The scam of contracting to install photovoltaic panels is revealed

Are solar panels a scam?

With that demand comes fierce competition within the solar panel market. Scams, schemes and straight-up fraud abound in the dark underbelly of an otherwise light-filled industry. While there are still many honest and reliable solar panel companies on the market, it can be hard to differentiate the good guys from the rest.

Are 'fake' solar companies a scam?

Beware of any company asking you to make a big deposit before they have completed their installation. This is one of the most common ways ‘fake’ solar companies have targeted consumers – whereby they take a hefty deposit and then never turn up to carry out the installation. This is common solar scam.

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.

Is my solar panel installer going out of business?

If you're not sure whether your solar panel installer has gone out of business, and a cold caller is insisting they are taking over, don't take their word for it. In this instance, it turned out to be a scam. Instead, check your original installer's website and try the contact details you were given when your panels were installed.

Are You at risk of a misleading solar panel scheme?

Thousands of households are at risk of falling victim to misleading solar panel schemes which are up by 50 per cent over the last year, data from Action Fraud reveals.

Do you have a problem with your solar panel?

In fact, solar panel problems are quite rare: nearly seven in 10 owners in our survey told us they had never had a technical problem with their solar PV system. Your solar panel installer should have told you how to check that your system is working correctly, and any maintenance you might need over the years.