Homeowners feel abandoned after spending a fortune on solar systems they can’t use

[@danielhorritz7986]

Whenever people show up at my door, I immediately assume they’re terrorists. This has saved me a lot in sales scams.

[@jamescox2894]

Uninvited visitors should be assumed to have malintent.

[@jamessimms415]

I have a ‘No Solicitation’ sticker on my front door.

[@NETWizzJbirk]

Solar panels cost about $300 to $600 each. There is a bracket kit, some boxes, miscellaneous roof parts, boxes, etc… maybe $3000 at most. Then the micro inverters cost about the same as panels. Simply put at most they have $9000 to $21,000 installed for $100,000 and it was done in one day by a couple of guys getting $13 per hour each

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Some states are actually paying people to go solar and giving them everything free. That makes me suspicious too.

[@shannonshannonbobannon5040]

$100,000 contract with a door to door salesman. Wow. That guy had a good day.

[@christopheraaron8299]

Who in their right mind would agree to a $60-100k contract without doing their homework on the company? Seems the old saying is still true; A sucker is born every day.

[@dingdong2103]

Or who is dumb enough to think that energy taken from something you pay 100k for is free lol. They'll need to spend 20 years of electricity to cover the cost, all the while that 100k could have been gaining interest in stocks.

[@bsedhs]

wow...really? That's what you take away from this?! The customer is at fault?!!?....come on...

[@christopheraaron8299]

@@bsedhs Yes, the customer is partially at fault for not researching the people they're giving thousands of dollars to. That's not to say the scammers don't bare the brunt of the blame, but consumers are stupid if they don't do their due diligence. It's not like buying a toaster, you have to actually do research.

[@christopheraaron8299]

@@dingdong2103 That's not really a relevant factor here.

[@bsedhs]

​@@christopheraaron8299 So, by your logic I should know EXACTLY how to fix my car.... but, I just bring it someone who I KNOW will do it right???? We hire people to do jobs we either can't do, or do not know how to do. A certain amount of trust needs to be there. From the customer and the company. This is a violation of trust, and it is NOT the customers fault. I, respectfully, disagree. Even in the case of the customer not doing due-diligence.... The company said they would do a job....and they didn't. This is NOT the customers fault.

[@ronbennett7885]

Door to door salespeople and unsolicited callers are often scammers. Best approach is don't answer the door / hang up immediately. Even when legit, usually overpriced. At minimum, do a web search of the company and ask around. Basic common sense.

[@fivespeed3026]

Best not to answer the door to anyone you don’t know including the police. There’s no law that says you have to answer the door.

[@seaturtledog]

That is crazy to think that buying Solar at $60,000 would be a good idea. I wonder what the electric bills are per month are for these homes in Florida? If you financed the 60,000 for a 10 year loan at 6% interest your monthly payment will be around $666.

[@Romancefantasy]

You bought something that expensive from a DOOR TO DOOR salesman!? And didn’t research them!?🤷🏽‍♀️

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Don't victim blame

[@mv4463]

This is a message Kentucky homeowners need to listen to.. everything that shines does produce a thing..

[@josephpadula2283]

These prices are Insane!! These are not even in the ball park of what solar costs.!!!

[@mansabrice]

Yeah just an insane number. 60k for that small array? They must be netting like 40k profit.

[@ronbennett7885]

Products sold by unsolicited salespeople tend to be double or more expensive. Assuming it's even legit to begin with. Lots of scams out there. It's a shame solar panels have become associated with sleazy sales tactics. In some ways worse than buying a car, since solar energy contracts can be very complicated and fluid.

[@rickmus2]

I have 38 panels to generate around 11kw max and that cost $30k (three years ago)

[@elhoward7440]

Depends on the size of the system, but I think most systems are closer to $30K.

[@FrozenHaxor]

@@mansabrice Totally, same thing goes on in my country. People don't know the actual cost of components and over half of it is pocketed.

[@NBZW]

“FOOLS AND THEIR MONEY SOON PART”, this is the best example for that old phrase.

[@christopheraaron8299]

Exactly. Minimal research by those customers, like looking the company up on the BBB website, would have saved them from being scammed.

[@MEN101]

In Mexico even if you install solar panels, CFE, the electricity monopoly company in Mexico can take 3-6 months to install the new bidirectional meter, often it’s even longer than 6 months.

[@julieweiner1623]

Who buys crap from a un solicited person who shows up at your door

[@jamescox2894]

Before signing a six figure contract, what did their attorney say? How could there be loose panels with permits and inspections? Lastly, how did these idiots ever get the ability to make a six figure decision? We are all responsible for our own actions.

