Solar Bear

Don’t use Solar bear

Both me and my neighbor went with Solar. He went with Sunrun and I went with Solar Bear. I was promised a zero solar bill six months later there’s never been a zero solar bill. My neighbor who went with sun run he has zero solar bill Solar Bear will promise you everything but they cannot deliver. I should’ve gone with Sunrun from Costco. He’ll tell you about the credit they’ll tell you about their app not working correctly they’ll tell you about the reason why the Sun is working correctly . It’s a position of the sun during the summer on and on. Trust me don’t go with Solar Bear you’ll be wasting your time and money don’t do it. Don’t use this company I live in Royal Palm Beach

system do not perform as promised

DO NOT USE SOLAR BEAR FOR ANYTHING First it took forever for themto comeout and install the system (the only good part) thenthe rewired my dryer wrong twice. when you complain they will balckhole you faster than you can believe. THEY DONT RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS EMAILS AND I AM STILL WAITING ON A TEXT DONT USE THEM

Unkept Promises/Won’t even respond

Installed in 3/8/21 -Was quoted for a CHILICON system to interact with my Generac -Emphases system was installed instead - After questioning the capabilities of the emphases system, the quoted CHILICON system was installed months later 4/2/21 issues to address CHILICON system - Everyone blames the salesman (culture of the company) - 6/27/21 received email from John Moncada (salesman) stating Chilicon inverters have shipped. - 8/30/21. Email to John Moncada expressing dissatisfaction with install not completed. - 10/7/21 received text from 727-202-5441, not sure who this is any longer. “Hi Mr. Ogas, just wanted to reach out to you to let you know I have not gotten an answer on the chillicon system that you need. I apologize, Brian the electrician has not been working due to family issues. As soon as I find out I will get in contact with you! Thank you and have a good night” - 10/21/21 system switched to CHILICON 7 months after identified by Bo Mcglaughlin - After install, numerous issues. - Not all panels were recognized - Array was out or order on display - Was not commissioned correctly - 10/22/21 Brian Cote plan was to split inverters up and pull wire from roof to combiner. Rain delayed to 10/25. - 10/26/21 Brian Cote showed up. Got most panels to produce but was short 3 panels. Opened case with CHILICON and set up a telephone consult next week. - 11/2/21 text Brian for status: Response - Hey, sorry, Friday, believe its 10am-12am. Friday 100%. Look at email when off road and confirm times. We are bringing a tablet and doing virtual troubleshooting with manufacturers - 11/8/21 Bo Mcglaughlin out to fix panels not recognized; ran over bush in flower pot. Provided receipt as instructed but not reimbursed. - 11/18/21 text Brian for status: Response - New inverter is ordered. Hopefully will be in tomorrow or Monday. Soon as in will get Willie out to install - 12/6/21 requested update: Hey Brian, it's been almost 3 weeks. Any status on the parts install and completion? No response. - 1/7/22 requested update: Hi Brian, this is getting ridiculous. I sent this text over a month ago and have called multiple times to the front office. You told me to contact you direct but you fail to respond. What does it take to get customer service out of Solar Bear? - 1/10/22 Willie working to resolve now. - 1/11/22 text Willie letting him know: Hey Willie, Dan Ogas here. Just letting you know two more panels showed up for a total of 33 out of 35. - 2/14/22. James now working on system. Text Willie to ask if he had the Chilicon map for James to work with. Willie text back with map but recommended James survey for a new map. - 2/18/22. Chris requested last 3 months of my electric bills for reimbursement. Never received any compensation. - 2/25/22 James Ok. I am gonna get the layout made for you. I'm not sure if I have to come back to your house to do it or if I can use an app. I will get with CHILICON and go from there. Then we will be able to see exactly what is and isn't working and know where the issue is if any. I will get back to you on Monday with my findings. - 3/1/22 James: Hey I'm sorry I did not contact you yesterday I did not have the opportunity to get with chillicon but I will have time today for sure I will get with you by the end of the day - 3/7/22 James: Ok I'm gonna get you put on my schedule now. - 3/9/22. James shows, no results ordered parts - 3/31/22 text James for status. Response- I will have to get with my scheduler and see if that part came in yet. I'll get back with you tomorrow with more info. No follow-up - 4/6/22 text from James with response from Chilicon that part did not show up. Ordered once again. - 4/28/22 text to James for status. Response - Yes sir. I will email them again right now. - 5/3/22 Text to James for status - 5/6/22 Text to James for status: Response - I'm trying man I reached out to chillicon and I'm waiting to hear back from them again this is the third time I've contacted him they do not have seem to have their things in order over there. Every time I call it's the same exact guy who answers like he's running the show out of his garage and never had answers for me. Maybe if you call as a customer you can get a little further it's been days now since they were supposed to call me back - 5/17/22 text James for status update: Response - No sir. I will speak with Blake and let him know the situation and see how he wants to handle it. I will get back to you. I got authorized to purchase a micro inverter for you. I will call my supply house and get it put on will call and have my girls in the office schedule you for install and I will text you as soon as I have the date for that service. - 5/25/22. James installs new inverter and system is finally at full potential. 