Solar Installation Firm Called Out For Alleged “Dubious Practices”

In the Northern Territory, Consumer Affairs and NT WorkSafe have urged Territorians to be wary of promotional material from an interstate solar installation firm after reports of alleged dodgy behaviour from across the border.

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UPDATE 23 November: Consumer Affairs and NT Worksafe have since released another statement; part of which says:

“NT Consumer Affairs and NT WorkSafe have since been contacted by a representative of National Solar Energy Group Pty Ltd trading as Sunboost, which has advised that their company has no connection and no association whatsoever with the business selling PV solar equipment.

We regret that National Solar Energy Pty Ltd was incorrectly identified in our previous media release.”

Another new joint statement is now linked to from the original NT gov. media page entry that doesn’t mention a company name at all, although the original can still be viewed via the initial link. This is all very confusing.
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The two agencies state they’ve been made aware of the (now un-named) firm in question’s coercive practices across Western Australia involving high-pressure door-to-door sales of solar systems.

Consumer Affairs and NT WorkSafe state the company appears to be targeting Indigenous communities and pressuring people to buy solar through financing arrangements.

“Vulnerable and elderly people have also been targeted by signing and entering into contractual arrangements for solar and financing,” says the release. “In some cases, the installations have malfunctioned or failed to work at all.”

The allegations include:

• not giving consumers the required 10 day cooling off period
• taking deposits and making purchasers sign unlawful contracts.

Door-To-Door Solar Sales Problematic

Generally speaking, the practice of selling home solar door-to-door has a poor reputation in Australia. Too often, systems have been overpriced, of low quality, shoddily installed, or not suited to the household’s needs and circumstances – and in particularly extreme cases, all four.

Victoria’s Solar Homes Program saw bad door-to-door and telemarketing sales behaviour from some players, which led to a doorknocking ban being implemented in 2021, and a telemarketing ban came into effect on May 1 this year.

Australians rolling the dice and purchasing a system from a doorknocker or telemarketer should be aware of their rights in case things go pear-shaped. These forms of unsolicited trading are covered by the Australian Consumer Law and each state or territory may have other requirements.

As for solar finance, done right it can be a useful tool for acquiring a system. Approached carefully, a good quality and properly sized solar system can save more money each month than it costs to finance, including interest – but there are pitfalls to be aware of.

For tips on how to get the right system for your needs, and at the right price, check out SolarQuotes’ Solar 101 Buyer’s Guide.