How to report photovoltaic panel scams

Are solar panels a scam or a cold call?

Here are the cold calls and potential scams to avoid. More than a third of solar PV panel owners in our recent survey told us they have been cold called about their panels in the past five years. Most cold callers were trying to sell them something unnecessary, but a few owners were told something completely untrue.

Are 'fake' solar companies a scam?

Beware of any company asking you to make a big deposit before they have completed their installation. This is one of the most common ways ‘fake’ solar companies have targeted consumers – whereby they take a hefty deposit and then never turn up to carry out the installation. This is common solar scam.

How do I know if my solar panel is bad?

If you're concerned, contact your installer in the first instance or a recommended solar panel firm. If there is a problem with your system this will often be indicated by a fault code on the inverter. More than half of solar panel owners have had cold calls about their solar pv panels.

How common are cold call solar panels?

See our solar panel brand reviews. This was by far the most common cold call solar panel owners told us about - 44% have been approached about this. Technical faults with solar panels are rare. Nearly seven in 10 of those in our survey have not had a fault with their system. Some have owned theirs for more than a decade.

How do I report an energy scam?

They might try to contact you by: text message. These are energy scams. Ofgem would never sell you energy, ask for personal information or come to your property. Report the scam to Action Fraud, the reporting centre for fraud and cyber-crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.

Do you have a problem with your solar panel?

In fact, solar panel problems are quite rare: nearly seven in 10 owners in our survey told us they had never had a technical problem with their solar PV system. Your solar panel installer should have told you how to check that your system is working correctly, and any maintenance you might need over the years.