1 year and 3 months later. - Multiple visits from techs that didn’t understand the system (wasted resources) - Communication is a huge issue. No one talks to each other. Notes aren’t passed on and the next guy has to start from scratch and blames the last guy. (Culture) - New problem started when I had a new roof installed - Panels were removed in Sep and had to pay $3500 to have panel reinstalled. Was overcharged according to contract. - Panel came off 8/26/22 and were put back on 9/23/22. Nothing worked after reinstall - Called and requested support numerous times. - 10/25/22 finally came out and with CHILICON support was determined system wasn’t recommissioned correctly. Installers fault. Solar Bear agreed to install something they know nothing about just to get the business. Connected to AC power before inverters fully booted. Was able to get 3 of 35 panels to work. - 11/9/22 After numerous calls for status update, came out again unannounced while I was in AZ. Tech didn’t know any of the issues and said he was sent a text message the night before to go out and fix my issue. He showed up unannounced and didn’t know why he was there. I had to explained as best I could and he did what he could but because CHILICON is 3 hours behind, wasted resources again. Nothing solved. Not techs fault, management at fault for sending tech out without knowing the issues. - 11/21/22 after numerous calls finally got through for status update. Was told someone would be out on 11/22. Another unannounced visit had I not called for update. (Culture). I reminded Chris to not send anyone out before 11 since CHILICON would not be open. Like that was my job to remind him. - 11/22/22 Tim Coffey shows up (different guy) and again starts from scratch. Says he’s the fix it guy and will have me up and running. When I tried to explain some of the issues, he was dismissive. He eventually worked with CHILICON customer support after assessing the system. Nothing was solved. It was at that time CHILICON asked for pictures (Case number 00194468 from previous attempts to fix) - Was told by Tim they would escalate to engineering at CHILICON. Tim gave me his number and told me I was to work with him and to allow some time to get something done. - 11/29/22 Tim text me asking for my address. - 12/1/22 I text Tim requesting an update. Never responded. - Called Chris, office manager, no answer and cannot leave voicemail (typical) Reached out to the office to request refund on panel install per contract. Spoke with customer service and said refund will have to escalated to owners and should be in a form of a check. I asked if Chris was there and when asked to speak with him he said he didn’t want to tie up the main line and would call me from his cell. Still waiting on that call so I reached out to John Keith an owner as well as Blake Ambrester. - 12/2/22 Reached out to John Keith through email. Will S called me yesterday around 7pm. Asked how he could help as John Keith reached out to him after he got my email. - Also got an email from Keith after he received the email and then got a text from Blake Ambrester owner 727-542-8929 - 12/3/22 Spoke with Blake Ambrester on issues and said he would make it right. Will bring in a CHILICON expert; will refund lost expenses. - Emailed Will S notes - I got my phone records to research how many times I called Chris L. - 12/5/22 spoke with Chilicon and verified nothing has been done with them since last call 3 weeks earlier. - 12/7/22 Text Blake for status that was promised on 12/5. Responded same day: he is expecting a call from Chilicon same day. Par for the course on response. - 12/13/22 Tim Coffey Determined Dead inverters with Chilicon. No neutral from hub on roof back to box. Incorrectly installed. Chilicon say they need neutral to communicate. Regardless if no lights then inverters are not working. Ran neutral back to box and rebooted. Same two inverters recognized. Tim said SB locating enphase inverters; 25 in warehouse and finding the remainder. First time up on hanger roof. Verified new panel was installed. Noticed roof damage took pictures and let installer know. Said shingle had laid back down and sealed. 12/21/22 Called left message with Chris on refund. Spoke with Lori front office. Asked for status of refund. She emailed person who handles (Aurora) refunds for status and will call me when she has status. She also informed me there wasn’t anything in the notes about a refund requested 12/1/22. Spoke with Lori customer service. Asked for Chris after hold, was told Brent would reach out for me next week for install. Chris didn’t get on the line. Asked about refund and was told was submitted last week and is taking 2 weeks to process so should be another week before I see something. 1/11/23 Patricia said Aurora was out of town for the past two weeks and maybe just getting to the refund. She just re-requested a refund for 3500 and will need to email her direct for the electric bills to reimburse as the owner Blake promised Emailed electric bill from sept install and also previous 3 sent to Chris L. 1/18/23 called and left message, spoke with Patricia. She received the bills and are going over them. 2/2/23 called left message for Patricia about refund status. 2/7/23 no response from Patricia as of this date. 2/8/23 emailed Patricia, responded with it takes 30 day minimum for refund approval. 3/3/23 emailed Patricia for status and asked about panel wash. No response 3/7/23 called and spoke with Lori. Scheduled panel cleaning, see text message. 3/10/23 received email from Patricia check was mailed out. 3/11/23 received check. 3/13/23 sent email to Patricia questioning the amount as it did not include electric bill reimbursement for loss of use as promised by Blake Ambrester (owner). When questioned she stated she was only doing what she was told. I pressed her to look into it but as usual, they will wait to see if I go away. I left a voicemail for the owner Blake Ambrester. Will update as needed. What a nightmare company. I do not recommend but am stuck with them now. You don’t have to be. Next step is arbitration as that is part of their contract and will not allow law suit

