The free-solar bait
free solar panel scam
Typical pitch: No electric bill, no out-of-pocket cost, or a government program that supposedly pays for the system.
Evidence to preserve: Ads, canvasser scripts, proposal screenshots, tax-credit promises, and the final financing disclosure.
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Tablet signature ambush
solar contract tablet signature scam
Typical pitch: A rushed e-signature flow where the homeowner signs before seeing the final contract, loan, or cancellation notice.
Evidence to preserve: Audit trail, DocuSign envelope, timestamps, IP records, salesperson texts, and the first full copy received.
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Post-sign pricing overcharge
solar pricing overcharge after signing
Typical pitch: After signing, the homeowner finds a higher financed price, dealer fees, add-ons, or a cash-to-financed gap that was not clearly explained.
Evidence to preserve: Signed contract, cash and financed proposals, itemized add-ons, loan disclosure, amount financed, finance charge, and total of payments.
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Unfinished system with active loan
solar loan payments before PTO or final inspection
Typical pitch: Loan billing starts while the system is unfinished, failed inspection, is not operating, or has no utility PTO.
Evidence to preserve: PTO records, utility emails, inspection notes, completion certificate, funding records, lender statements, monitoring screenshots, and service tickets.
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Unsolicited solar service call
solar panel service call scam
Typical pitch: An unexpected caller offers a free system check, warranty renewal, urgent repair, safety inspection, maintenance plan, or battery upgrade.
Evidence to preserve: Caller ID, voicemail, company and license details, written scope, photos, diagnostic report, warranty records, invoices, and payment request.
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Contract-exit service promises
solar contract cancellation lawyer or relief company
Typical pitch: A lawyer, relief company, consultant, document service, or referral service promises to cancel a solar contract or stop the loan.
Evidence to preserve: Contracting entity, responsible lawyer, license records, engagement terms, fee and refund terms, promised scope, and outcome claims.
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2026 solar tax-credit claim
can you claim federal solar tax credit in 2026
Typical pitch: A seller says signing or paying in 2025 preserved a federal residential solar credit for a system completed in 2026, or promises a 30% refund.
Evidence to preserve: Installation-completion records, invoices, ownership documents, PTO and inspection records, prior Form 5695 filings, and tax returns.
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Title trap lien surprise
solar UCC lien title problem
Typical pitch: A UCC-1, fixture filing, PACE assessment, or payoff demand appears during refinance, sale, or estate transfer.
Evidence to preserve: Title report, county recorder search, payoff letter, financing agreement, escrow notes, and lender messages.
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Installer ghosting and warranty stall
solar installer disappeared warranty complaint
Typical pitch: The installer stops answering, blames the lender or utility, changes names, dissolves, or abandons warranty work.
Evidence to preserve: Service tickets, call logs, bankruptcy notices, corporate records, warranty documents, and repair estimates.
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Solar repair quote overcharge
solar panel repair quote too high
Typical pitch: A diagnostic, repair, maintenance, or removal-and-reinstallation quote bundles unclear labor, parts, access, permit, or warranty charges.
Evidence to preserve: Written diagnosis, itemized quote, equipment model and warranty, photos, monitoring data, permit scope, and same-scope competing quotes.
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Savings fantasy spreadsheet
solar savings estimate false promise
Typical pitch: Projected savings, production, offsets, or bill reductions do not match the utility bills after installation.
Evidence to preserve: Proposal, shade report, production guarantee, pre/post utility bills, monitoring exports, and usage history.
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Permit and roof damage dodge
solar roof damage permit inspection complaint
Typical pitch: Panels are installed with roof damage, failed inspections, missing permits, bad wiring, or unresolved leaks.
Evidence to preserve: Photos, inspection cards, permit portal records, roofer reports, insurance letters, and repair invoices.
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Utility impersonation hook
solar company pretending to be utility
Typical pitch: A rep implies they work for the utility, a city program, or a neighborhood energy initiative.
Evidence to preserve: Door hanger, badge photo, phone number, recorded voicemail, email domain, and utility denial letter.
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Solar robocall lead-gen scam
solar telemarketing scam robocall
Typical pitch: A survey, rebate check, free quote, or energy audit call routes homeowners into a high-pressure solar sale.
Evidence to preserve: Caller ID, recording, consent language, landing page, lead form, appointment confirmation, and opt-out record.
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