Houston – 72-year-old Isable Aguirre lives off social security in his house of more than 15 years in Northside Village. He cannot read or write, only speaks Spanish, and is also dealing with memory loss.
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His stepson, Oscar Garcia, believes this may have been why he was targeted by a group of solar panel salesmen back in 2023.
“Even if you come to his house and tell him, hey, sign this and sign that, he will sign it,” said Garcia. “And then next time he’s like, ’what did I sign?‘"
Aguirre said he does not remember consenting or signing to buy any solar panels.
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“I clearly told them I didn’t want that, and they ran away,” said Aguirre.
Garcia believes his stepfather may have been swindled.
“They were telling him something about that, I think Medicaid was going to pay for them or his social security was going to pay for them,” said Garcia.
The panels have been installed on Aguirre’s house since 2023, but are currently locked because no payments have been made on them, according to Garcia.
Because this transaction happened when Garcia wasn’t with his stepfather.
A contract Garcia shared with KPRC 2 shows the contractor is Texas Energy Resources Innovation and the loan company GoodLeap, is charging Aguirre.
According to the Better Business Bureau, GoodLeap has an A rating, but 1,039 consumer complaints have been filed against the company in the last three years.
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The company was also named in a lawsuit filed by the Minnesota Attorney General last year for deceiving consumers into taking out loans for solar panels.
KPRC 2 has reached out to GoodLeap, and we are waiting to hear back.
Protecting Texas consumers
According to a report from the nonprofit Texas Appleseed, solar panel scams have seen an uptick in the last few years.
The same report states that the number of solar-related complaints with the Texas Attorney General’s Office went up 818% from 2018 to 2023, with many of the practices targeting older Texans and non-native English speakers.
State lawmakers are currently considering a number of bills related to solar.
This includes House Bill 1640, which, if passed, would require public utility commissions to create a consumer guide for home solar systems.
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Another bill, Senate Bill 1036, would require those who sell solar panels to register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. It would also prohibit salespeople from making any misleading claims.
What to watch out for
The Federal Trade Commission said these transactions could start off as a phone call, a social media message, or a knock on the door.
To protect yourself, the FTC said to keep these things in mind:
- There are no “free” or “no cost” solar panel installations, and the government does not install solar panels for free
- Legitimate businesses will not pressure you to act immediately and pay upfront
- Protect your personal information. Be cautious about sending your name, address, or other personal information through social media or online.
Has this ever happened to you? Contact KPRC 2’s Jaewon Jung at jjung@kprc.com.