The Solar Complaint Database: How to Search for Your Company

## Every Solar Complaint Is Public Record — If You Know Where to Look Before you sign a solar contract — or if you're already dealing with a problem company — the most powerful tool at your disposal is public complaint data. Every major complaint database is free to search, and together they paint a comprehensive picture of any solar company's track record. Here's your step-by-step guide to searching every major complaint database for your solar company. ## Database #1: Better Business Bureau (BBB) **What it contains:** Consumer complaints, company responses, and letter grades for businesses across the U.S. **How to search:** 1. Go to [bbb.org](https://www.bbb.org) 2. Enter the company name in the search bar 3. Select the correct company from the results (verify the address matches) 4. Click on "Customer Complaints" to see the full list **What to look for:** - Total complaint count and trend over time - Most common complaint categories - Whether complaints are resolved or unresolved - The company's response patterns — are they substantive or generic? **Pro tip:** Search for both the current company name and any former names. Companies that have rebranded (like Loanpal to GoodLeap, or Power Home Solar to Pink Energy) may have complaints under either name. ## Database #2: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) **What it contains:** Financial product complaints including solar loans, leases, and PPAs. **How to search:** 1. Go to [consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/) 2. Click "Search the full database" 3. Enter the company name in the "Company" field 4. Filter by product type if needed **What to look for:** - Complaint narratives (the full text of consumer complaints) - Company response types (closed with explanation, closed with relief, etc.) - Whether the consumer disputed the company's response - Complaint volume trends over time **Pro tip:** The CFPB database is the single best source for solar financing complaints. If your issue involves a solar loan, this should be your first stop. ## Database #3: Your State Attorney General **What it contains:** Enforcement actions, consumer alerts, investigation results, and complaint data. **How to search:** 1. Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaints" or "[your state] attorney general consumer protection" 2. Look for a searchable database or press release archive 3. Search for the company name 4. Also search for general terms like "solar" to find industry-wide actions **What to look for:** - Formal enforcement actions (lawsuits, consent decrees) - Consumer alerts or advisories - Complaint statistics by company or industry - Settlement agreements and their terms **Pro tip:** Some states publish complaint volume data by company. California, Texas, Florida, and New York are particularly good about this. ## Database #4: State Contractor Licensing Board **What it contains:** Contractor license status, disciplinary history, and consumer complaints about workmanship. **How to search:** 1. Search "[your state] contractor license lookup" or "[your state] contractor license verification" 2. Enter the company name or their contractor license number (found in your contract) 3. Review the license status and any disciplinary history **What to look for:** - Is the license active and in good standing? - Are there any disciplinary actions on file? - Does the license cover the type of work being performed? - Are there pending complaints? **Pro tip:** In California, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) maintains one of the most comprehensive databases. Search at [cslb.ca.gov](https://www.cslb.ca.gov). ## Database #5: Federal Court Records (PACER) **What it contains:** Federal lawsuits including class actions, FTC enforcement actions, and bankruptcy filings. **How to search:** 1. Go to [pacer.uscourts.gov](https://pacer.uscourts.gov) 2. Create a free account 3. Use the PACER Case Locator 4. Search by party name (the company) **What to look for:** - Class-action lawsuits (you may be an eligible member) - FTC or CFPB enforcement actions - Bankruptcy filings - SEC actions (for publicly traded companies) ## Database #6: State Court Records **What it contains:** State-level lawsuits, small claims cases, and local enforcement actions. **How to search:** 1. Search "[your state] court case search" 2. Enter the company name as a party 3. Review civil cases for consumer complaints and breach of contract claims **What to look for:** - Volume of lawsuits filed against the company - Types of claims (fraud, breach of contract, negligence) - Outcomes — did cases settle or go to judgment? ## Database #7: Google and Yelp Reviews **What it contains:** Customer reviews, both positive and negative, with detailed descriptions. **How to search:** 1. Search the company name + "reviews" on Google 2. Filter to most recent reviews 3. Focus on detailed 1-star and 2-star reviews 4. Check Yelp, SolarReviews, and EnergySage for additional data **What to look for:** - Patterns in negative reviews matching BBB complaint themes - Recent reviews indicating whether problems are improving or worsening - Responses from the company — are they substantive or dismissive? ## How to Interpret What You Find **Green flags:** - Low complaint-to-customer ratio - Complaints that are resolved to customer satisfaction - No AG enforcement actions - Active, current contractor license - Recent negative reviews are isolated and don't show patterns **Yellow flags:** - Moderate complaint volumes with recurring themes - Company responses that are generic or defensive - Consumer alerts (but no formal enforcement) - Some unresolved complaints **Red flags:** - High complaint volumes with clear patterns - AG enforcement actions or lawsuits - Bankruptcy filings or financial distress indicators - License suspensions or disciplinary actions - Multiple name changes in recent years ## Take Action on What You Find Research is only valuable if you act on it. If your search reveals concerning patterns: - **Before signing:** Get quotes from other companies and compare - **After signing, within cancellation period:** Exercise your cancellation rights immediately - **After signing, past cancellation period:** Document your issues and understand your state-specific options [Get a free, no-obligation contract review at BreakYourSolarContract.com](https://breakyoursolarcontract.com) to have your specific situation assessed based on your research findings and contract terms.