My negative impression of Solar Bear.

Your product and prices are in keeping with the industry standard. Your customer service after the sale is the worst I've ever had the displeasure of working with. Every time I had a question or concern, it took several calls before I was able to break through the wall your receptionist built around your staff. When I would finally get through to an answering system I was handed off to a different "project manager" each time, none of which were of any help, except Samantha. The story was always the same. "We're looking into that and will get back to you", which I would receive in the form of a text. No one ever did anything except pass me along to a new project manager. Again, except Samantha. My salesman, Joe, promised to be with us every step of the way. He disappeared when the sale was complete and would not answer calls or texts after that. The only person at Solar Bear who was willing to help me was and still is, is Samantha. She always responds promptly to my inquiry and repeatedly does her very best to help me with my challenges. She is my hero and I can't express enough how much help she has been or how much I appreciate her assistance.

What an awful company!

I had this company come on a friend’s recommendation. Started the process as I was moving in. There were glaring red flags, upon reflection, that had I not been so busy I’d have caught and stopped the process in its tracks. Missed appointments, no call backs, information not being relayed correctly. Just a myriad of simple details. Well, I had issues since they’ve turned it on and I can’t get a response or follow up. I finally emailed the finance company and told them if they wanted to get paid, I need a contact. Enter Samantha. Whoever this person from Solar Bear is, finds it impossible to follow through on anything. Thankfully, Enphase and the finance company are in the loop and are helping to find another solar company. Don’t use this company. If you do and your sales rep is Jeff, close the door and start making other calls. I have enough issues with Hillsborough county picking up trash regularly. I don’t need another garbage entity in my life. I wish I could give a 1/4 star. Even that would be over representing my disdain for this company.

Still getting double billed and no support from Solar Bear

Feel like we got scammed. We are paying double (still paying the utility company) for 3 months now and no support from Solar Bear. Everyone is playing the blame game. I DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE

A Horrible experience. AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!

In February 2022 Solar Bear installed solar at my home. They also re-insulated my attic. the insulation was done wrong causing damage to my air handler which led to dry wall damage. The spray foam was applied incorrectly and has encapsulated my attic completely and rendered it inaccessible. I cannot do any service to anything in my attic. my house is 50 years old and will need to be re-piped at some point, but I no longer have an attic to do that in. My home will never pass an inspection if I wanted to sell it. I have repeatedly asked Solar bear to remedy the situation, and my cries have fallen on deaf ears. They have offered to pay to fix the air handler, which I have had done, but are completely unresponsive for nearly a month. I don't want to get a lawyer involved, but what else can I do??

Giving solar industry a bad name

I had Solar Bear install new panels in two houses about three years ago. One set for myself and one for my in-laws. Since installation, it has been a growing regret. The biggest issue is the quality and reliability of their equipment (mostly the converter). In both houses, at least twice a year, the system goes down. As a result, it takes at least two weeks to get anyone out here to repair them, then to do the whole electric bill reimbursement from the weeks of being down, which is not even a guarantee as Solar Bear has been stingy even with this. This is a yearly routine, 2-3 times a year. I may have paid more into my electricity before the panels, but had a lot more reliability and consistency from the electric company. I have been noticing that the majority of these reviews in multiple sites are from recent installations which are less likely to have issues. Wait a couple of months and then the issues begin. I support green energy, but the solar industry needs more consistent equipment and an infrastructure that can reliably maintain existing installations.

Beware of this company!

