First4Solar Bewertungen 372

First rate company kept in touch all the way through the process
First rate equipment and the fitting engineers were very efficient and worked well cleaning up after themselves they gave me a rundown of how it all worked .
Would highly recommend First4solar

I paid over £4k over a year ago and am still waiting for installation after 9 cancelled appointments. The company rarely call back when they say they will. The excuses for failing to stick to any installation dates are an insult to anyones intelligence. Absolutely disgraceful service.

Ordered GivEnergy system end of Nov 2022.
8-12 weeks given in contract as time to install.
Took 25% deposit then heard nothing.
Sent emails and got no repsonse until I received a generic email detailing what First4Solar were doing to improve service around the end of Feb 2023.
Sadly I've seen no evidence of that improvement and it still feels like you are fobbed off each time you call or email and wait for a reply.
Did eventually get given an install date which was moved back by a week about two weeks later due to the snowy weather.
That date is also 2 months after the HIES deposit protection expires and I asked First4Solar if they would extend this; they agreed but nothing was done for over 2 weeks.
I'd had enough and called to cancel and was told to email.
I did this and followed it up with a phone call the next day having received no acknowledgement.
Got an email yesterday from the person I had been asked to email saying they were passing it to someone else to deal with (being passed from one to another and having to chase everything sums up the experience so far).
It's a real shame as the quote was very competitive but it seems like they have taken on far more work than they can now deal with as supplies start coming through (as evidenced by wholesalers).
I now wait to see if the full deposit is returned within 14 calendar days.

Update 1: 23rd March
Received a call from Keely apologising for experience, explaining what they are doing to improve service and to see if there is anything they can do to change my mind.
Decided to continue with cancellation and refund and advised this would be handed to their accounts department and that they would aim to refund within the 14 days (I noted again that this is days, not working days). Will update again when refund received or 14 days is elapsed.

Update 2: 1st April
Not heard from accounts department despite chasing for updates during the week.
The promise of getting this refund sorted before the 14 days is up looks like it will be missed (as refund due by Monday 3rd April).
Let’s hope the refund is at least made by the due date otherwise the credit card company will have to get involved.

Update 3: 4th April
A couple more calls and promises of a refund on the 14th calendar day were broken. Daniel did call back this morning, as he promised the night before, and made the refund whilst on the phone. However it might take 2 or 3 days to appear in my account which will be several days after the contractual deadline.

First4Solar habitually make promises that they don’t deliver on and consistently fail to respond to emails or phone calls. When you do speak to someone it feels like you are being fobbed off and in my experience, that’s because you are.

Update 6th April
Refund received.

Update 13th April
My review was flagged by First4Solar as containing harmful or illegal content and not visible to others for the last few days. This flag has now been cleared by TrustPilot after completing their review process but the content of the review is the same (plus this update).
I was asked on the call on 23rd March to delete this review but said I would update it as and when things changed. This is what I have done, so at least I keep to my word.

I am starting my journey with First4Solar so wanted to document this from A to Z. I came across their website on the Sunday whilst investigating Givenery batteries (they showed as top 1 in ad's - must pay google a lot to rank 1). Pinged them a request for a quote and I got an email back on the same Sunday night, from a real human being, that had an email signature that actually worked at the company. This was a major plus compared to previous solar quotes (solar is the wild west currently). After 2 days of dialogue and prompt/positive response from a sales perspective they have done an excellent job. I have noted on another Trustpilot reviews that they do not have a HEIS certificate so I checked with them on this point. They provide a link to HEIS website that verified they are registered. Best to ask them for this link when requesting a quote for your own piece of mind. I also notice that there are many Trustpilot reviews that after the deposit is paid the installation process goes on a 'go slow' so I am concerned about their solar system delivery commitment. They have advised a lead time of 12 weeks, which I assume means total job completed. Today they have a high ranking from myself based on 4 days sales support and supporting information. Part 2 is yet to be reported on.

Part 2
Have heard back from HEIS as follows:
As per our terms of membership, we conduct both annual audits and regular reviews of our members. Whilst this takes place, we temporarily remove them from our website. I can confirm that Tanrec are still members of our scheme.

Part 3:
Received the necessary POA form from First4Solar to give them authority to contact Western Power on my behalf for the Solar system I have signed up to. They will now process this and arrange for the necessary survey of our property - All good and as expected.

