Solarking/Solarcrown UK company insolvency

LibbyBoo

Hi folks, first time posting - please be gentle! We have solar panels installed last year by SolarKing UK. We received a letter the other day addressed to us and Solarcrown UK at our home address, stating that an insurance company called Enterprise Insurance (eigplc.com) is in liquidation and advising us of the procedure if we wish to make a claim. Doing some googling, it seems that SolarKing's parent company Solarcrown is insolvent.
I couldn't get through to Solarking on the phone today and I'm worried about what will happen if there's a problem with our solar panels if in fact Solarking/Solarcrown have gone bust.
Can anyone advise?
Thanks in advance.

shaun_from_Africa

Did you make any of the installation payments on a credit card? or did you take out finance specifically for the work?

LibbyBoo

Hi, we took out finance specifically for the work.

DoaM

As there is finance involved (that is directly attributable to the solar panels - I presume the finance agreement does reference them?) then you have Section 75 protection. (See the MSE article).

This makes the finance provider jointly liable withe the seller for the performance of the contract - including any warranty terms. So if the seller has gone bust, you can approach the finance company.

LibbyBoo

Thanks for that - I'll check the finance documents today. 😊

theshed

Hi
Did you have any luck with your Solarking Warranty ?
We had panels installed in 2012 and following an Email from our FiT provider it appears our Generation meter has not been working for some months. On contacting Solarking the reply came from Solar Crown telling me Solarking has gone into Liquidation and they had taken over some of their business.
However they only cover warranties for installations after 2013. And we would have to pay for repairs.
Waiting to hear back from original Warranty provider.
Cheers

Kyle_stanford

Hello, I recently been approached by a sales person from solar crown stating that there company is the only one that hasn't gone bust, he was telling me about what was on offer such as 12-16 new all black 4kw pannels and a storage battery we agreed on a price for around 8k but before I put pen to paper I was wondering what you guys thought?

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

theshed

We bought off Solar King back in 2012 and the service at that point was excellent.
Although some paperwork back then also showed the Solar Crown name, when it came to our warranty we where told there was no connection and Solar Crown had just bought some of their business ?
However the independent warranty company honoured our claim. So it is worth ensuring any warranty is valid should Solar Crown go under.
The deal you have been offered does sound good, especially with the battery, they where not available when ours where installed.
The amount of return was not as good as promised in the paperwork, but to be fair the salesman did explain that the printed figures where expected maximums. And we did have an interest free loan.
No simple answer to your question, other to say, yes the offer is good but ensure any expected returns match your expectations and watch that warranty.

T3rry_2

theshed wrote: »

the independent warranty company honoured our claim. So it is worth ensuring any warranty is valid should Solar Crown go under.

Hi, who was the warranty company you used? The generator reading has stopped working over a year ago and I have no idea with whom I should talk to.
The only information I've found is the administrators dealing with the liquidation of Solarcrown UK. I will call them at 9 this morning and see if I can get any advice from them.

Ovo have said that I am entitled to a refund but it comes from Solarcrown, not them.

theshed

The Warranty was with 'IWA' and was part of the deal when we bought the panels.
Our generator stopped reading also, the problem was with the inverter which was replaced under warranty.
Curiously, I received a 'call yesterday from a company called Newage who told me the inverter was due a check. They did not know it had been replaced, so not sure what they wanted to check.
For electricity supply, we are with Flow who actually told me the meter was not registering, they also said nothing to do with them.
I did contact Solarcrown who had taken over Solarking business, again, nothing to do with them but they could put me into contact with a repair person.
At that point I recalled the warranty and contacted them. Who replaced.
It was a straightforward in/out so I would think once you bought an inverter most qualified electricians could change. Just remember even though it not registering, power is still flowing so ISOLATE.
One more thing, have you tried resetting ?
Turn isupply off, start at inverter, work back through system turning each part off right through to main supply. Wait at least four minutes then turn back on, in turn. This instruction was with the original pack.
Very strange that Solarcrown have no connection to Solarking, but logo, phone number and website are all almost identical ?
Good luck.

robsun67

Due to the crash of Solarking/ Solarcrown the 10 year warranty and guarantee certificate is now a worthless piece of paper , had our fitted 2015 , I have received a letter from ESE stating that I have not had a free health check and service, on contacting ESE I am told its £19.99 per month to renew the warranty and service, just wondered if any one else had had such a letter, glad to hear any comments on this matter