Solar Panel Scammers Active In Perth’s South-East

Image: MrRick

Door-to-door solar power system sales have somewhat of a bad reputation. Unfortunately, it’s well-deserved.

The Cockburn Gazette reports a recent spike in scams in Perth’s south-east involving deals on solar panels that are never installed. It appears the goal of the ruse is to gain access to the victim’s personal details; but no further information is provided as to what those details have been used for.

Fremantle Police District community engagement coordinator acting sergeant Stephen Flanagan said residents approached by door to door solar power system hawkers claiming to be tradespeople should request to see appropriate ID and registration details – and then still not hand over any details or sign anything.

“If you want to follow up from that you go to a proper dealer, you don’t get one off the street who is knocking on your door,” said Act. Sergeant Flanagan.

Going Solar Requires Research

Door-to-door solar sales can be problematic at the best of times, even when there’s a real system involved. Ethical solar companies tend to avoid door-to-door as a way to drum up business because of the reputation it has and the potential for brand damage by being associated with the practice.  Good solar companies value their brands while dodgy players are happy to burn them – and like a phoenix, arise from the ashes with a new name.

Back in 2017, Victoria’s Consumer Action Law Centre identified the retail solar sector as one of three “consumer harm hotzones” and case studies in its accompanying report described some rather harrowing examples of door-to-door sales where vulnerable Australians were royally ripped off.

Even where it’s not an out-and-out scam, if a solar company has to hit residential streets in order to get business then any offer it makes should be very, very carefully dissected – including searching for reviews of the company. Deals involving door to door sales have often been overpriced, involved expensive finance and/or components/installation of questionable quality.

There are some protections for Australians who sign on the dotted line for a system pushed onto them by door-to-door (or otherwise) salespeople. But with an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure, it’s probably wise just to reject a door-to-door delivered solar power offer from the outset; regardless of how good it seems or it being a “one-day only” deal – you need time to properly consider an offer.

You don’t have to tolerate door-to-door solar salespeople taking up your precious time or pressuring you with pushy tactics – know your rights in these scenarios and let your neighbours, colleagues and family know too. The reason door-to-door solar scams and rip-offs persist is because people respond. Remove the receptiveness and the practices may not entirely disappear, but their prevalence will decrease.

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