Solar Loan Complaints: GoodLeap, Dividend, Mosaic & More

Quick answer: Solar loan complaints usually involve a mismatch between the sales pitch, the installation contract, and the lender's loan documents. If your complaint involves GoodLeap, Dividend Finance, Mosaic, Sunlight Financial, GreenSky, WebBank, Cross River Bank, or another solar lender, collect the loan agreement, TILA disclosure, installer contract, production records, and complaint history before asking the lender, CFPB, state attorney general, or attorney to review it.

This page catalogs common complaint patterns involving major solar lenders and explains what documents and legal theories homeowners should understand. Treat lender-specific statements as public allegations or record checkpoints, not proof that every borrower has the same claim. For how these lender disputes fit into the wider enforcement picture, see the 2026 Solar Fraud Report.

Disclaimer: This article is informational, not legal advice.

The Solar Financing Landscape

The Core Complaint Pattern

Across all lenders, borrowers report the same pattern:

1. Dealer fees hidden in the loan amount — The financed price may be higher than the cash price because fees are embedded in the system price.
2. Misrepresented savings — Sales reps promise "free solar" or "the loan payment will be less than your electric bill"
3. System underperformance — Actual energy production may fall materially below the proposal or guarantee.
4. Lender refuses cancellation — Borrowers told "you signed the contract, pay us"
5. Arbitration clauses block court access — Most financing agreements require private arbitration, often with the lender choosing the forum

Lender-by-Lender Complaint Breakdown

GoodLeap

Primary borrower complaints:

• Alleged undisclosed dealer fees inflating the loan principal
• Financing applications submitted without borrower knowledge or consent
• Arbitration clause designating JAMS, with borrowers reporting difficulty navigating the process
• Minnesota AG named GoodLeap as co-defendant in 2024 consumer fraud action

Full GoodLeap investigation

Dividend Finance

Primary borrower complaints:

• High-pressure door-to-door sales paired with Dividend financing
• Escalator clauses in PPA/lease agreements
• Difficulty obtaining loan documentation after signing
• Minnesota AG co-defendant; owned by Fifth Third Bank

Full Dividend investigation

Mosaic

Primary borrower complaints:

• Loan approvals based on installer representations rather than borrower verification
• Dealer-fee structure similar to GoodLeap
• Customer service delays when borrowers report installer problems
• Minnesota AG co-defendant

Full Mosaic investigation

Sunlight Financial

Primary borrower complaints:

• Dealer-fee financing model tied to now-bankrupt installers (Titan, Pink Energy)
• Filed Chapter 11 in May 2024, emerged as reorganized entity
• Borrowers report confusion about who holds their loan post-bankruptcy
• Minnesota AG lawsuit specifically addresses dealer-fee disclosures

Full Sunlight Financial investigation

Key Legal Theories

1. FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR § 433)

For a consumer credit contract covered by the rule, the seller must include a notice stating: "ANY HOLDER OF THIS CONSUMER CREDIT CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO ALL CLAIMS AND DEFENSES WHICH THE DEBTOR COULD ASSERT AGAINST THE SELLER OF GOODS OR SERVICES."

The notice preserves seller-related claims and defenses against a holder when the rule and the underlying law apply. It does not make every solar loan a covered contract, establish installer misconduct, automatically suspend payments, or cancel the debt. Coverage, procedure, and remedies depend on how the credit was arranged, the contract, the claim, and applicable state and federal law.

2. State UDAP (Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices)

Every state has a consumer protection statute. In Texas, it's the DTPA. In Florida, it's FDUTPA. In California, it's the CLRA. Some laws include fee-shifting or enhanced-remedy provisions depending on the claim, proof, and result.

3. TILA (Truth in Lending Act)

TILA and Regulation Z require specified credit disclosures, including the finance charge and APR. The CFPB has reported that some solar-specific lenders embed markups or fees in the loan principal without treating them as costs of credit in the disclosures. Whether a particular fee supports a TILA claim, and whether any rescission right exists, requires review of the transaction type, disclosure treatment, timing, and governing law.

4. Arbitration Challenges

Many solar financing agreements require arbitration through JAMS, AAA, or another forum. Arbitration rules, filing fees, and fee-shifting depend on the specific contract and forum rules. Review the clause before assuming court is available.

Sources and Official References

• Minnesota Attorney General: lawsuit against solar lenders over alleged hidden fees
• FTC and federal partners: consumer warning on solar scams
• CFPB: issue spotlight on solar financing
• CFPB: submit a complaint
• FTC: Holder Rule
• Cornell Legal Information Institute: UCC Article 9 secured transactions

What Documents to Gather

1. Your financing agreement (the loan contract — critical)
2. Your installation contract with the installer
3. Truth in Lending disclosure (TILA box showing APR, finance charge, total of payments)
4. Monthly statements from the lender
5. Any correspondence with the lender about complaints or disputes
6. Production/savings data showing actual vs. promised performance

FAQ

Can I cancel my solar loan if the system doesn't work?

You cannot unilaterally cancel a solar loan merely because the system does not work. If the financing is covered by the FTC Holder Rule, the notice may preserve seller-related claims and defenses against the holder, but the rule does not itself cancel the loan or guarantee damages. Contract remedies, warranty duties, rescission, payment strategy, and any claim against the holder require transaction- and state-specific analysis.

What if my lender sold my loan to another company?

If the FTC Holder Rule covers the contract, its notice preserves applicable seller-related claims and defenses against a later holder. Do not assume every state consumer-protection claim automatically follows the loan or that a transfer pauses payment duties. Notify the new owner or servicer of the dispute in writing, preserve proof of delivery, and obtain state-specific advice before changing payments.

Do I need a lawyer to dispute a solar loan?

For informal complaints, you can file with the CFPB, your state AG, or the lender directly. For loan cancellation, damages, arbitration, or lien issues, an attorney review is often important because deadlines and remedies depend on the documents.

What if the lender also goes bankrupt?

If a lender, installer, or servicer enters bankruptcy, your options may shift to bankruptcy notices, claim deadlines, successor servicers, or defenses against collection. Preserve every notice and ask for legal advice before missing a deadline.

All Lender Investigations

Related Resources

• Solar Installer Bankruptcies 2026: Complete Tracker
• FTC Holder Rule in Solar Cases: Complete Guide
• How to Challenge Mandatory Arbitration in Solar Cases
• Solar Debt Relief Scams: When Help With Your Loan Is Another Trap