Part 4:
Starting to get a little nervous. I signed and submitted my agreement for the solar install quotation on the 22nd March. Confirmation message says I will here from HEIS confirming my deposit is safe with them within next 10 days. 10 days is tomorrow (1st Apr)- Saturday. I am doubtful I will get anything from them tomorrow. Stay tuned. Continuation: Made noise to first4soloar management same p.m. and got some positive com's activity yesterday evening. They have until mid/late next week to demonstrate all is still good. Pleased to advise that today (Sunday 02/04) I have received my insurance certificate from HIES.

Part 5:
Has been around 3+ weeks now. Still waiting to get that phone call from a Surveyor to advise they would like to come and visit our property to take a survey for the install. Stay tuned - Will let you know if I am contacted within 30 days of placing my order and making a deposit. Continued... 1 week later. Still waiting for a call/contact from a surveyor. Comm's at first4solar needs revisit as it is missing in their sales delivery. Stay tuned. They have 2 more weeks before I check out of this deal. It is now 2 weeks later and still no contact from a surveyor to arrange for a property survey.

Seems First4Solar just went into Liquidation!
Dear Sir/Madam,

We are writing to you as you have contracted with First4Solar (Tanrec Ltd). As you may be aware the business has recently experienced some difficulties and after discussions with the Directors of the company, they have confirmed they are in advanced discussions with another HIES member, who is looking to purchase the company’s assets including its order book and who would complete all the outstanding contracts, i.e., at no additional cost to you than that in your original contract. We anticipate that a conclusion to the discussion will be reached by next week, therefore we will update you by Friday 19th May 2023.

....

Well things went well at the beginning, had a good customer experience until I paid the deposit. I was asked by my local building regulation team to check they were part of the competent persons scheme and could sign off with regards to building regulations. I sent an email also to ask for, conformation of an installation date , I rang, they always answered, never ever rang back with the answer they promised .Over five weeks , I started getting worried and gave an ultimatum that I would cancel my order if no one replied. No reply came, I contacted Heis who advised sending a recorded delivery letter and email it, so I did 10 days ago So far I've had no reply and at 14 days Heis will be getting involved to get my deposit back. This company has at the very least a real problem with administration, they have lost my confidence, if they are like this now, what will they be like about installing my system?.

This is a review based on their call answering. They answer calls very promptly, and will even respond to concerns out of hours. I may have to write a different review on their ability to actually respond to those concerns, and it might not be so positive, but I thought I ought to recognise their excellent call answering service, as it is better than most companies.

I ordered my storage battery (GivEnergy) October 2022 and was given a twenty week lead time for fitting. I was kept informed throughout and had my battery fitted beginning of March 2023. The fitters did an excellent job, they were very professional, neat and tidy and helpful. I would highly recommend ‘First 4 Solar’
Simon from Burnley

I rarely write reviews and do not like to be critical but this company is by far the worst company that I have ever known, here are the issues in chronological order:
1. Surveyor made the report and then failed to hand it in for 3 months. When I contacted them to see what the hold up was they replied "oh yeh he has a habit of that, just keeping hold of his surveys, means we can't do the plan". No one thought to ask him for his plans until I contacted them.
2. No one turned up on the day of installation despite half a dozen phone calls from me to Jake who promised they were coming. We had taken a day off work for this. The installation was 6 months after paying the deposit. The sales dept initially said 6 weeks for installation
3. The installers arrived the next day, no scaffolding had been ordered. Local company managed to come mid afternoon. Installers were good and waited (maybe this is why they don't get to peoples houses on the day they promise). Next week scaffolding company kept calling me as they had not been paid First4Solar. They kept asking me how they could get their money, I explained all the problems I had had with them, scaffolding company said they would have to take First4Solar to small claims court - not sure how this progressed but scaffolding was removed a week later.
4. Installers criticised the company about supplies, organisation and lies to them. Installers themselves were good.
5. No battery, promised the following week. This was 6 months ago. I'm still waiting.
6. Date given for battery. I called day before they promised someone was coming. No one turned up. Spoke to Jake who seems to be the only person who knows what's happening, yet nothing does happen. He said my name wasn't even on the paperwork. He gave me another date, 2 months later.
7. I phone check the date, they confirm installation of the battery. Jake calls night before to cancel. Said he would call back after speaking to the director. He has not called. I've called no response. A promise that he would call. Still waiting on the call.
DO NOT GO NEAR THIS COMPANY. ONE YEAR OF ENDLESS PHONE CALLS. CANCELLED APPOINTMENTS. Useless.

