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One of France’s main consumer rights organisations is warning people to be vigilant of unscrupulous sellers targeting homeowners who are keen to install solar panels.
More than 800,000 homes in France now have solar panels, as interest grows in renewable energy resources.
However, with their growing popularity comes an increasing number of associated scams.
The Aude-Pyrénées Orientales branch of consumer organisation UFC-Que Choisir recently raised the alarm after receiving complaints concerning visits from door-to-door salespeople trying to sell and supply photovoltaic panels. It is currently helping some 50 victims of the scam.
People signed contracts before discovering the prices charged were up to three times the market rate. The salespeople assured them financial aid would be available. Many offered credit via their financial partners without running any credit or age checks.
UFC-Que Choisir said many of these contracts and credit offers potentially breach the French consumer code.
One victim was Aurore (not her real name), who told France Bleu she was a victim of the scam two years ago, but legal proceedings were still ongoing.
A salesman came to her house and promised her the project would very quickly pay for itself. The same day, the salesperson had her sign a “quote/order form” which committed her to €30,000.
Another couple, Mr and Mrs Van Elsue, told France Info they thought they were filling out a quote request, only to discover it was a purchase order and loan agreement.
It was only once the panels were installed that they discovered the total amount they owed was €56,000.
When France Info tried to contact the company, there was no response and, as there was no physical address either, there was nowhere to visit.
“This phenomenon is widespread across France,” Yveline Albaladejo, head of the UFC-Que Choisir Perpignan branch, told The Connexion.
She said the Perpignan branch alone expected to file 50 cases in 2025.
However, she adds that this shows more cases are reported due to growing media coverage of the scams.
The consumer group also warns of companies posing as consumer protection organisations, which contact customers when their solar panel supplier goes bust and offer to help have their loan agreements cancelled.
Her advice for anyone thinking of installing solar panels is:
“Contact us if you have any doubts about the high price or promised assistance,” she said.
It is not the first time The Connexion has raised the alarm about solar panel scams.
Readers Linda and James Stewart-Brown were visited by a salesman after receiving a cold call about installing solar panels.
Despite being aware of scams in the renewable energy sector, they ended up being overcharged, and promised grants and financing that did not materialise.
The panels cut their electricity consumption by 30% instead of the 70% they were promised.
While several possible aids do exist to help make solar panel installation affordable, energy firm TotalEnergies warns against anyone promising deals where the panels will be free or for a symbolic ‘one euro’, as well as any similar proposals that sound “too good to be true”.
In particular, it says, watch out for anyone claiming to offer this in return for managing the sale of your surplus energy, as such contracts should be signed directly with EDF not via intermediaries.
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