Legal Aid Society sues solar panel companies for predatory practices targeting seniors and communities of color

September 16, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

The Legal Aid Society is suing several solar companies for deceptive practices targeting seniors and communities of color. Pictured from left to right: Adriene Holder, chief attorney of civil practice; Twyla Carter, attorney-in-chief and chief executive officer; Tina Luongo, chief attorney of criminal defense practice; and Dawne Mitchell, chief attorney of juvenile rights practice. Photo courtesy of the Legal Aid Society.

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The Legal Aid Society has filed a lawsuit against five residential solar panel companies, accusing them of deceptive business practices that target seniors and communities of color. The companies — Solar Mosaic LLC, SUNco Capital LLC, ATTYX UTAH LLC, ATTYX LLC, and WebBank — allegedly misled homeowners with false promises of lower energy costs and affordable loan agreements, ultimately trapping them in expensive, unaffordable payment plans.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 75-year-old Claver Campbell, a Queens homeowner, claims that these companies pressured her into signing a loan agreement for solar panel installation. Initially told her payments would be $184 per month, Campbell later discovered that she had been signed up for a loan costing over $535 per month, a significant burden on her fixed income.

“Mrs. Campbell is just one victim of many across New York and the country of a solar panel industry that uses misleading advertisements and misrepresentations about lower electricity bills,” said Jennifer Levy, a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Foreclosure Prevention Unit. The lawsuit, brought under several federal and state laws, seeks damages, cancellation of contracts, and attorneys’ fees, alleging predatory and discriminatory practices.

Googling Mosaic Solar reveals an overwhelming number of complaints and negative experiences from customers across various platforms, including Reddit. A quick search leads to dozens of posts where people detail their dissatisfaction with Mosaic’s sales tactics, customer service, and unfulfilled promises. The sheer volume of these complaints makes it clear that Mosaic has developed a troubling reputation among homeowners who trusted the company with their solar panel installations.

In one Reddit post titled “Experience with Mosaic Solar: A Warning,” a user shared how Mosaic’s representatives made grand promises that were never fulfilled. The customer was assured they wouldn’t have to make payments for the first three months after installing solar panels, a promise that was later disregarded. The post goes on to describe how the sales representative, nicknamed “Gator,” completely disappeared after the deal, leaving the customer with no support and a system that failed to deliver on its electricity production claims. This user felt misled, frustrated, and ultimately regretted ever dealing with Mosaic.

Another post highlights a different issue: the lien Mosaic places on homes. A user explained how they were unable to obtain a home equity line of credit (HELOC) due to Mosaic’s refusal to lift their lien, which prevents homeowners from using the equity in their property. The poster expressed frustration over Mosaic’s decision to stop offering temporary lien lifts as of December 2023, leaving them in a financial bind.