Are 'upselling scams' causing a surge in solar panel fraud?

However, homeowners making the most of the Government’s solar panel drive have increasingly fallen victim to conmen. Citizens Advice has warned of a surge in solar panel fraud, particularly “upselling scams” in which cold-callers convince customers to upgrade technology they already have to meet fabricated legal “standards”.

Are free solar panels a scam?

Free solar panels are indeed a scam. This deceptive marketing tactic is often used to promote solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), which come with long contracts and monthly payments that escalate over time.

Are solar panels being targeted by fraudsters using feed-in tariffs?

Households that have already installed solar panels are also being targeted by fraudsters using publicly available information from feed-in tariffs, warned Dr Tim Jones, of Cornwall-based charity Community Energy Plus.

How do I avoid solar panel scams?

Getting multiple quotes and thoroughly vetting installers is the best way to avoid solar panel scams. You can also use solar.com to compare quotes from our network of thoroughly vetted installers.

Are 'fake' solar companies a scam?

Beware of any company asking you to make a big deposit before they have completed their installation. This is one of the most common ways ‘fake’ solar companies have targeted consumers – whereby they take a hefty deposit and then never turn up to carry out the installation. This is common solar scam.

Is home solar a scam?

Scams are a blight on the solar industry, but that doesn’t mean home solar itself is a scam. Here are some tricks to avoiding solar scams, finding reputable installers, and enjoying the benefits of home solar. If you only listen to one sales pitch, it can be easy to get sucked into a scam.