Real Solar Panel Installer vs Solar Grant Scam
How to verify a solar panel installation company is legitimate and not a fraudulent operator exploiting government grant schemes to charge upfront deposits.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Legitimate solar installation is a slow, paper-heavy process. Someone surveys your roof, assesses your usage, gives you a written specification and a quote you can take away, names the exact incentive scheme that applies and points you to the official government page so you can check eligibility yourself. Their accreditation appears on a public register you can search. The grant scam works because renewable incentives genuinely exist and genuinely change, so a salesperson saying funding is about to close sounds plausible rather than absurd, and the promise of a free or heavily subsidised system is exactly what people hope to hear on their doorstep. The distinction that matters most is whether anything they claim can be checked independently. A real scheme has a name and an official page. A real installer has a register entry with a reference number.
Side-by-side comparison
| Legitimate solar panel installer | Solar grant scam operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Grant claim accuracy | Explains exactly which scheme applies, its eligibility criteria, and directs you to the official government website to verify before committing | Vaguely references 'government grants' without naming a specific scheme; cannot provide official documentation for the programme they describe |
| Accreditation | Installer is MCS-accredited (UK) or holds relevant national certification (NABCEP in the US); accreditation is verifiable on the official register | Cannot provide verifiable accreditation; certificates shown are printed documents with no database-verified reference number |
| Upfront deposit pressure | Deposit is reasonable, clearly documented in a written contract, and protected by a consumer deposit scheme | Requests a large upfront cash deposit, often with urgency ('grant funding runs out this week'), before any survey or quote |
| Site survey | Conducts a proper roof survey and energy assessment before quoting; provides a written specification | Offers a fixed quote without a site visit or roof survey; cannot explain how the system will be configured for your property |
| After-sales support | Provides warranty documentation, a performance guarantee, and details of the manufacturer's product warranty | Vague on warranty terms; company registered recently with no verifiable trading history or physical address |
Common red flags
- Salesperson claims grants are expiring imminently and pressures you to commit today
- Cannot name or link to the specific government scheme they are referencing
- Installer is not listed on the official MCS or equivalent national accreditation register
- Large upfront cash deposit requested before a site survey
- No physical business address or the company was registered within the last year
Verification steps
- Search the installer on the MCS (UK) or NABCEP (US) official register before agreeing to anything
- Search the specific grant scheme name on your national government website to verify it exists and check eligibility independently
- Get at least two or three quotes from MCS-accredited installers and compare written specifications
What not to do
- Do not pay a large cash deposit based solely on a doorstep or cold-call approach
- Do not sign a contract until you have independently verified the grant scheme and the installer's accreditation
- Do not be pressured by 'grant deadline' urgency — genuine government schemes do not require same-day commitments
A safe response
Do not sign or pay anything on the day, however good the offer sounds. Say plainly that you never agree to work at the door and ask for everything in writing, then close the conversation; a genuine company will accept that without complaint. Afterwards, search the installer on the MCS register in the UK or NABCEP in the US yourself, and look up the named scheme on the official government site by typing the address rather than following any link they gave you. Get two or three written quotes before committing. If a deposit has already gone, contact your bank or card provider immediately to report it and ask what recovery options exist, and report the company to trading standards, Action Fraud in the UK or the FTC in the US.
Frequently asked questions
I signed a contract at my door, is it too late to change my mind?
Often not. Contracts agreed at home or over the phone usually carry a cooling-off period during which you can cancel, commonly around fourteen days in the UK and in many other markets, and cancelling should be done in writing so you have a record. Check the contract for the cancellation terms and send your notice as soon as you can. If the terms are unclear or the company refuses, Citizens Advice or your local trading standards service can tell you where you stand.
How do I find legitimate government solar grant schemes?
Search your national government website directly (gov.uk in the UK, energy.gov in the US) for current renewable energy incentives. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4, and the Smart Export Guarantee are current UK examples. In the US, the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the primary incentive.
Can I get my deposit back if the installer disappears?
If you paid by credit card, you may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (UK) or via chargeback rights. If you paid by bank transfer or cash, recovery is more difficult — contact your bank and report to Action Fraud or the FTC immediately.