Letter from Stenfield & Co re Solar Power Scotland

browncat22

2 years ago I had a thermodynamic panel installed by Solar Power Scotland to provide all my hot water and have been very happy with it though as expected the savings have not been as great as they quoted, but all in all quite satisfied. I have today received a letter from Stenfield & Co advising me that Solar Power Scotland have gone into liquidation and that they are "currently pursuing claims for a number of customers regarding potential mis-selling"
I am extremely wary of this especially as they are saying they can only offer services to those who paid by credit card.
Has anyone else had this or similar experience?

br1anstorm

Interesting. I have just today received a letter from Stenfield & Co ("Legal International", based in Warrington) which is no doubt identical. I too live in Scotland, and I too had a solar thermal system fitted by a local company (not Solar Power Scotland) which has since gone out of business.

The letter has all the hallmarks of a classic "phishing" approach. It is the same pattern as is used by legal firms hoping to persuade people that they have a claim for whiplash injury after a car accident, or have been mis-sold PPI, or are entitled to compensation for some other misfortune. Although this comes by letter, it seems in effect the same as the widespread practice of nuisance telephone cold-calls.

The letter is cleverly and persuasively drafted ("you may have purchased a solar system....", "it is likely that you will have been misinformed...", and "you may have paid considerably more than you should have....."). The firm only offers their services in pursuing a claim to customers who paid via credit card or finance arranged by the installer (which is a good reason to be suspicious); and their fee is 25% + VAT of the amount reclaimed.

This firm has evidently trawled company records to identify solar-energy firms which have gone out of business - which is not difficult. The more worrying question is how they have acquired the names and addresses of those companies' customers. Might they have tracked these details via those government organisations which provide energy-efficiency grants?

An internet search reveals that Stenfield has evidently picked up on the fact that a firm called Solartwin (which developed a particular type of solar panel) has been liquidated: its successor company, called Genfit, has a warning on its website about Stenfield's phishing letters.

Stenfields own website suggests that they are not so much an international legal firm as a debt recovery specialist. Hmmmmm. My advice would be to treat any approach from them with extreme caution.

Bunny1202

I have noticed a couple of threads dated in 2015 relating to this firm of solicitors. I have recently received a letter from this company, although unlike the previous threads I do not live in Scotland, regarding a company Thermal Coatings Ltd which has gone into liquidation. I had work undertaken by this company some years ago and the letter implies that the selling of the product I received was a scam and that I may be entitled to a full refund and the above company will act for me on a no win no fee basis and charge 25% plus vat on any monies recovered.
I am inclined to believe this is in fact a scam in itself especially in view of the previoius two posts has anybody else received such a letter..

howard_bretman

I received the same letter yesterday dated 10-6-16 it would be interesting to know if they are genuine?

Cardew

The solar thermal 'industry' in particular was an absolute disgrace, with outrageous prices charged on the basis of outrageous claims of savings; they have been the subject of many 'watchdog' type programmes and articles.

Whilst the basis of any claim for mis-selling might be justified, it is difficult to see just who they would claim against. The owners of the firms that go into liquidation are difficult to hold responsible.

So if it is a genuine 'No Win - No Fee' scheme you have little to worry about; the emphasis is on 'genuine'! Obviously don't pay them a penny.

reeac

That's a sweeping statement, Cardew. Our PV panel suppliers(Solarworks of Suffolk) estimated that we'd generate 1850 kWh per annum whereas we've actually generated a consistent 2200 kWh per annum over a period of more than 5 years so we're well pleased. We chose these people because a neighbour recommended them to us ....as always personal recommendation is the way to go.

matelodave

Cardew was talking about Solar Thermal where it heats water, not Solar PV which generates electricity.

Different technology and nowwhere near as easy to measure

molerat

It is pretty obvious where they are going to try to get the money from really

they are "currently pursuing claims for a number of customers regarding potential mis-selling"
I am extremely wary of this especially as they are saying they can only offer services to those who paid by credit card.

Cardew

reeac wrote: »

That's a sweeping statement, Cardew. Our PV panel suppliers(Solarworks of Suffolk) estimated that we'd generate 1850 kWh per annum whereas we've actually generated a consistent 2200 kWh per annum over a period of more than 5 years so we're well pleased. We chose these people because a neighbour recommended them to us ....as always personal recommendation is the way to go.

As 'matelodave' states the OP and myself are talking about solar thermal not solar PV.

2 years ago I had a thermodynamic panel installed by Solar Power Scotland to provide all my hot water and have been very happy with it though as expected the savings have not been as great as they quoted

nigelheys

I too have received a similar letter from Stenfield about Thermal Coatings, though it does not mention paying by credit card (although I did). I guess they plan to sue the credit card company on the grounds the coatings are defective as a company in liquidation has no money. I have actually found the coating effective against moss despite Stenfield's claims.

reeac

matelodave wrote: »

Cardew was talking about Solar Thermal where it heats water, not Solar PV which generates electricity.

Different technology and nowwhere near as easy to measure

True, I missed the reference to thermal. Funnily enough, however, my neighbours who recommended the company to me had based it on having had thermal panels installed by them. They subsequently had PV panels installed as well by the same company.