Notts: Warning over solar panels scam

The number of complaints have doubled in the last 12 months and have involved sales people misleading customers on how much money the solar panels would generate or not being clear that the deal would involve signing up to a finance agreement.

Coun Glynn Gilfoyle, chairman of the council’s community safety committee, said: “There are many genuine companies around who are up front and clear on whether there is a cost for the solar panels, who owns them once they are fitted and how much you are likely to earn from them once installed. However, some companies are claiming that that the income generated by the panels will cover the cost of the required finance agreement which in reality is not the case or are vague on the cost of installation.”

“We recommend that residents wanting solar panels to do their research and check the paperwork thoroughly before signing up, seek quotes from other companies and avoid doorstep or telephone cold callers offering a ‘good deal’ which is likely to be too good to be true.”