Restart Solar, LLC.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 17, 2015/04/06) */
We are in receipt of the complaint filed with you by Mr. and Mrs. [redacted]. To be frank, we are flabbergasted.
At the initial meeting at the [redacted] home, not only was [redacted] Ferrari, an outside sales consultant for Restart Solar, present but...

also [redacted] Croll, who at the time was a senior executive with Restart Solar and is currently an executive with Solar City, the largest company in the residential solar industry. Both are experienced sales executives in the solar business. They never use the word rebate. It is not part of their lexicon. They always talk about tax credits and all of our documents (attached) exclusively talk about tax credits. In addition, our documents and Mr. Croll and Ms. Ferrari always advise potential customers that they should seek out their own tax advice because Restart Solar does not give tax advice.
Mr. Croll in our investigation recently when contacted at Solar City said: "I remember the sales call very well. We were the 6th or 7th solar company to present to them. They completely understood the tax credit and it was explained very thoroughly and correctly by [redacted] called himself an expert on finances during the initial call I was on. [redacted] was always very detailed and very exact with her information. This complaint is not founded in truth."
Additionally, Mrs. [redacted] was interested in becoming a sales representative for our company. She had 2 hours of training with Mr. [redacted] He states as follows: "I actually did spend two hours training the wife, and I guarantee we covered it (tax credits) there as well."
In summary and conclusion, we deny categorically that we ever represented that the [redacted]' would receive a tax "rebate". We in all cases advise customers it is a tax credit and to seek their own tax advice. Mr. and Mrs. [redacted] spoke to numerous other solar companies and we are confident they all gave them the same information regarding "tax credits".
Restart Solar and its predecessor RCC Solar have excellent Revdex.com records and we believe this is a blatant attempt to extort money from us because of the customer's own issues.
Respectfully,
Restart Solar
By
[redacted], President
RESTART THE REVOLUTION
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 19, 2015/04/13) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
First, I will categorically address the executive response to my complaint:
Mr. [redacted] states: They never use the word rebate. It is not part of their lexicon.
First let me address this assertion, at the time of my home presentations, there were several TV commercials in the Greater Los Angeles area that used the word "Rebate" in their sales pitch, ".....don't rent, own your solar and don't let the solar company get the rebate you're entitled to." Therefore, it IS a part of someone's lexicon, and the phrase" TAX REBATE" WAS also used in the presentation in my home; but I don't expect an official reply from an executive to state anything that could be considered libelous, so I'm not surprised with this statement.
Mr [redacted] states: They always talk about tax credits and all of our documents (attached) exclusively talk about tax credits.
These documents were NEVER left at my home for me to preview, and I never saw the documents Mr [redacted] provided in the rebuttal until today, my signature or initials are not on them.
Mr [redacted] states: Mr. [redacted] and Ms. [redacted] always advise potential customers that they should seek out their own tax advice because Restart Solar does not give tax advice.
Their rep did in fact state that she doesn't give tax advise.
Mr [redacted] states: Mr. [redacted] in our investigation recently when contacted at Solar City said: "I remember the sales call very well. We were the 6th or 7th solar company to present to them.
RCC was the FOURTH !! BTW, this wasn't hidden in my original complaint, as in it, I stated ".....Had she or any other rep implied that this opportunity had a contingency, I absolutely NEVER would have proceeded with any remaining presentation from them !!!!
Mr [redacted] states: They completely understood the tax credit and it was explained very thoroughly and correctly by [redacted].
I understood what I was being told about a "TAX Rebate" through association with the HERO Program.
Mr [redacted] states: [redacted] called himself an expert on finances during the initial call I was on.
This recall is inaccurate; I stated as a member of a Contract Management TEAM. My job deals with High Dollar Contract Management. I do NOT provide Cost / Financial Analysis as the team member
Mr [redacted] states: This complaint is not founded in truth."
My complaint is completely based on the integrity of the presentation I was given

Mr [redacted] states: Additionally, Mrs. [redacted] was interested in becoming a sales representative for our company. She had 2 hours of training with Mr. [redacted] He states as follows: "I actually did spend two hours training the wife, and I guarantee we covered it (tax credits) there as well."
