Setting the Standard: Avoiding Compliance Pitfalls for Installers

It is important for installers to create an ethical, compliant and transparent solar sales experience for their homeowners. We consider our active partners among the best in the industry. However, even with our thorough and in-depth vetting process, we do on occasion have to remove individual salespeople, and in some cases entire installers, from our network due to ethical violations. 

As an industry, it’s imperative we protect homeowners and maintain compliance with consumer-lending regulations. In an effort to meet these objectives, we’re sharing some of the actions that are clear-cut violations:

• Completing credit applications for homeowners (only applicants should fill it out)
• Entering inaccurate applicant contact information, including creating new email addresses for applicants
• Inflating applicant income (this is considered fraud)
• Signing loan documents on behalf of a homeowner
• Claiming that solar is free or an incentive is guaranteed 
• Not being clear that an application is for a loan and that there will be monthly payments
• Telling homeowners the Sungage credit application is a PreQual (it is a loan application)
• Confirming an installation has reached substantial completion when it has not
• Uploading falsified permits, photos or financial statements to our portal

While we understand there are nuances and context in each situation, it’s imperative that installers avoid the aforementioned behavior, as it harms our entire industry. By holding ourselves to a high standard, we not only protect homeowners and build trust, but we also strengthen the future of residential solar for everyone.

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