On July 16, 2009, we had a Green Loan Assessment done. My wife heard about it on the radio and thought it sounded like a good idea. The assessor told me that the report will be sent within "approximately 10 business days".
We we previously had a similar assessment done by StepLight Pty Ltd: http://www.steplight.com.au/ which was funded by Randwick City Council on May 7, 2009. When I questioned the assessor as to why Steplight's assessment couldn't be used to save duplication, he quoted the Green Loan Q & A answer, " Only a comprehensive home sustainability assessment booked through the Green Loans Program will qualify you for a Green Loan". Talk about waste and duplication!! I later found out that StepLight had suggested that the government use their reports but to not avail! 
Life goes no ....... after many weeks I remembered the Green Loan Assessment and missing report and followed it up on September 16. I was informed by Nigel from the Green Loans office that the report was delayed by because, "the reporting tool was not working in July and August". Great, things are looking good. 
Within a week the report arrived.
I then set about finding a Green Loan provider. The Federal Government website: http://www.environment.gov.au/greenloans/ is very unclear as to where to find it's links to green loan providers which are well hidden in a not-too-obvious menu submenu: Green Loan Subsidy. Indeed, when Googling for them, other non-approved 'green loan' providers pop up! I actually found the appropriate page by searching for "green loan providers" in their search box with the result: http://www.environment.gov.au/greenloans/households/loans.html Why can't this link be placed on the menu panel on the left side of the home page?
During this time I'd been wrestling with the installers of our NuEnergy PVs in respect of the number and location of the panels. That's been a nightmare as well but more of that in another post! I contacted contacted a Green Loan provider on September 25 and attempted to complete the application over the phone. However I ran out of time and they sent me an application form via email on that day:
"The Government green application requires upfront documentation such as:-
- 2 Pay slips for both or 2 year tax returns for your business & yourself
- 1 months statement on all credit cards
- 3 months savings statement
- 3 months statement on all loan eg home loan & personal loans
- A copy of your most recent water rates
- A copy of your Government Assessment
I will also need you to complete the attached Government Declaration and post back to me".
I started this process of scanning and sending over 60 JPEG files on October 7 but found that my emails, with the attached files, we not getting through their spam filters! This problem was solved through test emails from which I discovered that I needed send them as a reply to their first email to me! By October 9 I'd finally finished re-emailing over all the documents required, or so I thought.
Well, these details were not enough when I revealed that I was partially self employed and we had investment properties that were negatively geared. So, after the World Masters' Games, in which I competed, and after I'd completed our 2009 Tax Returns, I restarted the process to get this only to get this reply email on November 2:
"In order to proceed in submitting the application I require the below information:-
- The addresses & values of all three of your units.
- Details of any/all of your current liabilities eg loans or credit cards including whom you have the debit with, the current outstanding balance and minimum required monthly repayments.
- Details as to where you hold your every day savings account. (ie. The account where your income is credited).
- Mobile phone numbers for both of you
- Make, model, year and value of any vehicles you have.
- Details of 2 people over the age of 18 who do not live with you to use as references for this application. The details we require are their names, addresses, contact phone numbers and relationship to you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require further information".
Arrggghhhh!!!!! I've already supplied most of this info!!!!! The hoops and hurdles we have had to endure is nothing short of ridiculous. The reason being that this is a personal loan to be granted without security!! Having never applied for such a loan I was unprepared for the extent to which I needed to delve into my financial records. Concepts such a negative gearing, lines of credit, LVRs are incomprehensible to these people. I've had to scan, scale down in size, send and resend over 130 pages of documentation! The amount of time this has/is taken/taking is absurd. However, the savings in interest and fees are significant and worth the effort.
My message is, be prepared for a long winded Green Loan approval process if your income is anything other than a PAYE and you have investment properties!!
