Anyone trying to cut energy bills or reduce their carbon footprint can expect to be approached by someone selling solar panels, insulation or a heating upgrade. Most traders are legitimate; some are not. This guide draws on Citizens Advice, Which? and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and applies across the UK unless stated. It is general information, not legal advice, and it complements our guides to energy rebate and grant scams and doorstep scams and rogue traders in England.
Why green home improvements attract scammers
Citizens Advice published research on 6 December 2021 estimating that 19 million adults, or 36%, had been targeted by a green scam in the previous year, that 5.2 million people had fallen for scams in 2021, and that 67% of adults were considering energy efficiency improvements to their homes. Its chief executive said scammers have no qualms about playing on the need to do our bit for the environment. Those figures are from 2021 and describe the position at that time, so they should be read as a dated snapshot rather than a current rate.
The cold calls owners of existing systems receive
Which? reported on 29 August 2024 that over one-third of solar panel owners had received cold calls about their systems within five years. It listed the most common claims: a solar panel health check (27% of calls), which callers falsely present as a government requirement; an upgrade to the latest specification (11%); a solar buyback scheme (9%), described as purchasing feed-in tariff payments upfront; replacing an inverter that is still working (8%); voltage optimisers that claim to reduce electricity use (6%); and a claim that the original installer has closed down (6%). The warning signs it identifies are unsolicited contact by cold call or doorstep visit, claims of a government-mandated inspection, vague savings figures not tailored to the household, pressure to decide quickly and an insistence that the original installer is out of business.
Checking the installer
MCS describes itself as the UK’s quality mark for renewable energy systems such as solar panels and heat pumps, and says certification is a requirement for accessing many UK government incentives. Its Find an Installer tool lets a consumer search by installer name, certification number, technology type and location, and each listing shows the installer’s certification number and certification body. MCS advises looking for its certified mark, and the customer support helpdesk can be reached on 0333 103 8130 or at [email protected]. Which? separately recommends verifying an installer’s status independently through MCS-registered listings rather than relying on what a caller says, checking the original warranty and guarantees before considering any work, and using a verified directory such as Which? Trusted Traders.
Five practical steps
Citizens Advice’s five tips from its 2021 release are still a useful checklist:
- Research the company thoroughly: verify it, read reviews and check external sources.
- Use certified schemes, looking for TrustMark and other endorsed quality schemes.
- Get written quotes, at least three, and a contract before proceeding.
- Pay securely: credit cards offer the most protection, and staged payments are worth considering.
- Stay sceptical of unsolicited contact and high-pressure tactics.
Which? adds that homeowners should ask for a detailed, personalised savings calculation and compare quotes from several reputable traders. Our guide to paying safely explains why the payment method matters.
If something has gone wrong with an installation
MCS says certified installers are expected to meet defined standards of conduct throughout an installation, and it offers consumers a complaints route through its website, including guidance on what to do if things go wrong. Householders who already hold a warranty or guarantee from an original installer should keep it, since Which? advises checking it before agreeing to any work, and any doubt about a caller’s claims is best resolved by contacting the original installer directly using details found independently.
Reporting
Citizens Advice’s 2021 release directed people to its consumer service, to Scams Action and to Action Fraud, and asked people to forward text scams to 7726; reporting routes have since changed in part, so the current options are set out in our guide on where to report a scam.
Frequently asked questions
Is an annual solar panel check a legal requirement? Which? says callers who claim that annual health checks are a government requirement are being false.
How do I check that an installer is certified? Use the MCS Find an Installer tool, which shows a certification number and certification body for each listing.
What if the caller says my installer has gone out of business? Which? lists this as a common false claim and advises verifying the installer independently.
The bottom line
Unsolicited approaches about solar panels, insulation or grants deserve suspicion, especially when they claim a government requirement, push a fast decision or say the original installer has closed. Independent checks on certification, written quotes and protected payment methods are the most effective defences.