[@elhoward7440]

I'm having a hard time understanding how these companies get paid before the product passes inspection. Once there is no longer money on the line, they have zero incentive to respond to complaints!

[@Arkryal]

You are right. A valid contract for such an install would usually break out a deposit for work to begin, with the remainder being held in escrow until inspections have been passed and the system is operating up to spec. If the money was borrowed, you do still have to pay on the loan (unless the installer offers their own financing, which is rare but not unheard of)... but at least with the money in escrow, the installer doesn't make a profit until the job is done. There are still scams within that framework... other companies have installed dead panels that were basically junk, and so even the deposit is profitable. But the more safeguards you have in place, the better. Always read a contract. In fact, there is virtually never a contract you should sign without first amending. If someone is not willing to later the contract, you should not do business with them under any circumstances... be it a solar installer, a car dealership, lease agreements, employment offers etc. Contracts are not a "take it or leave it" proposition, they are an instrument of the negotiation. Just signing the papers they put in front of you is not a negotiation. And while sales people seldom alter contracts, if they don't have a legal team to bring a revised contract to and can't re-run the numbers based on the revised agreement, then they don't make the sale. It's never worth your time to deal with a company who strictly adheres to boilerplate contracts that are NOT in the consumer's favor. I really wish more people understood that. It's shocking that people don't seem to know you can take that contract to your own lawyer, revise it and come back with a counter to the terms before agreeing. Not every contract needs revision, but something like this where they're selling hundreds of thousands of dollars of hardware with a long ROI, and they're selling door-to-door... I feel sorry for the victims, but they were very foolish.

[@time2livelife]

They must be paying people to look the other way

[@time2livelife]

@@Arkryal The company probably assumes that the average person either can’t afford a lawyer or doesn’t want the hassle of a lawsuit when they could potentially lose more money than they could recover.

[@yankinwaoz]

What! $103k!!!!!! WTF? I'm in California, and I'm installing a 8Kw system for $28k. $21k after tax credits.

[@GeorgeGeorge-yb2sz]

Amortize it, at best it is a losing proposition! What factor justifies that much debt?

[@lastpme]

If they don’t pass inspections why are they still in business….

[@jamessimms415]

Fortunately I have my electricity averaged out for the year, so it stays basically the same throughout; no risk of a heart attack when I open up an un-averaged bill.

[@time2livelife]

I don’t know what prices are like in Florida but $100k is like 4-5 times the cost of solar in California, at least for a home less than 3000 square feet. To all the people in the comments that are victim blaming, keep in mind that the real problem is that it’s so easy for scammers to get away with what they’re doing even when it’s documented. The FTC needs to shut this down.

[@dri6328]

Imagine giving $66,000 to a door-to-door salesman because you liked his pitch

[@nadagabri5783]

Door to door sales man - home owner gives them $100.000 😳 seriously. without even a google search 🙄

[@gvue4396]

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I always tell these door to door people, I don't know anything about your company, leave me a card and let me do my research and I'll get back to you.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

Big clue is when contractors ask for money up front.

[@elhoward7440]

Pay for materials up front. Pay for labor when the project is complete, and complete should mean passes all inspections!

[@christopherwoycke1959]

Need to clarify on that: If you call me and order something custom, yes, you will pay upfront. Then again, I don't go door to door looking for customers.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

@@christopherwoycke1959 contracting work on a particular house is pretty much custom work. Yes, I've paid material costs up front but it was made out to the manufacturer of the item, not the contractor and this was only for custom windows. The contractor got his money after the job was completed and successful. Other jobs that didn't ask for any money up front were roofs, redoing an entire in ground pool, plumbing, stucco work, etc. My GF paid for some custom cabinets up front and they turned out really krappy. It took her over two years in small claims court to get her money back. Yes, she paid up front. The second cabinet maker didn't get paid until the entire job was done.

[@jaysonovo4778]

Huh? Try and find a contractor who wint at minimum have you put money down for materials lol. Idk what contractor in their right mind would say, gut and install in a new bathroom without any money up front. Generally speaking, most contractors I've known take payments in installments, and take inital payment to cover material coats to do the job.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

@@jaysonovo4778 in fact, the contractor that my GF took to small claims court was advised by the judge to get a license, that way he can sue customers for non payment. Without that license, he has to follow handyman laws, which might be different for every state. My son recently had the roof replaced at his house and found a roofing contractor that had good referrals and didn't ask for any money up front. Contractors can put a lien on a property for non payments.

[@autotech9974]

The reason people go solar, because I don’t know how how many times I have to say this, the more you use electricity, the more it will cost you. I have a family friend of mine, that they couldn’t go solar because the equipment and set up cost as much as a quarter of their home. And of course the converters don’t run on solar energy alone they have to run on a continuous power source so technically you’re not really running 100% solar…

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Exactly why doesn't fraud void the contract in your state?

