If a solar company has defrauded you — through misrepresentation, failure to perform, breach of contract, or outright abandonment of a project — the steps you take in the first days and weeks matter significantly for what recovery is possible. This guide provides a concrete action sequence based on the complaint pathways actually available to consumers in solar disputes.
Federal law (the FTC’s Cooling Off Rule) gives you the right to cancel any contract signed at your home for $25 or more within 3 business days. Exercise this right in writing immediately if you’ve signed a solar contract you regret. Send your cancellation notice in a way that creates a record (email with read receipt, or certified mail).
Document Everything
Before contacting anyone, gather everything into a single organized file:
- Your original signed contract and any amendments
- All written communications (email, text, chat) with the company and its representatives
- The financing agreement (loan, lease, or PPA) including full terms
- All invoices and payment records
- Any marketing materials, proposals, or savings projections shared during the sales process
- Photos of any installation work completed (or incomplete)
- Photos of any damage caused during installation
- Notes on all verbal representations made during the sales process, with dates and the name of who said them
This documentation package is the foundation for every complaint, claim, and legal action that follows. Gather it now, while details are fresh and before any further communications create confusion.
Contact Your Lender
If you financed through a solar loan, contact your lender immediately to report the dispute. Depending on what went wrong, you may have grounds to withhold payments pending resolution, dispute charges, or seek loan modification. Some solar loans are subject to the FTC’s Holder Rule, which means consumer claims against the seller can be asserted against the creditor — ask your lender’s compliance department about this specifically.
If you paid by credit card for any portion of the transaction, file a chargeback immediately for the disputed amount. Document that you’re doing so under protest and because of misrepresentation or failure to perform.
File Complaints With State Agencies
State Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
Your state AG’s office handles consumer fraud complaints. Solar misrepresentation, contract fraud, and deceptive advertising fall within their enforcement scope. File at naag.org or your state’s AG website. Include your full documentation package.
State Contractor Licensing Board
If the company performed substandard or incomplete installation work, file a complaint with the state board that issued their contractor license. This can result in license suspension, required remediation, and creates a public record.
State Utilities Commission
If the dispute involves misrepresentation about utility rates, net metering, or utility program participation, your state utilities commission may have jurisdiction over those specific claims.
BBB Complaint
File at bbb.org. The BBB has no enforcement authority, but a formal complaint triggers a response requirement and creates a public record that affects the company’s rating and visibility.
Report Deceptive Practices to the FTC
File a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC investigates patterns of deceptive solar advertising and sales practices, and consumer complaints are a primary data source for enforcement prioritization. Individual complaints may not trigger immediate action, but they contribute to the pattern data used to build enforcement cases against systematic bad actors.
Include specific details about deceptive claims — particularly any claims about government programs, tax credits, or utility partnerships that you verified were false.
Seek Legal Assistance When Necessary
If the financial harm is significant, consult with a consumer protection attorney. Many consumer protection attorneys work on contingency for solar fraud cases because state consumer protection statutes often allow fee-shifting — meaning the company pays your attorney’s fees if you prevail. State lemon laws, consumer protection acts, and the FTC Act all potentially apply to solar fraud depending on the specific facts.
For smaller disputes that don’t justify attorney fees, small claims court is available in most states for amounts up to $5,000–$25,000 depending on the jurisdiction. Small claims court doesn’t require an attorney and can be an effective venue for straightforward breach of contract claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my solar contract after the cooling-off period?
After the 3-business-day FTC cooling-off period, cancellation terms are governed by the contract itself. Read the cancellation clause — most solar contracts include cancellation penalties, particularly if equipment has already been ordered. If the company misrepresented the contract terms, fraud-based rescission may be available; consult a consumer protection attorney about this option.
What if the solar company has gone out of business?
File complaints with the state AG, contractor licensing board, and FTC regardless. For financial recovery, the most viable path is likely through your lender (if the loan is subject to the Holder Rule) or through your state’s contractor recovery fund, which some states maintain specifically for situations where a licensed contractor goes out of business after causing harm.
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