revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Mussels wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:50 am I'm thinking about getting solar panels and seeing the government's announcement about zero VAT on renewables I went looking for prices. As I have a bungalow and I'm not scared of some simple wiring I looked for DIY options thinking I could forgo the feed in option. VAT is only reduced when you use government authorised fitters and then only when the cost of labour is more than the cost of the parts, anything else still has 20% added.
So to save the 20% tax I have to pay 50% extra to an already overpriced company.

Mussels wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:50 am I'm thinking about getting solar panels and seeing the government's announcement about zero VAT on renewables I went looking for prices. As I have a bungalow and I'm not scared of some simple wiring I looked for DIY options thinking I could forgo the feed in option. VAT is only reduced when you use government authorised fitters and then only when the cost of labour is more than the cost of the parts, anything else still has 20% added.
So to save the 20% tax I have to pay 50% extra to an already overpriced company.

Cousin Jack wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:59 am Government 'schemes' are inevitably linked to cowboys who make money, from the Government and often from the consumer too. I once investigated a Gordon Brown (IIRC) scheme that gave everyone an 'education' amount to spend. I was unable to find a single supplier that was offering anything except what I considered rip-off courses of no worth, but of course all priced at the maximum allowance.

Count Steer wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:12 am

Mussels wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:50 am I'm thinking about getting solar panels and seeing the government's announcement about zero VAT on renewables I went looking for prices. As I have a bungalow and I'm not scared of some simple wiring I looked for DIY options thinking I could forgo the feed in option. VAT is only reduced when you use government authorised fitters and then only when the cost of labour is more than the cost of the parts, anything else still has 20% added.
So to save the 20% tax I have to pay 50% extra to an already overpriced company.

Another 'scheme' from a 'scheming' government 'Help to buy' just put house prices up and money in the builders pockets, subsidies on electric cars put the car prices up and money into car builders pockets. None of them seem to be aimed at actually saving the punter any money.

However, having heard of the problems people have had with solar installed by authorised fitters I assume it's either not as simple as it looks or some of the approved installers are actually incompetent.

Out of interest, what sort of price were you getting on the panels?

Horse wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 10:44 am

Cousin Jack wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:59 am Government 'schemes' are inevitably linked to cowboys who make money, from the Government and often from the consumer too. I once investigated a Gordon Brown (IIRC) scheme that gave everyone an 'education' amount to spend. I was unable to find a single supplier that was offering anything except what I considered rip-off courses of no worth, but of course all priced at the maximum allowance.

There was a training company which made (and spent) a small fortune. They fed off of training grants for ex-military personnel.

They moved into rider and driver training. Were the only training company I've seen with branded Rang Rovers, wearing nice suits. No-one else made that sort of money from it.

IIRC Owner got awards for innovation etc.

They tried to push for mandatory standards etc. Failed. Shut down.

Not naming them as the vestiges of rider training carried on and are AFAIK fairly reputable.

Skub wrote: Sat Apr 02, 2022 11:44 am

Jody wrote: Sat Apr 02, 2022 11:39 am Feeling incompetent in the workplace

As you may be aware I work in a private ski chalet for an English family during the winter. Lovely, lovely people, but they are effing loaded. People of this ilk don't want to know the details, they don't want the hows and whys of how things get done, they just want things done. They want to be able to stroll into a place and everything works. That's kinda where I come in.

The boss arrived late last night.

First issue,
"does the fire work" (gas fire operated by remote control)
No sorry
"Why not, this has been going on for months"
The last I got told was the engineer was going to come out and show me how to fix common problems, I'm still waiting for that to happen.

*the main problem here is that the engineer doesn't think there's anything wrong with the fire, he just thinks I'm an incompetent moron who doesn't know how the fire works. He has refused to come and see the fire for himself as he is convinced it's in perfect working order. Get a different engineer/ company I hear you say. No, my boss doesn't allow me to source technicians, I have to go through the architect and she doesn't GAF.


Second issue
"you sent my spare helmet and gloves to Val D'Isere"
Well yes I did, but only after I had sent pictures to our man in Val and said "is this your kit" to which he replied "yes that's mine"

Third issue
"where are my ski poles, I put them in the car the last time you picked us up"

they aren't in the car or the ski room which tells me they never made it to the car and being as the helmet and gloves I sent to Val were left in the restaurant I picked you all up from, I suspect you left the poles there !

There's an argument that these things are not my fault. As mentioned my boss doesn't care who is at fault, he doesn't want excuses, he wants things to work! He's not even been here 12 hours and I've failed him 3 times

Keep those photos handy of his indiscretions with the underage chap a while back.

