Free solar panel feedback discussion: HomeSun

HalloweenJack

ofc HOMESUN didnt mention the 30% reduction in wholesale prices of equipment when they started the `doom and gloom` court case did they.....

bearcub

Good news, Doc, but do make sure you check on the land registry business, or you may get a nasty shock if you should try to sell your house.

phytone

Has anyone who has had their panels installed by Homesun received the electrical certificate and a copy of the signed ease yet?

Had mine done in November and still waiting...

sceptic2

Yes I had panels installed 24 Nov 2011 and received a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate in January 2012.
This refers to the installation of the invertor.
No copy of lease as yet.

cosmicgirl1962

Am I being naive in still expecting a call from Homesun as they said they would? Whilst I feel let down by them, I also feel that most of it was outside of their control and subject to terms & conditions would not be adverse to proceeding with them, as we have invested so much time in the project. We had our scaffolding ready and our installation was effectively cancelled on the day. A new potential supplier can't get involved whilst the lease is outstanding on our roof. What a nightmare!
Thanks

DoctorBanzai

cosmicgirl1962 wrote: »

Am I being naive in still expecting a call from Homesun as they said they would? Whilst I feel let down by them, I also feel that most of it was outside of their control and subject to terms & conditions would not be adverse to proceeding with them, as we have invested so much time in the project. We had our scaffolding ready and our installation was effectively cancelled on the day. A new potential supplier can't get involved whilst the lease is outstanding on our roof. What a nightmare!
Thanks

TBH I wouldn't hold your breath. Homesun's individual dapartments seem to work off of seperate databases and one dept rarely seems to know what another is doing. Consequently, they may well think that they have contacted when they haven't or you can easily get lost in their system. I have personal experience of this. I would strongly urge you to contact them. The only way to get anything done is to be a real pest. And don't rely on what any one Homesun rep says, their inter-department communication is apallingly bad. Again, I have experienced this one more than one occasion.

As to the lease; presumably you have signed yourself but as far as I am aware, Homesun don't sign it themselves until the installation is complete so you could argue that no legally binding lease exists. However, I'm not any kind of expert so please don't take this as gospel.

If I were you I would ask Homesun to cancel ASAP and get your signed lease returned. Homesun do not deserve your business IMHO.

Zanderman

Homesun now (today) seem to be ringing up contacts from months ago to ask if they're still interested - and that they anticipate a new window opening with the old FIT tariff soon*. An appointment with a surveyor will be made soon...

So far so good. But they quickly follow up the initial call to discuss sending out the lease (first time they've mentioned this - I thought we were talking about it at a site visit first...). And they want the lease signed, and witnessed before the day they come and look at the roof (for the first time). They expect their surveyor to return with the completed lease.

The lead time for the site visit is about a week - so there'll be just a few days to read that lease before their man/woman comes to see whether your roof is ok for their rent-a-roof criteria.

Now, I may be a little over-cautious, but I'm not going to sign a lease to rent my roof before I've even found out whether it's suitable, discussed the issues on site with a surveyor and then checked what I've been told to make sure it's correct and reasonable, and seeking legal advice if I had any doubts. Signing a lease a few days AFTER a survey visit maybe. But a few days before? Reminds me of double glazing salesmen at their worst.

On being told an appointment couldn't be made unless I committed to supplying a completed, witnessed lease that would definitely be taken away by the surveyor I told them to forget it.

Since then I've had a quick look at this thread - and realised I should have told them to forget it earlier!



*I have no idea how likely resumption of the old tariff is, or how long it might last if it happens ( I assume the Govt would ensure it was v short-lived!), but it seemed, for a few minutes, to be a reasonably attractive idea.

RAY70B

I had the surveyor first then the contract came through the post to read and dygest then sign had a phone call to make an appointment for someone to come and explane every thing and hand over the contract. This all happened in late November.

Ray

DoctorBanzai

Hi Zanderman,
first let me say that I am totally biased against Homesun. You've probaly already sussed that.

However...

Sounds like they're trying to shoe-horn as many people in as they can whilst this 'window' is available. It's obvious to me that this opportunity (for Homesun) won't last long.
The lease that I had was pretty water tight and seemed OK to me and my solicitor BUT there's no telling how they may have changed their terms now that they're in a corner.
My advise; be very careful. Get the lease checked out before pen touches paper. Also remember that there ARE still other companies offering free solar.
You'll be dealing with these people for 25 years, you MUST make sure you're happy with everything for your own sake.

All the best, Doc.

HalloweenJack

They are hedging there bets for the upcoming court case (im still guessing the government will ask for another extension - say a week till feb);

at that point the hedge is the government LOSE the appeal and the feeding frenzy can restart - homesun want to be able to `pounce` and start the same hour as the announcement is made , so want a clutch of contracts , signed and ready so the vans can be putting up scafolding that day.