J Laven

This is a much changed update on a previous review I did of First4Solar which reflects my experience of talking with the MD David Hawks and of the excellent service they delivered by managing to deliver a 9.5 kw battery and its inverter within 24 hours on a drive from Southampton to Ayrshire via Wakefield so well done First4Solar.

I was aware from friends of mine who run commercial solar that batteries and other components had become virtually impossible to obtain because of the sanctions being placed against China which caused long delays in the supply line - thankfully this now seems to have been resolved and F4S now has plenty of equipment in stock. David also told me that the company has dramatically increased the size of its staff and they are working to catch up with the backlog as fast as they can and the company has virtually stopped advertising because it could not keep up with the thousands of enquiries being received every week.

What they have also started doing since February is issueing a newsletter to keep clients up to date with installations, etc, which I think is a positive step.

Nobody could have foreseen the supply issue or the dramatic rise in energy prices leading to an equally dramatic demand for power batteries, etc, but now that David has explained the situation to me I beieve that the company has weathered the storm and can now see light at the end of the tunnel!

As I said I now have my battery and inverter and David is confident that the system will be installed and running within the next 3/4 weeks so I'll give an update after it's been running for a couple of weeks and for anybody with solar you should really check out the Octopus Flux tarrif!

Hi First 4 Solar
Experience is getting worse so far.

Keeley. Please contact me ASAP to arrange a refund.

Look forward to a swift response and follow up. Appreciated.

Unfortunately I ordered my system from first4solar April last year but still no battery or panels fitted. I have now asked for my money back but had no reply which doesn't really surprise me, After getting your deposit they are not very good on communications.

First4solar please can you give back all the money you have taken off me and all the other people on here who are waiting for their monies.

This is a revised review following the installation and our extremely poor aftercare experience. In a nutshell, 7 incorrectly positioned panels and major concerns about the quality of the electrical installation. Zero contact from First4Solar/Tanrec following our repeatedly raising thesr concerns and eventually registering complaints. Read on for our tale of woe:
We commissioned 13 solar panels and 3 battery installation from First4Solar/Tanrec last year as part of a group discount scheme claiming to offer 10% off the price. We had an initial survey done which cost £50 and this was taken off the final invoice once we paid in full. We paid a 10% deposit. The install was meant to happen the first two weeks of January 2023, but no-one came or contacted us and I had to ring several times without a call back before I was eventually told there were difficulties with getting scaffolding. A new installation date was arranged for February and they duly arrived with contracted scaffolding and the electrics were done along with battery installation. Unfortunately the wrong roof tile clips had been ordered so another date for 5 days ahead was arranged to put the panels up. The installers came again (by now I had put a holiday on hold to be there), and tile clips still hadn't arrived so the guys went away again. 2 weeks passed and after several unreturned calls to ask what was happening, a new date was arranged to complete installation. In the event, they didn't arrive till lunchtime and we had to call to try and find out what was happening and if they were still coming. The men worked all afternoon in the freezing rain and on into the dark evening to complete the job. The next day we were called and talked through how to look at the app and see our panels functioning. The scaffolding then stayed up for several weeks after the job was completed despite our repeated calls to request it be removed which was annoying and inconvenient. I understand the contracted scaffolding company were in dispute with First4Solar and we were stuck in the middle. Scaffolding was eventually taken down as a goodwill gesture by the scaffolding firm because a disabled relative of ours required access to our home. What is more annoying is that once it came down, it became obvious that the panels had been installed in the wrong configuration. Instead of 7 panels facing south, and 3 facing east, we had 7 facing east and 3 facing south. An email and registered letter with photos of complaint were evidently ignored, as no-one has contacted us to discuss this. Repeated calls requesting a call back resulted in us finally speaking to Theo Bacon, who agreed the panels didn't match the proposed plans and also commented that the cabling between the panels was exposed on the roof and 'wasn't ideal'. (A quick google suggests this can cause issues, with potential water ingress). He told us he would speak to the boss and call us back that day or the next. No call back came. Further emails were sent by us, subsequently with our drone images of the roof and panels. Still no call back, and our calls to ask to speak to Theo were not returned. Fast forward a week and we were told Theo couldn't deal with it and management needed to be involved and were handed to a Jake Hughes. He gave us hope by saying yes the panels needed to be reconfigured and yes the cabling needed to be relocated in the loft as water can get in, and he would speak to someone else and call us back by 4pm that afternoon. Well that was weeks ago and guess what? Still no contact, despite several further calls from us to the office to ask for Jake to call us back. Now in the interim, we've had two independent qualified electricians come to look at installing an EV charger and it would appear that there are several issues and concerns with the way the electrics have been set up with the electricity meter, making this non compliant with the requirements of the National grid. Needless to say, we've made a further formal complaint about this new matter, but have zero confidence that any remedy will be offered. We have now reported the company to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to request they take it up on our behalf. Failing satisfactory resolution we will head to the small claims court.
My conclusion: I wish we'd never got involved with First4Solar/ Tanrec. I understand there are issues with manpower and supply chains everywhere however the communication both pre and especially post installation has been appalling. I was pleased with the overall price initially but am now wondering if it was really worth it and how much this is all going to cost to put right.

