Solar Installers Ltd warning

vixtrix

Anyone thinking of getting solar panels should avoid a man called Richard Elliot of Solar Installers and Renewable Energies. He is a con man.

I paid a £2000 deposit in July with a commencement date of 29th July and have heard nothing from him since. All phone calls and emails go unanswered.

I feel like a complete idiot and wish I'd done more research on him, whereupon I'd have discovered the unpaid CCJ'S. I know I've probably lost my money but just wanted to warn any future customers.

Any advice would be great.

rogerblack

in principle, you can apply through the small claims court.
https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/overview
Do you have an actual physical address for him?

zeupater

Hi

There are a number of points which need to be considered before escalating the issue - here are a couple of the major ones ....

... Is the supplier MCS registered ? - check on the MCS database here ( http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/consumers/installer-search )

... Has the supplier confirmed that they (or claimed to) conform to the REAL code of conduct ? - If so you could have an additional route ...

Additionally, what have you actually been told prior to placing the order - make a note of everything now (before the memory of the detail fades).

HTH
Z

vixtrix

I have managed to find his home address via creditsafeuk. Interestingly I had a friend phone him today for a quote and lo and behold he answered. So she gave her phone straight to me....he said he had hurt his eye and couldn't see for a couple of weeks and was now trying to catch up with everything. It was laughable. He still maintains I will get my panels though. I don't know how long to give him before demanding a refund and going to court.

The_Green_Hornet

Another review of this company from 192.com.

http://www.192.com/atoz/business/gatwick-rh6/solar-energy-equipment/the-solar-installers-ltd/88c8a2405325c2480ccb02a128744bdeb8ae7256/ml/#

rogerblack

vixtrix wrote: »

I have managed to find his home address via creditsafeuk. Interestingly I had a friend phone him today for a quote and lo and behold he answered. So she gave her phone straight to me....he said he had hurt his eye and couldn't see for a couple of weeks and was now trying to catch up with everything. It was laughable. He still maintains I will get my panels though. I don't know how long to give him before demanding a refund and going to court.

Zeupater's comments are relevant.
if the supplier is not MCS registered, they cannot legally install panels that will attract FIT.
Demand a refund now, and take all possible actions urgently.

zeupater

rogerblack wrote: »

Zeupater's comments are relevant.
if the supplier is not MCS registered, they cannot legally install panels that will attract FIT.
Demand a refund now, and take all possible actions urgently.

Hi

My point exactly .... If the installer is MCS/REAL accredited then there will likely be a very strong course for the issue to be redressed. On the other hand, if the installer has taken money on the basis that the installation will be registered for FiT payments and it will not be due to not conforming to the requirements to use both a MCS registered installer & MCS registered equipment then I would have thought that not only trading standards would be interested, but the police would also be from a fraudulent standpoint (money fraudulently taken based on a non-existent financial return).

Hopefully the OP has enough sense to follow the advice asked for & given and take the appropriate measures. Attempting to resolve the issue by simply harassing the installer will just cause annoyance and likely delay any movement on their behalf if there is a genuine reason for the delay. The urgent course of action is to check the MCS & REAL databases ... this must be done immediately as the remaining course of action open to the OP depends on the outcome.

HTH
Z

Estwing

From that review i am guessing he uses contractors to do the installs so he wont be MCS accredited himself, and by the sounds of it his contractor wont release the MCS cert to that particular customer as he is owed money from this guy.

vixtrix

Thanks a lot. Yes, someone else was going to do the installation which explains why he isn't MCS accredited. I'm taking your advice and demanding a full refund. Do I send him an email or should it be by post? And how long should I give him to refund before court action?