Belton couple was promised lower bills, but got a system that does not work
Belton couple was promised lower bills, but got a system that does not work
Belton couple was promised lower bills, but got a system that does not work
A retired Marine in Belton, Missouri, has a warning if you think new solar panels on your roof will lower your electric bill: Be careful of the company you choose.
Monty Montes and his wife ordered 11 new solar panels to be installed on their home last spring. They were promised lower bills.
But the company that sold the system, Nivo Solar, has gone bankrupt.
The couple is now stuck with a loan for the solar panels that will cost more than $42,000 including principal and interest.
To make it worse, the system is not working.
“Do your homework,” Montes said. “Double check and double check.”
Montes and his wife contacted KMBC 9 Investigates to get answers about their next steps.
KMBC 9 went to attorney Neal Prevost, of the Prevost Law Firm, in Texas. He has more than 5,000 clients whose solar panel deals have gone south, including those with Nivo.
“It’s an awful circumstance,” Prevost said. Prevost said several solar companies, starting in 2020, saw an opportunity under the Green New Deal to make a profit from unsuspecting people with promises of lower electric bills.
Prevost said it’s important for people to find either a solar expert to make repairs or a reputable consumer attorney with knowledge in solar panel companies.
“If they’re just sick of it, they don’t want anything to do with it — they feel like they’ve been misled, betrayed and deceived and taken unfair advantage of, then they need to find an attorney that is competent in this area,” Prevost said.
Prevost recommended a few websites to learn about next steps if you have a solar contract that has gone bad.
He also recommended caution in searching for solar panel attorneys on Facebook or social media, saying they will often require payment upfront for a guaranteed result.
“No ethical lawyer can ever guarantee a result, because once it’s in a judge’s or jury’s hands, it’s beyond your control,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Montes family plans to consult with an attorney.
“Hopefully everything gets straightened out,” Montes said.
If you are a victim of solar panel loan fraud or your solar panel system is not working as advertised, email investigative reporter Matt Flener at investigates@kmbc.com.
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