Solar Panels

sorcerer

We have had solor panels on the roof for a few years now, the one where you don't pay for them. They broke over the summer, and I haven't been able to get hold the of company since then. The phone just rings nobody ever answers.

Unfortelty I have looked around and can't find any paper work. I am assuming he is continueing to get the feed-in traffis, even if the panels are broken. Is their some official body I can contact who might be able to help.

I think the company was called called something like Solar Energy 4 Free but I am not 100% sure.

Thanks

macman

The company may have gone into liquidation, like many similar companies. If the gen meter isn't being read, then they won't be getting any more FIT fees.
How do you know they are 'broken': has the meter stopped registering any more units?
You really do need to find the paperwork, as it could be an issue when you come to sell the property, since you have effectively leased your roof to a third party.

sorcerer

Yes the little box the showed the meter reading is off, and also it tripped a fuse on the fuse box. If I turn the panels off, reset the fuse and try again it just trips again. The issue is with a broken invertor i believe. I have a new one tha company sent me a few months back, but they never came to install it.

sorcerer

Also I don't believe they actually ever sent us the paperwork. I spoke to a few neighbours who had them installed and none of them have any paperwork either.

Mojisola

sorcerer wrote: »

I think the company was called called something like Solar Energy 4 Free but I am not 100% sure.

These people?
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//insolvency

sorcerer

mmhh interesting it shows SOLAR ENERGY 4 FREE LTD in Liqudation. So I wonder what happens now?

System

Worth a quick glance:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/08/uk-solar-firms-going-bust-what-consumers-need-to-know

sorcerer

so it doesn't seem to be any easy answer, if I company goes bust I wonder who owns the panels. What would happen if I got somebody to dismantle and sell everything off. Or indeed if I paid to get them repaired myself. Judging from the cost that might not be worth it.

Because I worked out they are saving me about £100 a year. So if it costs me £500 to get them repaired it would take 5 years to get my money back assuming they don't break again. Which they probably will because they have broken three times in four years.

I wonder if I can get the feed in tariff to get paid to me instead if they went out of business, it might be a way recover the cost of repairs?

Interesting article thank you.

Ainsley1

I presume you are not in Scotland where a verbal contract is legally binding (though proving it might be difficult!) ....however -and please do not take my word for it- if a limited company is liquidated then it's assets and contracts still exist and if is up to the liquidator to sort them out. It is probably often the case that the debts outway the assets so many creditors then loose out. Ordinary creditors are often in the worst position in terms of priority behind the taxman and banks.
How this affects the PV system installed on your property I do not know especially if you have no paperwork supporting your contract, but if the company had records they should be in the liquidator's hands and he/she is your point of contact.

I would suggest getting some formal advice,vWhich legal services?, legal add on to your insurance?, citizens advice? or your lawyer (costly?).

On here is a good start as you may find others can advise better and I feel certain some sort of definitive advice might help others too. Any legal eagles out there?

I would further suggest not doing anything with the PV system - it does not belong to you- except anything that is essential to make it and your property safe that any reasonable person would need to do, should the need arise.

macman

You must have signed a contract to agree the install, why have you not kept a copy of that contract?There is really nothing to 'break' on a solar PV install other than the inverter, and that should last at least 5-10 years.
The liquidators will presumably attempt to sell on the FITs contracts, since these must be a major asset of the company in liquidation. If not, you could attempt to buy back the FIT's contract yourself for a nominal amount, since the value of the plant will be less than the removal cost.
Hopefully you are not needing to move house before this can be resolved.