Thread: The Great LPG Swindle

I think they are probably suffering from the fact that the number of applications was far greater than the expected number, so the scheme is way over budget, and they are trying anything they can think of to get the costs down.

Same sort of problems with solar hot water, as you say (looked at this for my son a few months ago) and with solar power.

And, as you allude, with the demand, costs of everything go up. When first announced, I looked at gas conversion of my 110, but found that costs had already gone far above the initial estimates, and there was a shortage of tanks, for example, so I could expect a long wait.

John

Wow.

Was that well written or what!

What escapes me is are you asking for a bigger rebate than what you outlayed or are you just trying to get re-inbursed.

I totally agree that since the gov incentive plan was introduced the cost of installation has definately increased and not just to cpi but to Installer price index. What-ever that is??

I have had 3 done last 3 years. The guy I use does not charge excessive, he also offers to use 2nd hand parts and is a retired engineer and also puts heatshields, guards and all copper lines in.
My last complete installation cost $2150 for a tripple scuba tank in back and a full tank of gas included is the re-tune after 2-3 tanks.
Total cost $150.


I feel for you and definately agree on how this is not helping the truly needy trying to reduce running costsend emmisions.
There are however those that like to do their own install to save even more, get it signed off by a guy who will probably feels intimidated by a possibly superior installation and get same rebate and come out in front.
Is that fair, well I don't know.

Why not rty to re-apply for your total costs including the gas-fitters invoice and all the receipts you have for parts.
This might not total the full rebate but at least you will not be out of pocket bar the time spend.

Best of luck.

Im assuming here that you were expecting the $2500 rebate in exchange for the $600 bill that you put in..........It dont work that way.

LPG Aust obviously havnt recieved a copy of your trade papers as a mechanic/mechanical fitter and LPG conversion endorsment......

They then wont know if you are a capable fitter and eligable to getting the rebate.

This is the reason they dont pay people to do thier own conversions, regardless of how well you think you have done the conversion they dont want to pay you to do it as the grants are to help people get their car converted buy a proven qualified and capable installer.

As far as them making a huge amount of money off the parts, the conversion systems offered these days are a lot better quality than they were in the past as well as they are doing mostly vapour injection these days which is more expensive to buy and more labour intensive to fit which also makes it more expensive so the rebate has made the better gas systems affordable.

Your old fasioned vacuum controlled systems (simple or complex) are not efficient, they never were but they were cheap and still are to fit but this is not what is normally quoted these days.

The price of copper, electronics and tanks has also gone through the roof from their suppliers as well.

I think your trying to rort the system a little (intentionally or not I dont know but no offense intended ) by reading more into the guidelines that is really there in reference to fitting it yourself.

As far as the second hand systems go, I was told (and I am a qualified mechanic but not a lot of LPG experience these days) by a highly regarded (in Bayswater vic) gas fitter whom Ive known for 12 years that the only part of a second hand system that a good fitter would install would be an in date or retested tank but also fit a brand new AFL valve.

Good luck with it.

Im not surprised you were told to sod off buy the fitter, if you had taken about a grand out of my pocket I would have told you to sod off as well, I dont think he needed anyone to get in his ear.

He had already done you a favour by signing off your work which is risky to his licence already if something was to happen and then you come in and ask him to lie to the governing body when they already have it on paper what has really happend..........that is called suicide, much like cutting off your own head or in his case canceling his own licence or at best being scrutinised over every rebate he puts through.

Stop trying to get something for nothing as thats not what it is about, this is to help the very people that you are talking about but it's people like you who will ruin it for everyone because you think they should be paying you with our tax dollars for something that your not really elligeble for.

Im sorry for the bluntness of this post but I think you need to hear it so you can look at it from another angle and maybe calm down a bit.

Stress over this isnt really worth it, I know it's a lot of money but in the end it's only money, if you put your self and your familly under stress over a bit of money then your going to be up for a much larger cost.

Definatly by all means push them to the letter of what they have written but be aware that things can be interpretted in different ways and the gov agencies dont do this just to pieve you off, they do it to protect all of our money which include yours.

