INSULATION WOES

16 February 2010

RYAN REYNOLDS

A MELBOURNE-BASED insulation installer has denied that it used pressure tactics to gain work, despite more horror stories of shoddy installers intimidating Hamilton residents.

IP Trader’s representative Melissa Booth said other rogue installers were ruining it for everyone.

“We have heard that there are a few other companies around here doing the same thing,” she said.

“But what they have been doing is not us at all, we do not do that.”

The claim comes after 82-year-old Hamilton resident Wolfgang Schueller said he felt intimidated when he had the insulation installed in his house.

“They asked me to sign a document to say that the job had been done correctly,” he said.

“I am old and cannot get up into the roof to look for myself and signed it in trust that it has been done well.

“I have nobody that I could ask to check the roof for me.”

Mr Schueller claimed that the workers might not have had the correct qualifications.

“I was told that a roof inspector would come to check my roof, instead five people came in a truck,” he said.

“After 30 seconds in the roof, he said there was nothing up there and said they could put the insulation in.

“(Thursday) a lady knocked on my door and told me she would inspect the roof.

“She said she was qualified, but she didn’t bring any tools and wasn’t dressed to do anything in the roof.”

Ms Booth said everyone their company used was qualified to install insulation.

“The guys that we use are all certified and trained to do what they do,” she said.

“They have all done courses and have just completed refresher courses. We only use quality materials and not those ones that have been on the TV with foil in them.”

She said that instead of cutting around down lights, installers’ used protective covers.

“They use covers to put over down lights,” Ms Booth said. “We have never had any problems with the way the insulation has been installed.”

Ms Booth said IP Traders did not use pressure tactics.

“We are not pushy at all, if someone says to us that they don’t want it we will not push it any further,” she said.

“We would never go into someone’s house if they didn’t want us to because that is illegal.

“If they say no then that is fine we do not go and run and chase people.”

Ms Booth also denied claims from local traders that a good job could not be done in an hour.

“How many people do they use when they do it?” she said.

“We have two or three or sometimes even four people installing insulation in a house. Everyone we have talked to has been very happy with the job we have done.”

Ms Booth claimed that constant changes by the Government had made it confusing for installers and their clients.

“What we go on comes straight from the Government,” she said. “They keep on changing what they want and it causes confusion for everyone.”

Independent Wannon candidate Katrina Rainsford said residents needed to think carefully before getting the free insulation installed in their house.

“This program has been rolled out in indecent haste and should be stopped immediately until all safety issues have been resolved,” Dr Rainsford said.

“So much more could have been done for western Victoria with the money already spent on this ill-conceived program.”

Member for Wannon David Hawker slammed the Government for introducing the rebate, arguing it was an “absolute scam” and Hamilton residents were being ripped off.