Rogue insulation firms target Wagga

WAGGA residents are being targeted by deregistered insulation installers, who are taking to the streets spruiking the Federal Government's Energy Efficient Homes initiative.An alarming warning was yesterday raised by Better Building Innovations and Eco Living Products sales consultant Paul Crivellaro, who is concerned residents will fall victim to deregistered metropolitan companies targeting country areas."We have pulled out a couple of insulations and redone them that have been done by companies from Sydney who have been deregistered from the Government program," he said."They are trying to beat it by coming down here and catch people out that don't realise they have been deregistered."These people are doing the wrong thing and there are things the consumers in Wagga need to know so it doesn't happen to them."Mr Crivellaro has heard his fair share of horror tales from people who have had their insulation done by a company based outside the region."We have been told stories of people poking their heads up into the roof and seeing the bags still up there," he said.Mr Crivellaro declared the safest option was to go with one of 12 Wagga-based businesses registered with the program, and never accept a company door-knocking or letter dropping without checking they are registered."There are over 260 businesses that have been de-registered," he said."The 12 Wagga businesses are all very reputable businesses with years of experience."The businesses that are door-knocking and letter-dropping can still have an ABN number and can trade but just can't offer the rebate."For homeowners who have their insulation installed by a business which claims to be registered but is actually absent from the list could face a hefty unexpected bill."If you have had your installation done by a company that is not local, before paying anything, check if they are registered," he said."The business can not claim the rebate from the Government and will try and pass it off to the consumer."The consumer is only supposed to pay the gap between the rebate and the overall cost."Mr Crivellaro is disappointed to see the program being abused by a portion of companies, giving the businesses doing the right thing a bad name."When this is done properly it is very beneficial for the homeowner, and has been shown to cut energy costs by 40 percent," he said."I don't want people to be scared away from having it done by people who are doing the wrong thing."The Federal Government has refused to publish a full "name-and-shame list" of companies that have been de-registered and a spokesperson said "companies are de-registered for a failure to meet program guidelines".This includes shonky or dodgy work and using below grade products.