Installers ask this in Facebook groups, Reddit threads and forums, and the replies are mostly loyalty. A better answer is a method. You are comparing three things: the rate, the speed and the reliability, and they have to be compared on the same basis.
Compare the rate properly
The headline rate is not what you receive. Check the following before you compare numbers.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the rate published, and how often does it update? | A rate you cannot see is a rate you cannot hold anyone to |
| When is it locked: at quote, at lodgement or at payment? | A rate that floats can drop before you are paid |
| Any fees, admin charges or deductions? | A higher rate with fees can pay less |
| Do volume or tier rates apply? | See volume rates |
| How does it sit against the market? | STC spot has been roughly $38 to $40, with a clearing-house ceiling of $40 at the time of writing |
Pricing shows how a published, daily rate looks, and highest STC price paid to installers explains why the headline can mislead.
Compare the real payment time
“Paid in 24 hours” and “paid in 10 business days” can both be true depending on when the clock starts. Ask whether it starts at lodgement, at sign-off or after CER validation, and what a first claim with a new partner looks like. Energy Merchants states 24-hour settlement for established partners with a first claim at 48 to 72 hours, so that is the type of statement to ask others for. The payment time guide goes through it.
Check reliability
- How are failed or rejected claims handled, and who bears the cost?
- Is there a named person you can ring?
- Does the trader pre-check photos and forms before lodging?
- What does the contract say about clawback? See contract terms to check.
- Can other installers vouch for them? Ask for references, and read STC trader reviews with a critical eye.
Reading forum recommendations
Treat a recommendation as one data point. A trader that suits a 20-jobs-a-week business may not suit a sole operator. Look for specifics in the post: what rate, how many days, what happened when a claim failed. Be wary of praise with no detail and of complaints that do not say whether the paperwork was clean.
What this means for installers
Run a small test: send one claim to a prospective trader, time it, and compare the money received with the quote. Then choose. The choosing a certificate trader checklist is a printable version. When you are ready to try us, start trading or see how it works.
From the desk: ask each trader the same four questions in writing: rate, lock point, fees, settlement time. The one that answers plainly is usually the one that will also pay plainly.