Solar Freedom Blog Post

Cancel a Sunrun Contract Before Installation: Steps to Review

Signed with Sunrun but installation has not started? Review your agreement, any cancellation notice, and the documented steps to preserve your options.

Contract Help

If installation has not started, act promptly: review the agreement, identify any cancellation notice or deadline, preserve records, and request written confirmation of your next steps.

If you signed a Sunrun agreement and installation has not started, move quickly but do not rely on a generic internet answer. Your agreement, any cancellation notice, the transaction setting, the date, and your state can change what options are available. Start by preserving the documents and identifying the exact written deadline, address, and delivery method in your papers.

First: Check Whether a Cancellation Notice or Deadline Applies

The FTC says its Cooling-Off Rule can give consumers three business days to cancel certain qualifying sales made at home or at a temporary seller location. It does not cover every transaction. If the rule applies, the FTC says sellers must provide cancellation forms and a dated contract or receipt with cancellation information. Review the signed agreement and the FTC guidance before assuming the rule applies to your situation.

Practical step: locate the signed agreement, all addenda, any Notice of Cancellation, the sales proposal, financing documents, and the salesperson's messages. Photograph or download them now, record the signing date and place, and do not wait for a verbal answer to preserve the written record.

Canceling After the Rescission Period But Before Installation

If a stated cancellation period has passed, the agreement may still describe pre-installation termination, delays, design changes, financing contingencies, or dispute steps. The available path and any claimed charge depend on the actual documents and applicable law. Ask for the company's position in writing and have a qualified reviewer assess any disputed term.

Sunrun's Failure to Perform or Breach of Contract

Compare the written scope, timing, permits, and design documents against what has happened. Preserve changes, delays, and communications. This page cannot determine whether an issue is a breach; the point is to create an accurate record that a qualified reviewer can compare with the agreement.

Misrepresentation and Deceptive Sales Practices

If a sales statement, proposal, or savings illustration does not match the signed agreement, preserve both versions. Keep emails, texts, advertisements, notes, recordings where lawful, and written estimates. A qualified reviewer can assess whether the discrepancy matters under the agreement and the law that applies to you.

Unconscionable Contract Terms and Hidden Fees

Some Sunrun contracts contain terms that are excessively one-sided or reveal hidden fees only after signing. Examples include: escalator clauses in leases that increase payments by 2.9% annually, leading to significantly higher costs over 20-25 years; or clauses that make it nearly impossible to sell your home without buying out the system for tens of thousands of dollars. If the terms are so unfair as to shock the conscience, a court may deem them unconscionable, allowing for cancellation. This is a complex legal argument that requires expert review.

Steps to Cancel Your Sunrun Contract Before Installation

• Review the signed agreement and any cancellation notice for the exact deadline, address, and delivery instructions.
• Preserve the agreement, addenda, sales proposal, financing documents, messages, and any design or timing changes.
• Where a notice applies, submit it in writing through the method stated in the documents and keep a dated copy and delivery proof.
• Ask the company for written confirmation of receipt and the current project status.
• For an expired deadline, disputed charge, or a mismatch between sales statements and the agreement, seek qualified legal or consumer-protection advice before taking action such as withholding payments.

Do not let Sunrun's aggressive tactics intimidate you. You have rights as a homeowner. If you are struggling to cancel a Sunrun solar contract before installation, Solar Freedom is here to help. We offer free case reviews to assess your situation and provide a clear path forward.

Exact Cancellation Letter Template for Sunrun Pre-Installation

Use the cancellation form supplied with your agreement if one exists. If you write a notice, use the seller address and delivery method in your documents, state the agreement date and property, keep the language factual, and preserve a copy and delivery proof. Do not cite a federal or state rule unless you have confirmed that it applies.

What If Sunrun Refuses to Cancel?

If Sunrun refuses to honor your cancellation request, you have several escalation options. First, file a complaint with your state Attorney General office -- Sunrun has received hundreds of AG complaints nationwide, and a pattern of complaints triggers investigations. Second, file with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Third, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Fourth, consult with a consumer protection attorney -- many work on contingency and charge nothing unless you win.

How Long Does Sunrun Take to Process a Cancellation?

If you cancel within the 3-day window and send proper written notice, Sunrun is legally required to: (1) honor the cancellation immediately, (2) return your deposit within 10 business days, and (3) cancel any financing or lien within 20 business days. If Sunrun delays beyond these timeframes, they are in violation of federal law and you should consult an attorney immediately.

State-Specific Sunrun Cancellation Rights

• California: 3-day right under Cal. Civ. Code Section 1689.5. File AG complaint at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/solar if Sunrun refuses. California has the strongest solar consumer protection laws in the country.
• Florida: 3-day right under Fla. Stat. Section 501.021. File FDUTPA complaint at myfloridalegal.com. Florida courts have been particularly favorable to homeowners challenging Sunrun contracts.
• Texas: 3-day right under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Section 601. File DTPA complaint at texasattorneygeneral.gov. Texas allows triple damages for deceptive trade practices.
• Arizona: 3-day right under A.R.S. Section 44-5001. File with Arizona AG at azag.gov/complaints/consumer. Arizona has seen a high volume of Sunrun complaints.
• Nevada: 3-day right under NRS 598.2821. File with Nevada AG at ag.nv.gov/Bureaus/BCPF/Consumer_Complaints.