Free solar panel feedback discussion: HomeSun

HomeSun_company_representative

William3 wrote: »

My partner has had almost the same thing happen, all paper work was signed on a free system, we had a survey which we have a letter saying passed, we had an installation date. and then out of the blue comes news of a second survey being required, this is where it gets fun as we get the phone, and he regrets to inform us that they will not be able to install on our premisis due to the roof being unsuitable and the earth not being bonded to the gas supply or the water main. Well after the phone call I inspect the water main and hello theres the earth bonded, I walk over to the gas main... ooooh theres the gas main bonded. as for the roof there all the same around here and there are panels on other properties, so what we have is LIAR LIAR LIAR.

(the surveyor who looked around the second time asked where the water main was, and we said just behind the washing machine, his response was , I will put it down as inaccessable.)

Homesun is disgraceful , we where also advised that we would recieve an email confirming all of this, but as of yet no letter. we are going to write to homesun requesting the full surveying faults to the property and then ask our friend who is a structural and electrical engineer.

Hi William3,

I am very sorry to hear this. It is in HomeSun’s interest to install customers we think have the best chance of gaining the most out of our their solar panels. I can understand that after having two surveys and being told you were not suitable is frustrating. I would be happy to look at your survey results and give you a detailed explanation if you email your details to customerservices@homesun.com with the subject line ‘MoneySavingExpert-William3’.

Just to reiterate, our whole business is built on installing free and low cost solar systems. We receive the Feed-in Tariff, and homeowners receive free electricity. So, if you have the right roof for solar, it is not in our interests to turn you away - both HomeSun and you would benefit from a positive outcome.

Please accept my apologies on behalf of HomeSun for failing to provide you with adequate responses regarding your survey and know that we strive to get in contact with all our customers who are not suitable for free solar to ensure they are not left feeling disappointed.

Tanya

Cardew

Will you be refunding the £500 and £5 a month maintenance fee to those misguided customers who signed such a contract?

DoctorBanzai

Cardew wrote: »

Will you be refunding the £500 and £5 a month maintenance fee to those misguided customers who signed such a contract?

I guess that I've been lucky in one thing at least! Homesun have never asked us for a penny. My wife and I agreed right from the very beginning that there was no way we would pay anything for a free solar setup whichever company we decided on.

HomeSun_company_representative

Cardew wrote: »

Will you be refunding the £500 and £5 a month maintenance fee to those misguided customers who signed such a contract?

Hello Cardew,

If the install hasn't gone ahead and any customer that has signed up under SolarShare we will refund. We have not been charging £5/month fee for about a year now.

For those existing customers who have already had an install under SolarShare there is no refund due.

Tanya

ingram010

We applied for a free installation in August, after the all clear from the surveyor the paperwork got signed; we supplied everything we were asked to. After a couple of months I phoned them to find out when we were going to get our installation, they said they were still waiting for the mortgage company to finalise the paperwork, so we got on to the mortgage company, they said they hadn’t received anything from homesun. Went back to homesun they said they need a marriage certificate, even though Warren the sales guy took a photo of it.

We sent our marriage certificate and then took it to the mortgage company just in case. Got the confirmation letter on the 8th November, All done yay! Phoned homesun to get an installation date, 16th November for the scaffolding, 17th for the installation. I duly cleared the area for the scaffolding and booked the Friday off work for the installation. And jumped for joy! The time flew by and on the Thursday my wife called me at work "they have cancelled the installation" Gutted! Phoned up homesun for another installation date, they told me an installation team will call us within two weeks to confirm a date.

I started to panic, time was running out. I phoned them the next date to get a rough idea when it might happen, homesun put me through to Brit Solar in Bristol, I asked when they could do it, they informed me that logistically they could not do an installation in Dorchester because they were based in Bristol and that they had already referred us back to homesun?? So I phoned homesun and at this point I was getting increasingly anxious but they assured me that we would get our installation they were 100% sure it would happen, they would get another installation team to do it and call me shortly with an installation date. Ok all sorted!

A week went by and I phoned them again, they put me through to an installation team "Hello Brit Solar how can I help" Again I enquired when my installation was going to happen thinking that they had agreed to do it after all. "Sorry Sir we can’t do your installation you are out of our area” ???? !!!!!!. Am I dreaming is this deja vu!!!....Guess who I called? I insisted to speak to someone who knew what was going on. Explained everything to a lady called Emma, she said she would investigate what had happened and call me back. She called back and said that Brit Solar would do the installation and that Brit Solar would call me back, I told her again that Brit Solar would not do the installation and I was told that by a guy called Ollie who spoke directly to the manager during my last phone call. Emma said she would call me back. About half an hour later another lady called me "Sorry Mr Ingram we won’t be able to do your installation".

And now it’s too late to go to another solar company. Thank you very much homesun You royally cocked up my life for a while and as It was my intention to buy the instillation in a couple of years you stole the opportunity from me to earn £20K +.

I wonder if homesun even use an installation company that cover the Dorchester,Dorset area?

I am going to do some investigation as regards to my legal position.

DoctorBanzai

Wow, and I thought I was having a bad time. Sorry you've had such a lousy experience.

I am trying very hard not to stress over this but I am starting to lose sleep.

Good luck with a new installer.

ingram010

Thanks for your kind words DoctorBanzai, but unfortunately it’s too late to for me now. I doubt any solar company can get the paperwork survey and instillation done with only 9 days to go.

DoctorBanzai

Well last time I spoke to Homesun was 10.30am on Monday. Nearly 48 hours later and still no call back from them. So I bit the bullet and phoned them yet again. Asked to speak to Emma but she's apparently helping out in customer services.

Was told that there are no more install dates until after 12th December.

I asked, point-blank, if they actually were going to install and was told that "as far as they are aware" they will still be installing free systems. I asked if they would remove scaffolding, they said that they would. I have told them to leave it for now as I feel that removing it is just another step backward and I'm scared that they'll never come back.

Tried to phone Carillion but no reply as usual.

Wife now in tears, I'm back on antidepressants on doctors orders.

I just wish I knew what was going on.

UPDATE: Have now asked Homesun to remove the scaffold

ingram010

I had to get tough with them to get a straight answer; I only wish I had done it weeks ago.

A friend at work submitted his application to Solarforyou two weeks ago and has already got his installation. I feel sick with envy.

I think that homesun took us on out of greed, thinking that they might just be able to do it, but I am sure that they knew weeks ago that they could'nt honor the agreement.

Shame on you homesun.

Tedward64

Regret I have a similar story. Our installation of 14 "free" panels has been cancelled twice now due to "allocation issues". I rang Homesun again today and they cannot even give me a new date. Again it's Carillion they are blaming, so why can't they get another more efficient contractor? The person I spoke to today also blamed a scaffolding company for not "using correct working practices" and so they had to stop using them. It's a pity Homesun does not seem to know how to engage and monitor professional contractors. I was assured that although my installation may well be after 12th December, I will still qualify and my cancellations were not in favour of those who are paying for their panels. I wonder.

New Info: Just heard on the news that Corillion are laying off over 4000 employees due to the change in tarrff by the Government. That's a possible reason for my delay but, more importantly, terrible news for those involved. Thanks Gov.