Solar Freedom Service Page

Solar Panel Scam Warning Signs

Learn common solar-sales warning signs and which records to keep.

Sales claims that deserve a paper trail

Door-to-door solar pitches often mix true program names with statements that never appear in the signed file. Common warning signs include savings figures that are not in the contract, dealer fees that were described as a discount, verbal production guarantees, tax-credit claims that assume facts about your tax situation, and pressure to sign the same day. A warning sign is not a verdict. It is a reason to keep records and compare the pitch with the writing.

Production guarantees that live only in a slide deck or a text thread are especially important to preserve. So are statements that the panels are free, that a utility or government program is sponsoring the visit, or that a home sale will be simple. Solar Freedom is not a law firm and does not decide whether a statement was deceptive. The work here is to help you assemble what was said, what was signed, and which consumer agencies accept complaints.

Records to keep when a pitch felt off

• The proposal, iPad screenshots, mailers, and any savings or production chart.
• The signed contract, financing disclosures, and every addendum.
• Notes of verbal statements, including dates, names, and who was present.
• Utility bills from before and after activation, plus monitoring exports.
• Proof of how you signed (in home, at an event, online) and any cancellation form.
• Later emails that walk back, restate, or contradict the original pitch.

Complaint channels such as a state attorney general or the CFPB create a dated record; they do not themselves end a contract. Related reading on this site includes the attorney-general complaint guide, contract help, exit options, and company blogs. Request an individual review if you want help organizing the comparison between the pitch and the papers. Options depend on the agreement, the facts, and the jurisdiction.

Verbal versus written is a filing system, not a slogan

Keep a two-column note: what was said, and where it appears in the signed set. If a production number, tax-credit story, or dealer-fee explanation exists only in the left column, preserve the source (text, voicemail, witness, screenshot) without editing it. Consumer agencies and any later reviewer will ask for that comparison. Do not inflate the left column with conclusions such as fraud; stick to quotations and dates. Request an individual review when the columns disagree and you want help assembling the packet. Whether a mismatch matters legally depends on the agreement, the facts, and the jurisdiction.