Submitted by sexylexy t3_yy53q9 in WorcesterMA

Does anyone else use Sun Run solar? Because they are scamming the HECK out of all of us!!!! They are refusing to let my husband and I out of the contract for solar panels on a house that we recently bought, told us we have to wait SIX YEARS to readjust the contract. Cant even cancel it!!! Paying an arm and a leg for solar on top of national grid, and can’t do anything about it?! Tell me how that’s not a scam??

Anyone know a lawyer that specializes in business law or these types of scams? Help is appreciated! Also: DO NOT USE SUN RUN!!!! Customer service is garbage

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NativeMasshole t1_iwscx9v wrote

Did you actually sign a contract with them? Or is the contract deeded to your property? I don't know about SunRun, but my old landlord had his roof leased to one of these companies and they were terrible too. I feel like most of these things are scammy.

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deuxcerise t1_iwsdgqo wrote

Long term solar array leases are a thing and indeed are a hassle when the home is sold.

This issue should have been clearly spelled out during the sale of your house. Where during your purchase did you get the impression that you could cancel the lease?

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newpageone t1_iwsekb6 wrote

I’m currently looking into solar and just spoke with someone from another company this past weekend. I’m still not entirely sure about doing it, but I do know that we’re DEFINITELY not going with SunRun.

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norbagul t1_iwsem9a wrote

I'm under contract with a different solar company to finance panels. Sunrun reps stopped by and I figured I'd hear what they had to say. They kept pushing a lease, and everything the guy said about the lease just convinced me that it was a terrible idea. The more he talked down financing panels, the more he sold me on it. The sales rep himself was a great guy, but I refuse to use Sunrun.

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InevitableUsual4126 t1_iwsexx6 wrote

The only way solar isn't a scam is if you buy your own hardware outright.

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4runnr t1_iwshpwx wrote

Have you read the entirety of the contract ? There should be some amount of money you can pay to get out

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_Electricmanscott t1_iwsimlj wrote

How is you voluntarily buying into a contract a scam? Sounds like you didn't do your homework.

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beoheed t1_iwsns4d wrote

That’s the theory. I don’t think it’s working out yet, but it’s only been a few months so we’ll see what the long term looks like. My electric bill is certainly way down

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legalpretzel t1_iwspz9z wrote

I’m assuming these panels are leased.

Did your attorney not review the lease contract since it was part of the sale? You were responsible for doing the due diligence to investigate and understand the terms of the lease contract prior to buying the house. Your attorney was literally the perfect person to seek assistance from in that effort.

I know the housing market has been insane and places are going under contract quickly, but there’s a reason it’s harder to sell a house with leased panels.

Also, it’s kind of crazy what can be easily found via a very quick Google: https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/saving/solar-energy-system-lease Lease buyout options When it comes to buying out a lease agreement, there's generally a few options. If you've leased from Sunrun, a company that pioneered the solar lease and solar power purchase agreement (PPA) structure back in 2007, the options include a cash buyout, or a full amount solar lease buyout.Jul 20, 2021

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[deleted] t1_iwsq9bw wrote

My house came with a vivint solar system with a lease. They were awesome. Then they sold to sun run. My panels were down all summer they finally “fixed” them yesterday. So the entire summer season I lost generation during the entire peak season and they didn’t care.

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baldymcbaldyface t1_iwt4qq1 wrote

The only way Solar makes sense is if you purchase the system outright so you can take advantage of the tax credits and accelerated depreciation. Most people are not doing this therefore the monthly savings from leasing are not significant enough to have it make sense. The technology is still relatively new and it should get more efficient and affordable over the next 10 years.

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0wnzorPwnz0r t1_iwu31cy wrote

Sounds like you signed a contract without fully reading the terms.

Human centipad 2.0

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New-Vegetable-1274 t1_iwu8cvv wrote

The whole sustainable energy thing is a scam, always was. Fossil fuels are here to stay until they run out. The solar and wind scam is just a side hustle for the petroleum monopoly.

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Levi_Zoldyk t1_iwu8vm7 wrote

Contact the attorney general. You’re not the only one with this issue. I’m an electrician who installs and I’ve heard a bunch of horror stories like this. The only ones happy with there Solar are the ones who paid cash for it. Also hire a lawyer every time you sign a contract

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Ovaltene17 t1_iwuk2lh wrote

The issue with these "leases" is that they include every kilowatt hour these panels will ever generate for the next 30 years at a fairly high rate per kilowatt, with large increases baked in each year. Add in some finance charges and equipment fees, and that huge figure is then simply divided into 30 years of monthly payments and there is your monthly payment. And you will still have some kind of an electric bill as well. Worse, they have a lien on your home that must be satisfied before sale. It's a tremendous scam and I cannot believe Congress hasn't addressed it yet.

The best OP can hope for is to get a lawyer and try to negotiate a buyout with some kind of discount/price reduction. OR if OP can sell the home and convince the buyers to takeover the lease!

These sales folks prey on the elderly too especially because, with a 30 year lease, they know it will be the children/heirs that end up paying the lease off with any profits from the estate sale.

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KadenKraw t1_iwv8t87 wrote

Did you not review with your lawyer when you bought the house? Your fault for not doing your due diligence for a home purchase.

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due2getit t1_iwv92z6 wrote

I have sunrun on my house and love it. I’m assuming your attorney would have been able to get you the agreement prior to you agreeing with your purchase?

If you read the agreement, you should be able to purchase the lease off with a buyout. But from how ours reads, we are simply purchasing the KWHs we would have been buying from national grid anyways, at a much lower rate. Did you see the news about Nat grid going up 64%? Might want to do more research before taking those panels off.

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vegetablefoood t1_iwvfdex wrote

Yup and depending on what rebates and financing options are available through federal and state programs, you could get a 0% or low % loan which makes it more than worth it. Plus you’ll start getting rebates on any over production. We are super glad we went solar

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keymonkey t1_iwvr3ql wrote

Put up SunRun Solar 5 years ago through Costco. Never had a problem. A couple years ago they detected my array was producing a lower amount that the previous year and came out to inspect. Other that the little rubber caps falling off the mounting rails they used, no issues with the equipment or company.....so far.

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altah99 t1_iww2g81 wrote

We have SunRun and your right it's a complete scam. We had an issue due to installation and they tried to charge us for their technician to come out. What happened was since installing the system our electric bill went up out of control costing us over $600 a month. Our average bill was around $50 to $75 dollars before it was installed. I called SunRun to talk to them about the problem and they started hanging up on us and blaming us for tampering with their brand new installed system then blamed the electric company who we did have come out and inspected the system. The electric company did multiple testing including shutting off the solar system and discovered that the solar system was causing the electric meter to run faster 🤔 So instead of saving us money it was costing us more in the bill. I called SunRun and they said since the electric company tampered with their system our warranty is void and refused to send out a technician unless we agreed to pay a minimum of $250.... I lost my temper and called the news 😡 Here is the results https://turnto10.com/i-team/consumer-advocate/exeter-rhode-island-solar-panels-installed-incorrectly#

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