Sreedevi Dasari hoped to take advantage of federal grant and loan programs by installing solar panels on her home west of Toronto to save money on her electricity bill and help the environment.
But now the single mother has lost $3,500 which she paid as a deposit for the solar panels.
“I feel like I’m stuck,” said Dasari, who lives in Milton, Ont.
She is one of half a dozen homeowners in Ontario and Alberta who told CBC Toronto they collectively owe nearly $65,000 they paid for solar power installation contracts with Sunwave Inc. , a Toronto company that solicited their business through door-to-door sales. Sunwave says it investigates customer complaints
Customers say sales reps they dealt with have left the company, and calls and emails from owners to Sunwave Inc. have gone unanswered.
Dasari signed a $24,700 contract with Sunwave in April to source and install a solar panel system on the roof of his home. After paying the deposit, Dasari says she was supposed to return half of the remaining balance when the final design was completed in July, but she says that never happened.
“I have nothing at the moment,” she said. “So even if I want to go to another company, I have to start from scratch.”
Dasari fears restarting the process will affect his eligibility for the Canada Greener Homes grant and loan programs – which were launched last year. Through these programs, homeowners like Dasari could be eligible for up to $5,000 for the solar panels they installed and up to $40,000 in interest-free loans to fund the green renovation.
Natural Resources Canada administers the programs. The federal department said it had received complaints from owners about Sunwave and was following up on the allegations.
In a statement, a lawyer for Sunwave told CBC Toronto that the company is aware of its clients’ allegations and takes their concerns seriously by investigating the complaints with its lawyer.
“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of all clients as we investigate these allegations,” attorney Carly Waisglass said.
Alberta retiree couple paid $30,000
Heather Robinson’s parents signed a contract with Sunwave in October 2021. The retired couple, who live just outside of Calgary in Chestermere, Alta., haven’t paid a deposit. Instead, Daniel and Heimke Campbell received the solar panel design plan a month after signing their contract, then paid $30,300 in December.
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At that time, Robinson says the company told his parents they would have to wait until spring for the installation. But now, nearly a year after her parents signed the contract, she says no further work has been completed.
“I emailed and phoned the office every other day and nothing – no answer, no return call,” Robinson said.
“I don’t know if they got overwhelmed and couldn’t keep up or what happened, but hopefully that’s the case and there’s a way to salvage something.”
After CBC Toronto contacted the company, two customers said they had received a refund from Sunwave, and Dasari says a former sales rep told her she would be getting a refund soon.
But others, like Robinson and Ken Fritz of Kitchener, Ont., received no assurances.
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“They won’t get back to me. I’ve tried everything under the sun to reach them,” said Fritz, who made a $3,500 deposit in March.
He says it has been a learning experience and although he still intends to find another company to install solar panels on his roof, he will make sure they have references.
“You really need to do your homework.”
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