WHEN Nicole Mowbray and her husband decided to invest in solar panels for their home, little did they realise that helping to make London greener would turn into a nightmare.
The couple are among hundreds who put their trust in the multi-million pound Solar Together scheme only to find themselves battling to get large deposits back after unacceptable delays.
The Solar Together scheme has been backed since 2017 by Mayor Sadiq Khan and several local authorities, as part of an energy policy which aims to make London zero carbon. The Mowbrays, from Brixton, were delighted to see an advert for a solar panel group-buying initiative in Lambeth Council's magazine, Lambeth Talk. The blurb reassured residents having the system "will allow you to cut energy costs and power your home with clean energy".
"Our pre-vetted solar installers will submit bids for the work to give you the most competitive price," it stated.
Writer and mother-of-one Ms Mowbray, 43 - married to photojournalist Lewis, 44-told the Standard: "If something will make the place greener for our children, I'm all in favour of it. We didn't really think too much about paying the upfront deposit of £150 or, if all went well, the total cost of £8,500 for the panels.
"I trusted the installer-Green Energy Together UK (GET-UK)-because it was part of the scheme which was backed by the Mayor of London and Lambeth Council. If I were to do this myself, I would look up Checkatrade and do my own research."
Which is exactly what Ms Mowbray, a former British Vogue features editor, did when things went downhill fast.
Having gladly received her deposit, she says GET-UK failed to turn up on December 22 and 27 or January 3 to carry out a survey.
On Google, the company has an overall one-star rating out of about 100 reviews from people as far afield as Richmond-upon-Thames and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.
This story is from the February 08, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 08, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Don't Want Botox? Then Try These Alternatives
From microcurrents to lasers, there are other ways to tackle ageing skin, says Madeleine Spencer
It's high time the Borthwick regime delivers on promise
England boss needs a statement win and the All Blacks are up first
Bukayo Saka
The making of a London icon
Even Ridley Scott thinks our big screens are epic
Outernet is now one of London's top attractions --but the man behind it isn't resting on his laurels
Laura Bailey on why Margate is her favourite escape in the UK
Incredible light, sea air, galleries galore and only two hours from Victoria: it's the model and photographer's dreamland...
The Old Operating Theatre
St Thomas Street, SE1
Can drugs like Ozempic really help to getthe economy firing again?
Labour's plan to give the unemployed weight-loss jabs may have unintended consequences, reports William Hosie
AI is the new frontier of perfumery...But just how fragrantare these scents?
Choosing a signature scent is a highly personal experience. Not only do preferences differ greatly, but certain perfumes react differently depending on your skin. Bergamot top notes may be intoxicating on one person's wrist, but seem soapy on another.
Is it time to ditch the apps and embrace the science of love at first sight?
The chemistry of love isn't just a romantic ideal - it's a scientific reality, discovers
A poetic puzzlebox
This lyrical novel sets out to dazzle and terrify
