When you sign a contract with the solar installer and the finance company together, there may ensue some problems. One being, the finance companies has been known to pay the solar installer the majority of all the money before all the work is done and you are officially connected to the grid. If any problems arise and you become upset and communicate this aggravation with the solar installer, they have been known to stop communicating. Many people don't understand because they were told that the solar installer will not be paid until the work is completely done. The truth is they have coordinated with these finance companies to be paid 90% of the total job at the time the materials are delivered to your home. That leaves a small 10% left to collect and if they are dealing with an irate customer, they may decide to write off the balance and move forward until you bow to them and accept the circumstances. When all else fails, try filing a complaint against the lender as well as the solar installer. If there was 50% left to collect similar to other contractors like a roofer, then you would not see as many BBB complaints. Also know that when the solar company joins the local BBB, complaints switch from being shown publically to be handled in house.
There are numerous government and public Consumer Protection Agencies to file complaints and get help to resolve problems if you are not getting the proper assistance from the solar company that installed your solar panels. Another frequent complaint is the finance company paid the solar company before finishing the work. This makes it difficult to get the solar company to finish the job if you reached an impasse with major discrepancies and can't arrive at a mutal agreement. Paying solar companies before the work is completed takes away any incentive to make sure everything is 100% before getting paid.
We hope the following resources are helpful. Please feel free to call us if you need further assistance.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a good local source when you are at a dead end. This will make the complaint public and many people research a solar company by looking at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website so let others know. Solar companies will respond to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaints if they want to keep a good name and hopefully you can get a resolve quickly instead of filing a complaint at a government agency which might take longer. Here is the link for how complaints for the BBB are handled. https://www.bbb.org/process-of-complaints-and-reviews/complaints Or you can file multiple complaints with different agencies to get the ball rolling in multiple venues. You can file online and upload all supporting documents to start the BBB claim started as soon as possible. The BBB is local to your area so if you would like to speak with them you need to look up the local BBB online to get the correct number.
Department of Business Professional Regulations (DBPR) This is a state agency that oversees the licenses for electrician, roof, air conditioning and other professions which the solar company uses. This complaint will be seen by the licensing board. As a professional company, you don't want to face too many of these complaints. As they pile up, the license could get penalized, suspended or revoke. Here is a link to file a complaint. http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/cilb/documents/construction_related_complaint_package.pdf Their phone number is 850-487-1395
The State Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is another place to file a consumer complaint. Sometimes the more complaints, the better. It will get the solar companies or finance company's attention if they get multiple complaints. You can file online and upload all supporting documents to start the claim. Typically you will get a response from 3 weeks to 60 days (normal time frame) so start the process as soon as possible. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ 1-855-411-2372
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is more for defective equipment so if that is your issue and you are not getting a resolve from the manufacture this would be your avenue. To file a complaint, here is the link. https://www.ftc.gov/media/71268 There phone number is 1-877-382-4357
Office of Financial Regulations If your complaint is against a finance company for releasing the funds before the job was completed then you want to file a complaint with the Office of Financial Regulations. Call them first and ask if your specific lender is under their jurisdiction. 1-850-487-9687. You can file a complaint and upload all supporting documents online at www.flofr.gov. An analyst will be assigned to the case. Typically the lender is given 30 days to respond once all the paperwork is received by the Office of Financial Regulations. This is the agency that oversees their license so too many complaints would not be a good thing.
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