Solar Panels Roof Suitability

[tali1]

Had a cold call from a company called Smart Energy.I told them that A Shade Greener had told me that my roof was not suitable as it was not facing south and there was shading.None of my neighbors have the panels either
Smart Energy claimed they did not why companies keep telling people this as it is incorrect and the direction of roof and shading was irrelevant.
So has solar technology improved?

[sandyRoe]

Smart Energy may be more interested in selling the panels than in how efficient they'd be. A roof that's not facing south and also overshaded doesn't seem that promising a site.

[Buenchico]

>>>So has solar technology improved?

No. You're just getting a better quality of conman calling you these days!

Quote:
"You usually need a roof that faces roughly within 45 degrees of south, with no shade from other buildings or trees. While some early or late shading is okay, the roof should be unshaded between 10am and 4pm. If your roof doesn't fit this criteria, you may not be able to get maximum payments with solar panels"

Source:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-solar-panels
(but there are lots of other independent sites that say exactly the same thing).

[ubasses]

New thinking is that East/West facing panels are better as they provide the power over longer periods and do not overload the system at noon ,which can go to waste.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/solarpower/10996273/Most-solar-panels-are-facing-the-wrong-direction-say-scientists.html

[VHG]

NEVER deal with cold callers.

Not worth the hassle.

[tali1]

Thing is , i assume, they need the FIT to make fitting things worthwhile for them and they would need the correct facing roof ?

[Buenchico]

The guy on the end of the phone might well be working on a 'commission only' basis. He gets a fiver if you'll accept an appointment for a rep to call at your house, which is doubled if the rep gets you to accept solar panels. The guy on the phone couldn't care less whether you'll actually benefit from solar panels; he just wants his five or ten pounds, so he'll tell you anything to get it.

Similarly, the rep who calls might be on commission only, perhaps getting £40 if you agree to take the solar panels. Again, he doesn't care whether they'll actually work or not, he just wants his money.

Once you've agreed to take them, the solar panel company will happily take your money (or the money forthcoming from a grant, as appropriate), again with no concerns about whether they're actually providing you with a useful product or not.

That's the way that it works. (Please believe me: I've worked as a rep, on 'commission only' basis, and hardly covered my expenses because I was honest and simply couldn't sell people a service they didn't need and couldn't possibly benefit from. Other reps for the same firm made good money, with the majority of it earned by selling to people who couldn't possible benefit from the service that we were offering).

As VHG suggests, any 'wonderful' product or service offered by a cold caller should almost certainly be avoided.

[Canary42]

Write to them and ask for those assurances in writing, backed by a financial guarantee - you won't hear from them again.