Analysis of a case of fraud in installing photovoltaic panels

Are 'upselling scams' causing a surge in solar panel fraud?

However, homeowners making the most of the Government’s solar panel drive have increasingly fallen victim to conmen. Citizens Advice has warned of a surge in solar panel fraud, particularly “upselling scams” in which cold-callers convince customers to upgrade technology they already have to meet fabricated legal “standards”.

Who were the victims of a £17m solar scheme?

Today a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found six men guilty of running a £17m fraudulent scheme to install solar panels which defrauded 1,500 victims including elderly, retired and vulnerable people.

Are solar panels being targeted by fraudsters using feed-in tariffs?

Households that have already installed solar panels are also being targeted by fraudsters using publicly available information from feed-in tariffs, warned Dr Tim Jones, of Cornwall-based charity Community Energy Plus.

Are solar panels a scam?

This feature is available for registered users. Please register or log in to continue Households with solar panels are at increased risk of being scammed as new figures show a sharp rise in fraudsters tempting victims with energy-saving deals.

Do solar panels attract VAT?

From April 2022, energy-efficient equipment such as solar panels, insulation and heat pumps have attracted zero VAT, instead of 5pc, and will continue to do so until 2027. However, homeowners making the most of the Government’s solar panel drive have increasingly fallen victim to conmen.

How many complaints have been made about solar panels in 2022?

The Financial Ombudsman Service received more complaints mentioning solar panels in 2022 than in the previous eight years combined, Telegraph analysis reveals. Complaint numbers have sky-rocketed from a low of 15 in 2018, to a record high of 853 last year.