CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte couple finally got the support they needed after a WCNC Charlotte investigation showed the solar panel company they used had issues across multiple states.
Jay and Martha Lee contacted WCNC Charlotte after their solar panels quit working. The company they used, which was first known to them as Solar Brio, stopped returning their calls. After months of inaction by the company, they felt helpless and were worried they were out the tens of thousands of dollars they had paid to get them installed. That's when they reached out to WCNC Charlotte.
"I had nowhere else to turn," Jay Lee explained to WCNC Charlotte's Kayland Hagwood.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
This inaction by the solar provider shocked the Lees since they said the company had been the party to reach out to them to get the solar panels installed.
"It's been a total nightmare," Jay Lee admitted.
After WCNC Charlotte aired a story about the Lees' predicament, a new company reached out to them.
"My business development manager saw the interview from Jay and his wife Martha on WCNC," John Powell with Thompson and Son Energy told Hagwood.
The company decided to help the Lees "free of charge" because of what happened to them.
"We’ve kind of made it our mission to help what we call orphan or abandoned solar systems," Powell explained. "I know that there are thousands in North and South Carolina.”
This came as such a relief to the Lees.
"It's a huge load off of my shoulders," Jay Lee said. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate him doing this."
With the solar panels working again, the Lees said they can now focus on why they purchased the panels in the first place.
"It’s going to save us a bunch of money," Jay Lee said.
WCNC Charlotte looked into the Lee's initial solar company and found its operators changed the company's name multiple times across the country as customer concerns grew, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Ellison's office took legal action against the company, its affiliates, and owners, including Brio Energy, Avolta Power, and Total Solar Solutions, blocking them from doing business in their state.
For those who may be considering getting solar panels installed on their homes, there are a few steps that should be taken before landing on a company. The Better Business Bureau recommends before signing anything, pause and research as much as you can.
"Two minutes is all it takes to do a little bit of research and find out what other people’s experience has been," Tom Bartholomy, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving the Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina, said.
If you think you have been scammed, don't be ashamed. Take action instead by filing a complaint with the BBB and the state's attorney general's office to try to get some help getting your money back. North Carolina residents can file a general consumer complaint online or call 919-716-6000. People who live in South Carolina can also file a complaint online or call 803-734-4200.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Where's The Money series is all about leveling the playing field in the Carolinas by helping others and breaking down barriers. WCNC Charlotte doesn't want our viewers to be taken advantage of, so we’re here to help. Watch previous stories where we ask the question “Where’s the Money” in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.
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