‘It looked like a legit business’: This Mississippi man is out nearly $100,000 after purchasing solar panels — only to find that they don’t work and now the company has seemingly vanished

Solar panel company seemed legitimate

Dutton first learned of Tren Solar when they called him “out of the blue.” He was interested in the potential savings of producing solar energy on his own property and powering both his home and his auto body shop, where he restores vintage cars.

He did some online research that led him to believe that Tren Solar was trustworthy.

“It looked like a legit business. And one of their partners, I guess they call it on the website — Panasonic — and they rated them in 2023 the best installer in the region,” Dutton recalled.

He moved forward with the job and signed a loan with Mosaic.

“They installed the panels within three days,” Dutton said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is cool. They weren’t kidding, four to eight weeks.’ Then, it was radio silence.”

After three months of Dutton’s constant calls to Tren Solar, an electrician finally showed up to wire the system to supply power to the auto body shop and home — without an approved plan from Cooperative Energy to do so.

“These two jobs should not have been installed by Tren Solar, because they didn’t make it past the initial utility review stage,” the utility company’s Blackledge told Fox 8. “The installation method used has created multiple potential safety hazards.”

Blackledge added that Tren Solar waited till after the panels were installed to reach out to Cooperative Energy for permission to do the installation. When Blackledge reached out to Tren Solar to follow up, he was never able to reach anyone.

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The disappearance of Tren Solar

Fox 8 visited the Tren Solar business address, but were told Tren Solar had closed its office months before. The company’s co-founders did not return emails or calls.

Fox 8 has since discovered multiple complaints about Tren Solar and Mosaic lodged with the Better Business Bureau.

“All of the complaints have been (regarding) the lack of customer service communication that’s been happening,” said Michael Drummond, president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Greater New Orleans.

“We’ve reached out many times through our processes. We’ve been unable to get them to respond.”

Now, Attorneys General in multiple states are suing Mosaic for deceptive trade practices.

“A government action or a government warning is definitely a red flag,” Drummond said.

How to protect yourself from shady businesses

If you’re considering a major installation on your property, like solar panels:

• Research regulations to familiarize yourself with building, fire and electrical codes and other rules designed to protect you and your home. That includes making sure you are lined up for inspections throughout the process.
• Don’t hire the first contractor you find — especially if they reach out to you through a cold call or similar type of outreach marketing. Shop around.
• Do your due diligence on the principal contractor you choose and their affiliates. Check with the Better Business Bureau, study online reviews and testimonials and don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials from your neighbors. If your contractor is legitimate, they’ll be happy to provide contacts.

If you have concerns about the installation, make sure you record all communications with the company, including times of calls, any emails or texts you received, and all bills or invoices.

If you believe you’ve been the victim of deceptive business practices, report the business to the Better Business Bureau or your State Attorney General’s Office. You can also file an online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or reach out to a local Consumer Protection Office.

If you’re attempting to recover money you spent on such an installation, you can try to send a notice of dispute to your credit card company to stop payment to the company.

You can also try to get your insurance company working on your behalf. Some insurance policies can help cover losses or damage from faulty installations. Check with your provider for more information.

Finally, you can take the company to small claims court or — if you’re dealing with a significant sum — hire a lawyer.