Mate have a beer destress and go back to work tomorrow and regain the money lost over the next year or so in the savings you will have by having your car on gas and have a good feeling that you know it is fitted properly.

They don't need any paperwork from him, the install has been signed off by an approved installer, simple, its like roughing in your own house, you can do it, so long as you don;t make any final connections

Majority of gas fitters are butchers, they do hideous things to cars on their installs

Plenty of people have got the grant utilising second hand stuff, the bloke local here, who's does tank testing, is one of many

Finding a fitter that will sign is where you did get lucky, they all think they're special here, because they have a licence to butcher peoples cars and won't sign off, even doing as you had, they make ALL final connections, you prep, so they don't, hack holes, tek screw everything, ruin your wiring loom...............

Originally Posted by rovercare

They don't need any paperwork from him, the install has been signed off by an approved installer, simple, its like roughing in your own house, you can do it, so long as you don;t make any final connections

Majority of gas fitters are butchers, they do hideous things to cars on their installs

Plenty of people have got the grant utilising second hand stuff, the bloke local here, who's does tank testing, is one of many

Finding a fitter that will sign is where you did get lucky, they all think they're special here, because they have a licence to butcher peoples cars and won't sign off, even doing as you had, they make ALL final connections, you prep, so they don't, hack holes, tek screw everything, ruin your wiring loom...............

Yeah I hear you there Matt, I had an XF PV years ago which we had converted (of course the boss went for the cheapest quote) and he put a screw through the fire wall and into the brake servo.

He actually bypassed the saftey cut out the way he did the wiring and the tank was held in with hose clamps.

The point I was making is they have a reciept which says that the fitter did the final connection and comisioned the system and if then they get paperwork saying something different and saying that he did the entire system for the same vehicle then all it takes is just 1 do gooder in LPG aust to do his/her job and that gas fitter has lost his business.

Im not saying that he has done anything wrong with fitting his own system how he has but you cant have your cake and eat it too.

In other words, he cant save money fitting it himself and using second hand parts and only spending $600 on having it signed off and expect to get the $2500 even though it may have cost him that much, they dont know that.

It is a reimbursment not a payment.

Originally Posted by mcrover

In other words, he cant save money fitting it himself and using second hand parts and only spending $600 on having it signed off and expect to get the $2500 even though it may have cost him that much, they dont know that.

It is a reimbursment not a payment.

I'm saying he should, its a one off, that figure payment, much like home buyers/builder, baby bonus, you fit LPG, buy/build a house, stick it in the missus and make a baby, you get paid $X

So he's got it signed off, its all legite, so he should recieve the grant

go easy on him guys, He didnt say the total including parts was $600, he paid that to a gas fitter to get it certified.

The other parts could have cost him another $1400, so i think he should be elligable for the full 2K.

If they go and change the rules without notification, that is not on IMHO (but it may still be legal).

Andy

Originally Posted by mcrover

Yeah I hear you there Matt, I had an XF PV years ago which we had converted (of course the boss went for the cheapest quote) and he put a screw through the fire wall and into the brake servo.

He actually bypassed the saftey cut out the way he did the wiring and the tank was held in with hose clamps.

The point I was making is they have a reciept which says that the fitter did the final connection and comisioned the system and if then they get paperwork saying something different and saying that he did the entire system for the same vehicle then all it takes is just 1 do gooder in LPG aust to do his/her job and that gas fitter has lost his business.

Im not saying that he has done anything wrong with fitting his own system how he has but you cant have your cake and eat it too.

In other words, he cant save money fitting it himself and using second hand parts and only spending $600 on having it signed off and expect to get the $2500 even though it may have cost him that much, they dont know that.It is a reimbursment not a payment.

Originally Posted by andrew e

go easy on him guys, He didnt say the total including parts was $600, he paid that to a gas fitter to get it certified.

The other parts could have cost him another $1400, so i think he should be elligable for the full 2K.

If they go and change the rules without notification, that is not on IMHO (but it may still be legal).

Andy

Isnt that what I said highlighted in Red.

Im not meaning to have a go at him, Im just saying it how I see it.

I get what your saying Matt but it's not the intention of the whole sceme from how I read it.

I suppose it's an interpretation thing......again