My wife did inquire about being a representative, but upon hearing some questionable details, she decided to forgo further training until some of these details became clear during out tax preparation session. After which, she chose not to pursue it any further: Rebate or Credit clearly impact a tax refund
Mr [redacted] states: In summary and conclusion, we deny categorically that we ever represented that the [redacted]' would receive a tax "rebate".
I was told I'd get a tax rebate and that I could apply that rebate towards the payment of the solar energy distribution system. If I was told it would be a tax credit and that there are differences between a tax credit and a tax rebate, there never would have been a show of how my payments could be augmented with the tax return money.
Mr [redacted] states: We in all cases advise customers it is a tax credit and to seek their own tax advice. Mr. and Mrs. [redacted] spoke to numerous other solar companies and we are confident they all gave them the same information regarding "tax credits".
This issue has been previously addressed
Mr [redacted] states: Restart Solar and its predecessor RCC Solar have excellent Revdex.com records and we believe this is a blatant attempt to extort money from us because of the customer's own issues.
I clearly stated in my original complaint my intension to pay for the product that honest laborers and technicians installed on my residence, but the taxes should be waived. My only issue is that the presentation wasn't forthright from the beginning. A tax rebate is very different from a tax credit. I didn't discover this until after the New Year when I had my taxes prepared. This fact was NOT presented to me during any of the presentations.
I never concocted a scheme to extort money anyone and Mr. [redacted]'s assertion is completely an attempt to divert from the question as to why I or anyone with modest means would every commit to a long-term purchase unless the terms were affordable? In this case, the terms are affordable if you CAN take advantage of the TAX CREDIT. They are not affordable if you CANNOT take advantage of a TAX CREDIT. These companies know this therefore, the difference is not clearly explained during the presentation
Final Consumer Response /* (4200, 32, 2015/05/15) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Let's see, RCC Solar offers me $250.00 for my trouble.
In accordance with the sales reps presentation, I was to be obligate to pay for a system that was supposed to have an augmented refund applied to the overall cost through my qualifying with the HERO Program, amortized over a 20 year period as presented by the sales rep, that, coupled with my routine monthly amount paid for electricity, would have made the monthly payments for the solar electrical system affordable.
Instead, I'm obligate to pay for a system that in actuality will have NO augmented refund applied to the overall cost due to my INABILITY to qualify for the HERO Program, amortized over a 20 year period that would NOT make the monthly payment affordable, regardless of applying the monthly amount of what I routine pay for electricity, which, if not paid according to schedule, potentially will result in leans applied to my single family home.
All of which could've been avoided had the sales rep asked the simple question: "do you routinely owe the IRS at the end of the tax year, or do you receive a refund from the IRS at the end of the tax year?" A question which, by the way, presents an answer that is nowhere close to giving tax advise nor is it legally actionable; but, it is deliberately avoided because it impacts a potential sale of the solar electrical distribution system. God forbid a sale be lost due to this simple inquisition and the resulting answer which would lead to COMPLETE disclosure of the facts.
After 20 years, roughly $86,000.00 will be paid for a system that cost roughly $37,000.00. Over $48,000.00 extra paid to the company due to interest. A system that I would have never purchased had all the facts of the HERO Program's opportunity been disclosed to me initially.
The $250.00 offered by RCC Solar falls well short of the kind of help I'll need to pacify the troubles I'll encounter through the consequences of a situation that I've been blind-sighted with.
If retelling the fact causes RSS Solar to pursue their options, I will respond in kind.
Final Business Response /* (4000, 34, 2015/05/27) */
Mr. and Mrs. [redacted] agree that they failed and refused to take our advice, and that of the other solar sales representatives that they met with, to consult their tax professionals and they continue to show they needed to do so.
We reiterate the fact that we have no idea what the [redacted]' tax position might be and their suggestion that we should have asked a simplistic question, for what we suppose is a complicated issue as to whether they could use the tax credit, just is not credible.
Unfortunately, we have no other options for this unrealistic customer as our offer is more than fair.
Respectfully,
[redacted]