A regional legal advocacy centre in Victoria has issued a report to help improve customer confidence around unsolicited sales.
The report, Knock it off! Door-to-door sales and consumers in Victoria , among other industries, it lists 16 solar companies involved in consumer complaints.
Prepared by the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre in Bendigo , it has sound advice for how to handle unwanted sales approaches.
In addition, the report incorporates case studies from three community legal centres in regional Victoria.
What to check when negotiating with in-home consultants
It’s important to check the credentials of any sales person, whether dealing in person or over the phone. First of all, is the company CEC accredited?
A new report advises your rights as a consumer buying solar panels. Asking if the sales consultant is representing a CEC Approved Retailer is a good place to start. That’s because it means the business observes a code of conduct laid down by the Clean Energy Council. Because of this, asking for the salesperson’s ID and company credentials and background is essential.
Always request all the information in writing from the sales person so you can therefore make an informed decision.
Remember that you also have rights in any negotiation, including:
A cooling-off period which allow you to reconsider your decision
Clear disclosure requirements
Asking the salesperson to leave if you desire
Restrictions on allowable operating hours – weekdays between 9 am and 8 pm; Saturdays between 9 am and 5 pm.
Asking to be placed on the Do Not Call Register
The report also highlights to watch out and be vigilant for the following behaviours:
lack of information about cooling-off period
false promises about savings
lack of written quote details and clear terms & conditions.
You should also visit the website of the company and find out more about them. What about CEC accreditation? Do they have informative and factual information on their site about the solar industry?
By following these guidelines you can reduce the chance of becoming a victim of those few unscrupulous traders you may encounter in the solar industry.
