I know it is a lot of money to train, but don’t you think the guys taking your money, and these are genuine people that you have meet and will get to know during your training would be absolutely frightened of having there head smashed in over a measly few thousand pounds? I for one would not tolerate even £100 loss due to someone else’s dishonesty.
Leachim you make a valid point in your discussion; traveling does cost money. However I have checked and (company name removed, sorry), what do you know both of those companies exist, pay tax and have turnover!
November 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Hi,
With the rental market coming on stream and bringing some badly needed work to DEA’s because of the diabolical private housing market stall, it needs to be remembered that the large amount of house sales is and has been in recession for some time now, and the rental market is such that not all the rental pr