Beware these solar panel cold calls

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.

Some owners complain that they get 'regular' or 'frequent' calls, or feel 'continually pestered'. 

At best, a cold call or someone turning up on your doorstep can be annoying. But it can also be intimidating, or even result in you agreeing to costly and unnecessary work.

Some product offers might be genuine, but some are mis-sold to customers.

Be cautious of anyone contacting you uninvited. Always think carefully about what you're being offered and whether it would really benefit your system. Even if you are potentially interested, take your time before making a decision. 

We carried out an online survey of 2,039 members of the Which? Connect panel who own solar panels in April 2024.

Worried about your solar panels? Find out about common solar panel problems and how to solve them.

Most common solar panel cold calls

The most common things solar panel owners told us they had been approached by cold callers about were:

• A solar panel health check (27%)
• Offers to upgrade your PV technology to the latest spec (11%)
• Solar buyback scheme (9%)
• Replacing your inverter when it's still working (8%)
• Installing a voltage optimiser (6%)
• Claiming that your solar panel installer has stopped trading when it hasn't (6%)

Trying to sell you a battery storage system was another frequent, uninvited offer.

A few also reported cold callers claiming that their solar panels were being monitored, their system was a fire risk, or that their panels needed cleaning.

Do solar panels need cleaning? Read owners' top tips to make the most of your solar panels.

1. Solar panel health check

'I've had at least three contacts offering 'free' service checks. They turned out to be attempts to get paid work and claimed ludicrous variations in our supplier voltage. I have a meter capable of checking, so knew they lied' – Solar panel owner.

Solar panels are low maintenance and should work efficiently without an annual service (unlike your boiler). 

Some owners in our survey had been told by cold callers that it's a government requirement that your panels are checked annually – this is not true.

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.

If you do notice a problem with your solar panels, first check their warranty and any guarantees from the installer.

Next, use Which? Trusted Traders to find a solar panel expert near you to check out the problem.

2. Upgrading your solar PV to the latest spec

'I get many cold calls offering to improve efficiency by upgrading' – Solar panel owner.

If your solar panels are already producing as much electricity as you expect, consider whether an upgrade to any part of the system is really necessary.

If you do want to upgrade your panels at some point, seek out reputable traders and ask for quotes to compare, rather than taking the word of a cold caller. 

Weigh up the expected savings you'd get from an upgrade against how long it will take those savings to pay back the costs.

Also, ask the company how it has calculated your expected savings – some might use generic figures that sound promising but don't factor in your individual circumstances.

Find out what to do if your solar panels are producing less electricity.

3. Solar buyback

These schemes are targeted at people who have older solar panels enrolled in the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, which is now closed to new applications. 

A company might offer you a lump sum upfront in exchange for receiving the remainder of your feed-in tariff payments.

It's also called solar equity release, or advertised as 'sell your feed-in tariff'.

If you're tempted, work out how much you'd expect to receive from feed-in tariff payments in total. Take into account the number of years of payments you have left, then compare this with the sum offered by the company.

You'll have to wait longer to receive all of your feed-in tariff payments but are likely to be better off in the long term.

Find out what else to consider with solar panel grants and solar buyback.

4. Replacing your inverter (when it's still working)

Inverters aren't expected to last as long as solar panels. You should expect to need to replace it at least once during the panels' lifespan (around 15 years or more).

But there's no need to replace an inverter that's still working. A newer inverter might be a little more efficient, but it may also cost thousands of pounds.

If you're offered a new one, weigh up the expected savings against how long it will take to make back the cost of the new inverter. 

Make sure you ask the company how it calculated the savings – again, it needs to be specific to your circumstances to be accurate.

If you do need to buy a new inverter, shop around for a few installation quotes. If you're competent at DIY, you may be able to replace it yourself, but you need to know what you are doing.

Here's what to do about solar panel inverter problems.

5. Installing a voltage optimiser

This gadget reduces the electricity voltage coming into your home. Some companies claim that they can cut your electricity use to lower your bills – but this is disputed.

Any savings will be influenced by how high your incoming voltage is, how much electricity you use, the efficiency of your appliances and how long the voltage optimiser lasts.

Instead, try our 10 ways to save on energy bills.

6. Claiming your solar panel installer has stopped trading

'A caller was so insistent that my installer had gone out of business that I actually went and physically checked that they were in the same premises' – Solar panel owner.

If you're not sure whether your solar panel installer has gone out of business, and a cold caller is insisting they are taking over, don't take their word for it. In this instance, it turned out to be a scam. 

Instead, check your original installer's website and try the contact details you were given when your panels were installed.

You can also search for current MCS-registered installers on the MCS website.

If you need a new solar panel company, use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reputable firm.

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