[@scottprather5645]

Pro tip dont do business with any company that uses solicitors.

[@berubejj]

Always do research on a company you're not familiar with before making any size purchase.

[@SeanBaker]

I'm pretty sure they can also sue the loan holder due to the production being defective. All my legal training comes from podcasts, but I'm pretty sure I'm correct. 🤣

[@calanon534]

Did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night, as well? That's +10 to CHA.

[@twyiatv]

Crazy to spend 60k to save $200/month.. 🤡

[@accuratealloys]

Power home solar got us to sign a $54,000 contract. Luckily our utility wouldn’t approve it so we dodged a bullet there.

[@GeorgeGeorge-yb2sz]

How do people get sucked into these scams? I wish I had some "Ocean front property in Arizona" for sale, I would be rich!

[@Wazupiseeyou]

@@GeorgeGeorge-yb2sz They claim they will get money back when doing taxes. It’s just a tax credit.

[@27Killermike]

Sounds like it will be fixed due to the "cough cough "customers...

[@michaelalan1270]

I bought a house 4 years ago that had solar panels by Tesla. Half the panels were installed incorrectly and don't work and after 3 years of trying to talk to them I'm nowhere. Tesla is the worst company to do business with. They have no customer service and refuse to even talk about it. It would cost me more in attorney fees to try to sue them and collect than to buy new panels at my expense.

[@DarkHarvest]

Not a single solitary statement even a glancing comment in even the slightest way to explain why any of these customers panels don't work/can't receive power. That's the craziest part of this video to me, talked for 3 whole minutes and didn't say anything at all...

[@TrueStrategicEyes]

They said twice that at least two customers panels could not be turned on due to failing inspections. Solar panels are high voltage appliances. Failing inspection is the same as not working. Both can kill or start a fire

[@markenda1]

@@TrueStrategicEyes There should be an inspection sheet that lists off the issues that are not up to code. We understand it failed inspection, but naming some of the issues would make the video a lot more informative.

[@elgoog7830]

Isn't most, if not all solar home panels 12volt?(not talking about solar panels in the desert/hill tops. Hooked to the main power grid) That means the house needs to be wired for 12v DC and not 110/120 volt AC. Which I'm guessing is not done. (I'm guessing this is the case)

[@markenda1]

@@elgoog7830 An inverter is used to convert voltages. That could be one of the issues, but it is impossible to tell because of lack of information.

[@cliffontheroad]

@@elgoog7830 12v DC to 110v AC is done with an "inverter" like the one in my car to power small household items (razor). Batteries, optional?, store the power. As for hooking into the power grid, there I suggest also reading the problems people encounter. Why am I answering this?????

[@makdaddy8399]

Simple. These days.....EVERYTHING is a scam.

[@AJourneyOfYourSoul]

Never buy from a door knocker. The prices are almost always outrageously high, and they are hoping to find that one person who just can’t say no. If you do some research, you will find this is almost always true and the company will have complaints and bad reviews.

[@plasmaman9592]

Anyone who spends that much for solar is just plain stupid! Unless it includes a battery system that can run the house for a few days and make the house completely independent. Most of these systems Don't store any energy so if the power goes but in the neighborhood you still can't use your system

[@davewelike]

Solar isn't supposed to cost $100k.

[@TrueStrategicEyes]

Panels cost 20-30k now

[@elhoward7440]

Depends on how many panels, battery backup, inverters, etc. But I agree, most systems are in the range you quote.

[@MeoMiyo]

Wait until they have to replace their shingles.

[@GeorgeGeorge-yb2sz]

Hungry Joe, King of the Bunco Men “There is a sucker born every minute”

[@arleenmorlino4019]

I thought solar panels were supposed to save you money on your electric bill.How does signing a 100,000 dollar contract save you money…

[@Cryton12345]

91 complaints? I smell lawsuit

[@macks7150]

Consumers are screwed no matter what they do, if the guy usses an LCC he is personally untouchable. He will just make up another company under another named LCC company and rip more people off

[@vincentsgaming]

Are you trying to say LLC?

[@Wazupiseeyou]

Are you trying to say Corporation?

[@mattroberts86]

Does this company have trouble with inspectors letting their equipment operate in other states... or just in Florida?

[@dennissvitak148]

There is a solar company here in eastern Missouri that does an EXCELLENT job selling systems, and getting money, but not so good on the installs. I dodged a real bullet on this one..their BBB rating went from A to F in six months. Do just enough jobs to get a great rating, then cheat the hell out of 200+ customers, and go out of business.

