Tesla Solar

I paid for solar panels for my roof in Capitola, CA. The panels were supposed to offset my electricity needs by 86%. In the last 6 months, they have offset a total of 6%. I've called the company many times to explain that the installers installed the panels in the shade of the house next door, so they never see the sun. The first time I called, they sent someone out because they thought there was a problem with the system. The tech finally determined that the panels were not placed in the sun, so they were not producing energy. He had no fix for the problem, so I called customer service and they said it would be a few weeks and they would send someone out. I waited for 3 months and didn't hear anything. I called back again and now they say that I have to wait a year, so they can monitor the system, before they will go out and redesign it. No one will let me speak to a supervisor. They refuse to send me their policy that I have to wait a year. Meanwhile, I spent thousands of dollars on a system that produces 80% less energy than promised.

I purchased a solar system from Tesla Solar in August of 2018 (6 months ago). I specifically asked my salesman, the designers and the installers if my roof was OK prior to installation. I was assured the roof was fine. Now the roof is leaking badly and a licensed roofer has advised me I need a new roof. The under layment (paper or felt) has failed. I am fine replacing/paying for the roof, but Tesla is charging me $4,555 for them to remove the solar panels and replace them, and I am not fine with that cost. I feel Tesla bears some responsibility since I specifically asked them about the condition of my roof. At no time did they recommend I consult a roofer prior to solar installation. Now they are saying that according to the terms of my contract, they are not responsible for roof leaks not caused by them and they only certified that my roof was strong enough to hold the weight of the panels. That was not the case. They are not willing to help me at all and suggested I could call another solar company to remove and replace the panels. I should have called another solar company in the first place. My salesman has gone to bat for me, but to no avail. Beware if dealing with Tesla Solar.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me
Regards,
*** ***

As a retired Soldier I intended to set myself up for a fixed income, hence the solar purchase. The sales person used the last years electric usage to determine the size of the system. We had just purchased the house and informed the sales person that the data may not be truly reflective of our needs. After he had determined the size of the system I nudged him to add an additional panel, he disagreed but I paid to have the additional panel added anyway and was uncertain as to the efficiency VS usage. Well here I am paying electric bills I hadn't counted on, it was nice when they were only 19 dollars a month, but as I feared, the system did not produce enough to bank us up for summer. I would say to anyone looking for a solar system to do your own due diligence, do the research and get a system that will well out produce what you need, do not rely on the sales people that come to you for information, they are lacking. Additionally, contacting anyone at Tesla customer care is about like sending smoke signals to a friend in the jungles of Africa, except, your friend will respond sooner. Basically, check out all solar options, compare with Tesla before you make a decision, there are lots of solar dealers out there.

To Whom it may concern, The customer who filed this complaint has contracted us to design and install solar panels on his roof and on a custom built cedar deck pergola. As with any custom design there may be delays in fabrication of...

steel components and to-order, laser cut cedar timbers. Unfortunately we have experienced such delays. Construction of his system began in November 2015 and is anticipated to be finished by the end of February2016. It is Tesla Solar's mission to provide the most energy efficient and esthetically pleasing photovoltaic power systems possible. We only use the best materials and do not take shortcuts or cut corners. Sometimes this means a custom install can take longer than anticipated. We would rather install components that have been fabricated to the correct design specifications than take a shortcut that will sacrifice design appeal or power generation capability. Unfortunately this customer's pergola required a custom fabricated steel bracket and when we received it there was an error in the fabrication. We had to send it back to the fabricator and wait for a new one to be made.  Once certain phases of an install have been completed we do not send crews to a work site when there is not work for them to do. This means that even though a project is “in progress” there may be days where no workers are present on site as we are waiting on materials. This does not usually happen with “off the shelf” installs but in the case of custom designs it can.  Tesla Solar also is required to work within CPS guidelines, this means scheduling inspections with CPS itself and their calendar is sometimes viewed as inconvenient by customers. Tesla Solar has no control over this portion of an install, known as an “interconnection”.  We are very sorry that the customer has had a negative experience with us and are more than willing to work with him for a satisfactory resolution.

City of Live Oak permitting desk has told us that a pergola install does not need a building permit. However, this system has a photo-voltaic system integrated and [redacted], Building Official, City of Live Oak [redacted] has requested that we pull a permit on it. The city of Live Oak did not inform us of the permit requirement until 2/12/16, as of that day we sent Live Oak the necessary paperwork for permitting. Today (2/15/16) is President's Day and the Live Oak city offices are closed. Tomorrow, 2/16/16 the City of Live Oak will be meeting with Tesla Solar at the customer's residence to issue the permit

