Top Three Solar ‘Gotcha’ Clauses to Look For in Your T&Cs
It may sound like a tedious task, but reading the clauses included in the Terms and Conditions of your solar power agreement can be one of the most effective ways to help you choose the right solar company.
Many of the cheaper solar providers hope you’ll be dazzled by a charming salesperson promising you thousands of dollars in savings, and sign up without viewing their T&C’s.
Why you need to look at the Terms and Conditions
A Terms and Conditions agreement is where a company outlines the obligations of them, the provider, and you, the customer. For example: paying for the solar energy system no later than the date of installation.
T&C’s are also where dodgy companies hide so called ‘Gotcha’ Clauses. And, like their name implies, you won’t find out about the ‘Gotcha’ Clause until something goes wrong. Some providers won’t provide you with their T&C’s unless you specifically ask, and in the worst cases we’ve seen, some solar providers don’t even have T&C’s at all.
To help you navigate the sometimes confusing world of T&C’s, we’ve compiled the top three ‘Gotcha’ Clauses to keep an eye out for:
Clause 1: “XXXX Solar Company engages the Installation Contractor as your agent. The Installation Contractor is liable for any damage or defect in installation of your System.”
In this scenario, the company you bought the solar system from is passing the liability for any damage or defect onto the smaller installer. So, what’s the issue? To begin with, if there’s a problem during installation, your chosen solar company has wiped their hands clean of you. Not only do they not owe you anything, they’re also not obligated to offer you any help or assistance.
Secondly, you don’t actually have a contract with the installer in question. This means if there’s a problem, you’ll have a hard time trying to get any money or compensation from the installer, if you even know who they are.
Clause 2: “XXXX Solar Company limits its maximum liability to $100 only & will not be liable for any consequential damages.”
This clause means your solar power provider is liable for only $100, and no consequential damage. Let’s quickly do some math. One broken tile + a roof leak + water damage to property = a lot more than $100. In this scenario, you’re left to cover the shortfall for the installer’s dodgy work.
Clause 3: “In the event the quoted products are not available, XXXX Solar Company reserves the right to replace it with an equal product on the day of installation.”
After much careful consideration, research and consultation with your chosen solar company, you’ve decided to go with Canadian Solar 265W panels. On the day of installation, however, your roof is fitted with Canadian Solar 260W panels or even worse – panels manufactured by a completely different brand. Unfortunately, as you’ve signed your contract, and agreed to the T&C’s, there’s nothing you can do about this. And guess who decides on what an equal ‘product’ is? You guessed it – the dodgy solar company out to save a few bucks.
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” – Benjamin Franklin
Choosing a cheap solar company may seem great at first, but the devil can be in the detail. Before signing on with a solar company – or any type of company for that matter – ensure you carefully read over the company Terms and Conditions, so you can an informed decision.
At Infinite Energy we pride ourselves on our no pressure, honest and informative sales approach. We provide our terms and conditions upfront, along with all of our quotations.
If you would like to discuss the potential of solar power for your home or business, please get in touch with one of our experienced energy consultants on 1300 074 669, or click here.