[@mattroberts86]

You can thank the Citizens United Act, that gave corporations the protections but not the responsibilities of a citizen, for enabling such fraud.

[@vblic]

And some do not qualify for the credit.

[@jdog667]

Its a scam ! And they destroy your expensive roof !

[@ronbennett7885]

Yep. Not a fan of residential rooftop solar. Often looks terrible and adds expense later when it's time to reshingle. Also, adds another fire hazard. A better option, though it often requires a larger lot, is a separate stand-alone installation.

[@jdog667]

@@ronbennett7885 im roof contractor ,,and see the disregard for attached assemblies ,,such as a 20 thousand dollar roof ,,and the first hole penetrated in a roofing product ,,Voids the warranty ,not to mention foot traffic issues !

[@gwesman]

Who would sign for a 10k solar system and pay that much.

[@Steve-yo4ld]

Nothing has changed since the days' of Door-to-Door Vacuum Sales, just the technology, the pitch remains the same! "Buyer Beware"

[@oscer1111]

Don't blame the panels for crap installers.

[@HeyItsJonny]

Looks as if they all got sunburnt by the deal.

[@SpaceRanger187]

Stop paying on the loan and force them into court.. hello

[@jamescox2894]

Also, hire a reputable company to finish the work on your investment and sue for the difference. Its beats having the toxic assets (a liability) just rotting away.

[@elhoward7440]

The loan company likely has a lien on the house, making it a safe bet for them. Don't pay, they foreclose and you lose your house.

[@Wazupiseeyou]

@@elhoward7440 They can’t foreclose your primary home. Not even the IRS can do that.

[@charlescurran1289]

Pretty bad reporting. Why did the system fail inspection? How much would it cost to get it up to code? Why do they have to pay on a loan where the supplier didn’t live up to his part of the contract? Why didn’t the homeowners have a lawyer review the contract before they signed? Too many unanswered questions.

[@hcbnett]

Stops working ... sue & stop payment .....

[@noogman]

Most county inspectors in every state are in bed with these bad contractors. Why wouldn't they be, they all know each other from past encounters on previous jobs. Ask any neighbor or friend if they have ever bad dealings with these construction pirates. You will get a 99% return of yes.

[@bobroberts2371]

So lets work this out. $ 60,000 cost ( I'm not including interest ) and a $ 500 a month electric bill is 120 months to break even. There are going to be panel and inverter failures in that 10 years as well as future failures. Doesn't see like good idea. This isn't to say that solar is bad, I'm thinking the economy of scale isn't there for a house sized system.

[@snowmonkey1035]

I tell all door to door no thank you

[@phoenixbrazil5266]

Florida has the most corruption when it comes to Contractors

[@waynes9275]

if is sounds to good to be true.........

[@dingdong2103]

In Spain the leftist government was first rising taxes and telling people to invest to solar panels. Then when people actually bought solar panels, they realised that they no longer got enough funding to maintain the mains network. So they put a 1000 dollar tax per panel to force people to remove them lol.

[@frpgplayer]

Still being told to get them, will save money, sell power back to the utility, etc. Strange those with them are paying through the nose and no, they are not selling anything to the utility company. All the promises are lies.

[@Janhalasz]

Happens in any industry: solar, roofing, windows and doors, remodeling,, etc. It's not the solar industry's fault, but people who embezzle funds from companies and leaving homeowners in the dark. Scammers are everywhere, unfortunately.

[@ManuelPerez-vx1kh]

Anyone here is customer of MC Solar In Florida ? If yes , message me because I can help you .

[@zerxilk8169]

maybe Elon can help?

[@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024]

they spent a fortune.....most of us never HAVE a fortune. first world problems. wire a switch in at night. its 2 screws ffs

[@WaveGod813]

Lmaoooooooo

[@erikanders3343]

I though DeSantis banned solar panels?

[@dylanakent]

There's grifting going on in a Republican state - shocking!

[@sir-richard4172]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@patsycadena]

Don't do it. People

[@shadowsilverlight1651]

and the worst part is that Unless you have a solar battery, you cant use them during a power outage because they cant be working due to being connected to power grid...so the Only benefit is "lower" electric bill. i have a 2 panel setup i did myself and i power some of the lights in my house and my panels arent connected to power grid, so i Can use them when power goes out.

[@elliotjones3098]

why would you spend that much on solar, do the math, it's simple, you are NEVER going to break even on that investment, and that doesn't even take into account the costs of having to replace panels, maintain the system...you'd have to live into your 100's, in that house, for that to make sense.

[@jamesjoeright8450]

GREEN NEW DEAL = 💩