MICHAEL GARRAFFA AND HERMANT PATEL
TRAIN-ED
TRAIN-ED
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SCAM: Taking money from the workforce development programs and not paying solar instructor
WHAT HAPPENED: They collected money from non-profits, had me teach the classes and have put off paying for years with many excuses. DATE OF CLASS: September 3-5; November 5-7, 2019 |
DEBT AMOUNT : $1,481.00
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If you are looking for a solar and storage contractor, here are some recommendations:
- Make sure you are dealing with someone who is NABCEP certified. If someone is NABCEP certified and does something unethical, they can lose their NABCEP certification. Find NABCEP certified people in your area at the NABCEP certified locator: https://directories.nabcep.org/
- Check the licensing board for your state and see if there are complaints against their license and if they are licensed. Working without a license is a crime.
- Check the usual places for reviews , such as Google, Yelp and the BBB. Take note that some reviews can be paid for and that the BBB and Yelp will take money from people that pay them.
- Ask your friends and neighbors that have solar. You can use Google Maps to see who has solar on their roof near you.
- If it seems too good to be true and they call you or knock on your door and say that you are getting free solar from the government, run away.
- Always ask how long it takes to install the solar and what are the penalties if it is not installed in time.
- Make sure that the contract includes everything, and that there are no surprise costly change orders required to finish the installation. The installer should be the professional here and if they do not catch something that is costly, it should be on them.
- Ask what happens if you need to change the roof in 10 years.
- Remember that all contracts are negotiable and they can change parts of the contract.
- Be sure to read the fine print in a long and cryptic contract.
There are many great solar contractors, make sure you are working with one of them. It may cost more, and it definitely is worth it.