I have just had a very surreal experience regarding an existing government grant for energy saving bulbs.
Last Thursday
Met a person last Thursday (let’s call her Tracy) week purporting to be from our regional development agency, in the end Tracy was selling LED and CFL bulbs on behalf of other suppliers.
When I visit her website it says she is a PR person, but website is still under construction.
In effect Tracy was heavily pushing for us to apply for an interest free capital grant from the government to purchase light bulbs!???
Which is a bit strange for me to absorb from two points:
1. Would you get a loan that lasts 5 years to buy an consumable product that only lasts 1 year? (This is a bit like increasing your mortgage to buy a flash car, then pay it off over 25 years, when the car depreciates in value and only lasts a max of 12 years)
2. Why is there a grant for something that is common sense and economically viable without a grant?
Anyway I listened intently to Tracy to find out more and the price of the bulbs well, let’s just say I can get the bulbs cheaper at Tesco let alone importing from China.
At the end of the meeting I summarised and concluded with Tracy that we were better of continuing getting bulbs direct, Tracy finished by saying it is unusual to meet an informed person with regard to bulbs costs.
So cut to Today.
So cutting to the “fiddly bit” so anyway I can buy these bulbs direct from the manufacturer in China at a fair rate which means they pay for themselves in under a year and last for around 3 years consuming 5% of their incandescent equivalent.
Cut to surreal phone call I had, from the approved supplier, who as it turns out is a 10% broker for a number of approved suppliers.
Tracy: “OK I know you are buying these bulbs at a very good rate direct from China. How about we fill out the grant forms and we put our margin over the bulbs you bought from China and we pretend you bought them of us. That way you get you grant and we get our commission.”
David: “But we haven’t bought them from you”
Tracy: “Nothing to worry about we can sort that side out for you”
David: “But isn’t that unethical”
Tracy: “No because you are getting what you want”
David: “????????????????????????”
What is this country coming too? When you can have grants for things that do not need grants!
What do you think? Have you seen similar total nonsense and cheating on the tax payer? (apart from MP’s expenses)
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