Solar panel company vanishes leaving Oklahomans with unfinished business
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A solar company has vanished leaving many Oklahomans left to pay for a product they can’t use. It happened to several people in one neighborhood in south Oklahoma City. Victoria Young was one of them. She said she had solar panels installed at her home almost a year ago, hoping to have lower energy costs, but the panels have never worked.
KFOR first interviewed Young six months ago.
<Woman says solar panel ‘nightmare’ forced her to hire a lawyer>
"This is turning into an absolute mess,” said Young back in August. “A nightmare."
Since then, her problem has only gotten worse. The panels still left sitting on her roof have cost her a small fortune. She owes more than $48,000 for the products, nearly half the price she was quoted when she signed up for the panels through Encor Solar.
"I really don't think it's right for me to pay for something that is unfinished," said Young.
News 4 called Encor Solar and the number went straight to this recording.
"Due to unresolvable economic conditions Encor Solar has been forced to close its doors for good. If you have any questions about your system please contact your lender."
The Utah-based company has shuttered and left people like Young and her next-door neighbor, in the same situation, with no way of fixing unfinished business.
"The lender cannot complete the job," said Young.
She said she has yet to make a monthly payment on the incomplete work.
"My credit score has gone down 132 points because of this," said Young.
She said she has been contacted daily by solar companies, sent by the financial institution GoodLeap, to fix the problem. GoodLeap is Young’s lender.
One showed up while News 4 was at Young’s home Monday and said they were contracted out by GoodLeap to finish the work.
“They don’t have a contract or any paperwork, and no one contacted me,” said Young. “What is going on here?”
Young said she has tried to get out of h er contract but has had no luck so far.
From 2022, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office said it has received 10 complaints against Encor Solar and seven against GoodLeap.
J.W. Peters owns Solar Power of Oklahoma.
"The financial institutions are trying to get the systems up and operational so that the customers will continue making their payments," said Peters.
He said abandoned work by out-of-state-solar companies has become a huge problem in Oklahoma.
"We've received four today,” said Peters. “We've taken over contracts for about 47 different systems, and we've received actually hundreds of inquiries."
He also said there has been potential legislation in the works to protect customers.
“We’re trying to decide whether statewide legislation or some other means would be beneficial to be able to protect these customers because we really look at this as a customer protection standpoint,” said Peters.
For Young, she said she just wants out of this nightmare.
"They need to come get these panels and I want my contract ended," said Young. She said she also went to the federal level, filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. She said she has been in contact with a representative at the bureau.