Missold solar panels???

peachespeaches

We have had a letter offering to pursue a claim that we were missold solar panels, by being told our savings would pay the loan we took out to purchase them. We do feel we were missold as the returns and savings arent as suggested, also the installation wasnt exactly as quoted.

If I didnt want to go through a claims company could I pursue this myself? We get no reply from the installers. We have paperwork saying the product was backed by HICE, but they werent that helpful when our solar dude (electronic monitor) failed just outside the one year it was guaranteed for. They told us to go to the lenders.

Cardew

You might be better posting this in the 'Green and Ethical' section of MSE as that is where the majority of solar owners and enthusiasts post.


Just as background Solar Thermal(ie just providing hot water) had a reputation that made Double Glazing salesmen of yesteryear seem like saints. Outrageous claims and outrageous prices were the order of the day. There were more complaints to trading standard offices than any other subject. The firms regularly went 'bust' and started up again next day with the same directors but under a different name, and left their liabilities behind.


To prevent this happening with Solar PV all companies had to be MCS registered if their customers were to receive subsidies. The vain hope was that MCS would 'police' the industry. However in many cases the same situation as Solar thermal has occurred - outrageous claims and poor financing arrangements. With the long overdue reduction in subsidies, many of these companies have jumped off the 'gravy train' and moved to pastures new.


I have not heard of firms offering their services to make claims against the installers. Being cynical I think these might also be a scam as I doubt if many of the dodgy installation firms are still trading. If you do use a claims service, make sure you pay them nothing up front, insist they get their commission from the installation company.


I also think that the finance companies(such as Barclays) are fireproof; they have simply lent you money and are no more liable than if you had bought a dud car with their loan.