Mussels wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 11:09 am There's a company up north somewhere that is starting to sell much cheaper and thinner panels, I'll try to find out more about them but I don't think they are widely available yet.

Count Steer wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 12:56 pm
I'm surprised no-one is selling systems for new build and reroofing where you fit a supporting connective grid then plug solar tiles into it so that they are actually the roofing material. Obvs you would have matching, cheap dummy ones for the edges (or anywhere they need trimming) and shaded areas.

I think someone came up with something vaguely like that but pretty crude.

Maybe I'd better invent it.

Jody wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 11:49 am

Skub wrote: Sat Apr 02, 2022 11:44 am

Jody wrote: Sat Apr 02, 2022 11:39 am Feeling incompetent in the workplace

As you may be aware I work in a private ski chalet for an English family during the winter. Lovely, lovely people, but they are effing loaded. People of this ilk don't want to know the details, they don't want the hows and whys of how things get done, they just want things done. They want to be able to stroll into a place and everything works. That's kinda where I come in.

The boss arrived late last night.

First issue,
"does the fire work" (gas fire operated by remote control)
No sorry
"Why not, this has been going on for months"
The last I got told was the engineer was going to come out and show me how to fix common problems, I'm still waiting for that to happen.

*the main problem here is that the engineer doesn't think there's anything wrong with the fire, he just thinks I'm an incompetent moron who doesn't know how the fire works. He has refused to come and see the fire for himself as he is convinced it's in perfect working order. Get a different engineer/ company I hear you say. No, my boss doesn't allow me to source technicians, I have to go through the architect and she doesn't GAF.


Second issue
"you sent my spare helmet and gloves to Val D'Isere"
Well yes I did, but only after I had sent pictures to our man in Val and said "is this your kit" to which he replied "yes that's mine"

Third issue
"where are my ski poles, I put them in the car the last time you picked us up"

they aren't in the car or the ski room which tells me they never made it to the car and being as the helmet and gloves I sent to Val were left in the restaurant I picked you all up from, I suspect you left the poles there !

There's an argument that these things are not my fault. As mentioned my boss doesn't care who is at fault, he doesn't want excuses, he wants things to work! He's not even been here 12 hours and I've failed him 3 times

Keep those photos handy of his indiscretions with the underage chap a while back.

I said they were loaded, I didn't say they were royalty !

Noggin wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:19 am People who really don't think before they speak!!

I mean, I know I'm knackered, I'm broken, I'm not sleeping well but to meet a friend and the first thing she says is "oh, you look tired" is just not ideal!!!

She looked how I feel, but I'd never say it out loud cos, well, if you feel bad you don't need someone pointing it out!! Especially when it's bleeding obvious why you feel/look like that (for me - not fit or light, crutches with a FUBAR shoulder, lack of mobility due to broken leg)

FFS, people say the daftest things whilst trying to be 'caring'!!!!

Yorick wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:39 am

Noggin wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:19 am People who really don't think before they speak!!

I mean, I know I'm knackered, I'm broken, I'm not sleeping well but to meet a friend and the first thing she says is "oh, you look tired" is just not ideal!!!

She looked how I feel, but I'd never say it out loud cos, well, if you feel bad you don't need someone pointing it out!! Especially when it's bleeding obvious why you feel/look like that (for me - not fit or light, crutches with a FUBAR shoulder, lack of mobility due to broken leg)

FFS, people say the daftest things whilst trying to be 'caring'!!!!

Ooooooh. Someone's tired

Noggin wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:42 am
Obviously!!! You really don't need to point it out

Count Steer wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 10:19 am

Noggin wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:42 am
Obviously!!! You really don't need to point it out

I crawled in the street and I murmured,'I'm done.'
Then up came Old Jenkins and shouted,'By gum!'
'My word you do look well!
My word you do look well!
You're looking fine and in the pink!'
I shouted, 'Am I?... Come and have a drink!
You've put new life in me, I'm sounder than a bell.
By gad! There's life in the old dog yet.
My word, I do feel well!'

Count Steer wrote: Mon Apr 04, 2022 4:28 pm Bah! Blooming humbug. Software updates. Suddenly my Naim streamer in the living room errors when contacting Snotify. Lo! The more modern one (Muso) in another room works fine. It looks like a recent Snotify update isn't compatible with the older streamer. Much chatter and wailing + gnashing of teeth on the user forum. From Snotify and Naim? Not a peep.

Bum.

Noggin wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:49 pm...it works fine - apart from being too old for lots of things!!!