I signed a contract with Solar Bear in September 2020. Panels were finally installed in June 2021, but have never been hooked up. They didn’t follow Duke Energy guidelines for what was needed to pass inspection. It has now been over 20 months that I have been making payments on a solar system that is not functional. If you are considering solar, DO NOT USE SOLAR BEAR. They have been paid in full by my finance company over a year ago, and I can’t get them to finish the work. They seem to always have an excuse. They got their money and now ignore their customers. Horrible company.

Terrible experience

Solar Bear Salesman, and Company --- The Salesman was Deceptive throughout his Representation of the Facts that Solar Bear was working with the Government to help make Solar energy affordable. There was an implied reference that the government was going to pay for 26% of the cost. (False) That the utility bill was fixed at $178.00 per month and on repeated questing reassured us, that was all, except for $30.00 per month for the new meter. (False) No other disclosure was forthcoming. When asked about the cost, stated that it was a fixed cost for 25 years that could be passed on when the house sold but that there was no documented, or lean on the house but would add value to the house Sales price. (False) He repeatedly stated that there was no down payment. (False) Still with no further Disclosure. Never did he tell us that a finance company would be involved. It seemed to us that Solar Bear was the owner as they were going to continue to do yearly maintenance and cleaning. We have no Taxable Income and the salesman was told that when he asked. To place the order, a cell Phone was used to sign the order. We were never given any document associated with the order or have any time to read what we were to sign let alone even see it on a Phone. Just sign here and then here. After months had passed, we had to call repeatedly to finally find out how we were deceived, when reading the documents that arrived approximately 30 pages. (Never seen Prior, and we would have never signed) We only thought we signed an order, not a Finance Contract that required the payment of the 26% in 18 months, that we were told the Government would pay. (Undisclosed) We were also told that we would be supplied a phone app. to be able to follow the progress of the solar panels savings. Still have not received the app. and it is now one year. The salesman now states that two people who heard the same thing and signed a document on the Phone, handed over by him, are now misrepresenting what he said. The misrepresentation was his non disclosures of all the facts. The Vice President of Sales was contacted recently who responded with a rude response, and the Owner-President, who has chosen to just ignore the fact that there is no help for the widow’s son or anyone else, said he would be in touch but now just ignores our e-mails and never answers his phone. There is no Honor!

Not satisfied with performance of our solar system

We have had our solar system in operation since July 2020. We have yet to realized the savings we were promised. Between the monthly payment to Goodleap and the electric bill, we would have been better off to keep our regular monthly bill with Duke. We were told that our neighbors trees interfered with the sun but nothing was ever done and our neighbor is a Solar Bear client as well. Our panels were to be cleaned in November, but I have no indication that was done. Our neighbors were done, but we do not know if ours were done afterward. The employee told her we were not on his list of assignments that day but he would call and check. We have emailed earlier this week requesting phone call, and no response. We have called before and our messages were not received supposedly when we followed up. The people are polite, the product seems good, but the savings we were promised have not been realized. We wish we had never gotten them.

Failed to deliver.

For details on this rating, please reference the BBB CASE#: 67503871 Summary: System is under producing. - Trim Was not done based on our agreement. images attached. (Before_trim.PNG) - Image taken before trim. Note: red marking are the areas that needed to be trimmed. (After-trim.PNG) - image of tree after the trim. Contract has been breached by Solar bear. (they are not delivering on their promise) - See images attached. You will see the "purchased system size" and what it should produce (ref- Agreement_solar bear.jpg) You will also see an image of what my system has produced. (See system-production.jpeg) highest production was in May - 685.2 KWH. Based on the highest production: 685.2 x 12 (year) = 8,222.4 KWH = 62% efficient (my system is below 62%) - I have reached the owners (Blake, Mark Desantis, Del Rio, & Adam Corsey) - They are not doing anything about my issues. Their support team also mentioned that they have done everything. After filing a complaint with the BBB - they went ahead and said they would send out who they sub contracted to do tree work, and "Ghosted" me after that. Avoid this company! Once they receive payment, you're on your own. Note: My system should be powering my home completely and still have power remaining since I added additional panels to have an offset of over 100% I am only producing half, if that, of what was promised.

Bait and switch

I was sold a solar setup and associated electrical equipment in January of 2021. 11 months into a 5 1/2 month timeline the project was considered completed in spite of Solar Bear not actually installing the equipment per the contract. I was still charged full price even with about $12k worth of work not having been completed. I was never informed that this work would not be done and it was only after going over the list of work with the installation techs that I realized that Solar Bear did not even include this work in their plans in spite of charging me for it (paid automatically via Tech CU financing). I am now out this money and Solar Bear has informed me that they have no intention of refunding this money as they don't feel they should.