Sunnova bankruptcy complaints after Chapter 11: check the contract, servicer, and public record.

Unilaterally stopping payment is risky — it triggers default, hits your credit, and gives the holder a head start on collection. The better move is a three-step sequence: (1) document the non-performance in writing (PTO date vs first-bill date, monitoring data, inspection failures), (2) preserve your right to assert the FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR § 433.2) defense against whoever currently holds the loan, and (3) get a written eligibility review BEFORE you change your payment behavior. TILA § 130 fee-shifting means the lender pays your attorney's fees when you prevail, so qualified disputes do not cost you out of pocket. The eligibility review is the right way to find out if your facts qualify.

Yes, in many fact patterns. The installer's bankruptcy stops claims against that specific entity, but the lender that financed your loan is a separate, usually solvent, target. Under the FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR § 433.2), the lender inherits liability for the same misrepresentations the installer made — false savings projections, fabricated tax-credit math, undisclosed dealer fees, signatures captured without time to read. Recovery under the Holder Rule is typically capped at amounts already paid into the loan, but in solar that frequently runs into the tens of thousands. Many homeowners assume their case dies with the installer and walk away — that is exactly what the lender's collections team hopes for. The eligibility review identifies whether your loan documents trigger Holder Rule liability.

The FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR § 433.2) requires every consumer credit contract that finances goods or services to carry a clause subjecting the lender to all the same claims and defenses the borrower could raise against the seller. Translated to solar: if the installer lied to you, abandoned the install, or never energized the system, those claims travel to whoever currently holds your loan. The rule caps the recovery at amounts already paid into the loan, but in solar that frequently runs into the tens of thousands. The Holder Rule is the single most important lever a homeowner has when the original installer is bankrupt or unreachable — it lets you press the case against a solvent target instead of a corporate shell.

Deadlines vary by claim type and state, and missing them is irreversible. As a rough primer: federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) damages claims usually run 1 year from the violation; TILA rescission is up to 3 years; the FTC Holder Rule cap is amounts paid; state Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP) statutes typically run 2 to 4 years (Texas DTPA = 2 from discovery, Florida FDUTPA = 4, California CLRA = 3, North Carolina UDTPA = 4, with treble damages mandatory). FTC Holder Rule defenses to a lender's collection action have no statute of limitations on the defense itself — meaning if the holder sues you, you can raise installer-fraud defenses regardless of age. Do not guess at your deadline. The eligibility review computes the live limitations window for your specific loan and state in two minutes.

The Chapter 11 filing does not answer enforceability or recovery for every customer. Identify the current contract owner and servicer, obtain the complete agreement and assignment history, and review relevant bankruptcy orders, claim deadlines, and dispute provisions. Do not assume either that the obligation disappeared or that a claim against a lender or successor is automatic.

Not necessarily. The installer, seller, system owner, lender, contract holder, and servicer may be different entities. Check each agreement and later assignment or servicing notice. A seller-related claim against another party depends on the contract language, the Holder Notice if present, the parties' legal relationship, governing law, and evidence of the alleged representation.

Statutes of limitations vary by state and legal theory, typically ranging from 2-6 years from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the fraud. State UDAP statutes often have 2-4 year limits; TILA claims have a 1-year limit for damages but can be raised as a defense at any time. The clock usually starts when the fraud was or should have been discovered — not when you signed the contract. Because these deadlines vary dramatically and can be complex to calculate, consulting an attorney promptly is essential.

It depends on the type of obligation. Solar loans (unsecured or UCC-1 secured) typically can be paid off at closing like any other debt — but if the payoff exceeds the system's value, you may need to bring cash to closing. Solar PPAs and leases transfer to the buyer, who must qualify; many buyers refuse homes with long-term PPA obligations. PACE assessments are the worst case — they attach as a property tax lien and many lenders (FHA, VA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) will not approve loans on homes with outstanding PACE assessments. If a UCC-1 fixture filing appears on your title unexpectedly, challenge it through the process at [our UCC guide](/blog/remove-unauthorized-ucc-1-step-by-step).

Some solar fraud rises to the level of criminal conduct — forgery (fake signatures), theft by deception, or criminal fraud. However, most solar disputes are civil matters handled through state consumer protection laws, not criminal prosecution. File complaints with your state AG and local law enforcement; the AG's consumer protection division can investigate pattern misconduct. Civil claims (suing for damages, loan cancellation, or rescission) are typically faster and more likely to produce recovery than waiting for criminal charges.

Solar Panel Scam Center is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of the companies named on this site. Company names appear in a descriptive, factual context to identify the entities consumers are searching for and asking us about. This is nominative fair use under U.S. trademark law. Nothing on this page is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.