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:Mr. [redacted] is correct that we have emailed what we verbally agreed on (please see document attached) however, I feel that this case should not be closed until Mr. [redacted] has fulfilled what he has agreed to. As per the email and the conversation between him and my husband Mr. [redacted] will refund us $5000 and will reinstall our solar panels after our roof is repaired by a roofer (not Mr. [redacted]) In order for us to get this process started we need Mr. [redacted] to refund us the $5000 immediately. Again, we have given Mr. [redacted] almost a year to fulfill his verbal agreement either by fixing our roof and/or refunding our money. My husband has faith in him that he is going to come through for us this time and not because he is 'a long time friend' of ours as stated by Mr. [redacted] but because my husband is a good man and believes in people. Just for the record, Mr. [redacted] is not our long time friend. He doesn't know anything about us and we don't know anything about him. We hired him in good faith to do a job for us and as you are aware off he took our money and never did what he said he was going to do.  A tarp currently lies on top of my damaged roof as a 'band aid.' My husband and neighbor have had to replace this 'band aid' several times due to rain, wind, storms, etc. It is the only means that we currently have protecting our damaged roof for almost a year now due to what Mr. [redacted] did to us. I want to put this year long misery behind us by Mr. [redacted] doing right by us. 
Regards,
[redacted]

To Whom it may concern, The customer who filed this complaint has contracted us to design and install solar panels on his roof and on a custom built cedar deck pergola. As with any custom design there may be delays in fabrication of steel components and to-order, laser cut cedar timbers....

Unfortunately we have experienced such delays. Construction of his system began in November 2015 and is anticipated to be finished by the end of February2016. It is Tesla Solar's mission to provide the most energy efficient and esthetically pleasing photovoltaic power systems possible. We only use the best materials and do not take shortcuts or cut corners. Sometimes this means a custom install can take longer than anticipated. We would rather install components that have been fabricated to the correct design specifications than take a shortcut that will sacrifice design appeal or power generation capability. Unfortunately this customer's pergola required a custom fabricated steel bracket and when we received it there was an error in the fabrication. We had to send it back to the fabricator and wait for a new one to be made.  Once certain phases of an install have been completed we do not send crews to a work site when there is not work for them to do. This means that even though a project is “in progress” there may be days where no workers are present on site as we are waiting on materials. This does not usually happen with “off the shelf” installs but in the case of custom designs it can.  Tesla Solar also is required to work within CPS guidelines, this means scheduling inspections with CPS itself and their calendar is sometimes viewed as inconvenient by customers. Tesla Solar has no control over this portion of an install, known as an “interconnection”.  We are very sorry that the customer has had a negative experience with us and are more than willing to work with him for a satisfactory resolution.

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: 
Hope this email finds you in good spirits. Tomorrow will mark 6 weeks that Mr. Regino and I came to a written agreement. I continue to go around in circles with him. Just yesterday he came out and installed one flashing on my roof and said he would be back Thursday and/or Friday at the latest. When I ask about my cashiers check of $5000 that he agreed to return to me he has excuse after excuse as to why he doesn't have it. I spoke to him on Monday morning and told him that I want this out behind us and that he has till this Friday to honor the letter/job/refund that was submitted to Revdex.com. I also advised him after speaking to a detective with SAPD that his broken the law of theft if he does not fulfill his agreement. I plan to file a theft report against him and reopen the Revdex.com case on Friday if he does oblige by our agreement. My question to you is will this (theft report) be a conflict with Revdex.com?  Please advice. Thank you in advance.    
Regards,
[redacted]

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: The true question here is why is Mr. [redacted] asking Revdex.com to have his customer provide a contract? Shouldn't he as a  business owner have a record of it? The truth is one does not exist. He never created one. Everything has been done on his "word" which he has failed us on. We never traveled to South Dakota and what concerts we attend and where we go on our leisure time are not of any concern to him and/or any of his business. When he speaks of a timeline the only way this effected us professionally was in regards to us being available. Mr. [redacted] is caught up in his own lies, excuses, empty promises and he has confused his stories. I have given him many opportunities and chances to do right by us and unfortunately he chooses to not return our money and put this behind us as I advise him to do so. It really is all that simple. 
Regards,
[redacted]

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: As of yesterday, the city of Live Oak inspected the work site and determined that the contractor had not obtained written approval for the work to be accomplished and now we are in another delay which is always somebody else's fault. I understand fabrication is tedious, however, if the design and measurements are accurate, then work should not take over 3 months going on 4.
Regards,
[redacted]

Hello [redacted], Could you have that customer provide you their contract with our company?  We were hired to remove panels and equipment from the roof which we have. Once roof is completed we were to install and wire back said system.  We were hired to install a pergola system at the...

rear of the home and add electrical to it.  IE:  An outdoor fan, a GFCI plug.  In addition, we were hired to stain, and add new fence pieces due to hail damage.  Funds that were given to them by their insurance company were spent for other uses besides completing what the insurance agency paid for.  For 2 Months, Mr. Gloria made our company wait, giving us excuses if we could work with him since he spent the money for JLO tickets for his wife, and providing funds for family member who would pay him back.  This also included a trip to South Dakota.  Our company, in good faith, since he is a long time friend... gave him the system(s) under market value as long as we get this installed quickly.  I ask you to provide the contract for work, and see the timeline.  We were there last Thursday to remove equipment and leave the equipment there if we would settle this on our own accord.  From what I see, they want to take this to a civil court and have no interest in following their word.  Have them provide the contract.    [redacted]Project Mgr. [redacted] MgrPhotovoltaic System Designer/ Installer[redacted]-[redacted]-[redacted] Cell

We come up with a verbal resolution and they have emailed me(finally) a resolution to complete this verbal solution.