9 Signs You Were Misled by a Solar Salesperson
Most solar salespeople are honest. But the same red flags show up again and again in consumer complaints to state attorneys general and the FTC. If several of these sound familiar, it's worth having your contract reviewed.
1. “Your electric bill will go to zero”
Very few homes eliminate their utility bill. Most still pay fixed connection charges, plus any power the system doesn't cover. A promise of no bill, especially without looking at a year of your usage, is a common complaint.
2. “The panels are free” or “it's a government program”
Leases, PPAs and loans all cost money over 20 to 25 years. Solar is not a government program, and reps who suggest they're from the utility or the government are a major source of complaints.
3. Tax credit promises
Homeowners were often told they'd get a large federal tax credit, without being asked whether they owed enough tax to use it, or without being told that a lease or PPA means the company keeps the credit. The federal residential credit also ended for systems installed after 2025. See what changed in 2026.
4. No mention of an escalator
If your payment goes up every year and nobody said so, that can add thousands. Read solar escalator clauses.
5. Savings estimates that never matched reality
Production estimates based on the wrong roof direction, shading or usage can make savings look far better than they are.
6. Signing on a tablet in minutes
Being walked through a few signature boxes on an iPad, without seeing the full contract or the loan terms, is one of the most common complaints in solar sales.
7. No cancellation notice or copy of the contract
Sellers who sign you up at home generally have to tell you about your right to cancel and give you the paperwork. If you never got it, read your right to cancel.
8. A loan you didn't know you were taking
Some homeowners thought they signed a lease or a “program,” then got statements from a lender. Others learned only later that a UCC filing was recorded against their property.
9. Pressure, urgency and “today only” pricing
Claims that a price or incentive expires tonight are designed to stop you from comparing offers or reading the contract.
What to do next
- Write down what you were told, when, and by whom, while you still remember.
- Gather your contract, loan documents, utility bills and any texts or proposals.
- Keep making payments until a professional advises you otherwise.
- Get a free review of your options, and consider filing a complaint.
Related guides
- Solar not saving money
- The solar tax credit in 2026
- Selling a house with solar
- If your solar company closed
- All guides
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state about your situation.