On Friday 25 November 2022 I joined the weary ranks of First4Solar customers and ex-customers in being less than complimentary on Trustpilot about the service I had received from this outfit. My negative experience fell well short of some of the bad experiences that this company perpetrate and I am now one of the lucky ones who have something but have no idea how well it works.
I am a very old man but that is a poor excuse for being taken in. I thought I had done adequate research before committing to this company but I had failed to check Companies House register,
In my previous Trustpilot report I purposely avoided making recommendations and confined my comments to my direct experience of items that could be verified by an independent party.
The above Trustpilot report challenged First4Solar claims about not using sub-contractors; actively seeking to satisfy customer requirements; the promised lead times from deposit to installation and the length of time to complete installations. I also observed that they were an indifferent national enterprise seeking to build a business on a network of small sub-contractors and I still stand by that observation. The quality of their output can only be as good as the sub-contractors they deploy.
In addition, I inferred doubts about First4Solar being a family business and here I was wrong, There is the owner who operates a holding company, there is a son who is a working director and there is also a daughter who has a job in the business. At one time the owner's wife was also a director but now long resigned. So it is definitely a family business. However, and perhaps more importantly, this 'family business' is also the latest iteration of a series of dissolved enterprises involved with the solar supply industry. Previous enterprises being Solar Europa Global Ltd., Solar Europa Ltd., Afan Valley Solar Ltd. and Green Team Ltd..
Turning to more recent experience, On Monday 28 November some three days (Sat & Sun included) after my Trustpilot report a man turned up on our doorstep, unannounced and uninvited. He claimed that he was the owner of Tanrec Ltd (the parent company). He said that he had just driven 200 miles to better understand the nature and cause of my criticism. He gave my wife a bottle of wine. In his pitch he asked me to take account of the fact that he was suffering from a mild form of a named illness, that 52 households depended on the success of First4Solar and that he had hopes of a third child joining the business. Because I had a vested interest I noted that there was no reference to existing customers needing the company to survive in his 'hearts-and-flowers' pitch. He then listened to my account with little interruption and at the end he said that he wanted the company to give me a solar storage battery. I declined this offer but during a tour of my home we agreed (by handshake) that a mutual exchange where I provided cash plus my unwanted and unused Zappi in return for a battery at discount price. I also agreed to take down my Trustpilot report which was about poor communication rather than anything else. This has all been confirmed in a text message from him on his mobile phone on Tuesday 29 November 2022.
Since then the customary silence from First4Solar - their standard mode. I sent a text to the owner on 16 February 2023 because I wanted to develop a strategy for future investment in energy supply and I needed guidance.
No fool like an old fool and my advice to potential solar customers is check Trustpilot before handing over a deposit to anyone!

Again not able to give no stars after following EVM YouTuber as they said part of the refund thing.
Was waiting for the money for my order using charge back.
AVOID.
I would also check the company now trying to rent properties to people !

AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!
Same as most of the other reviews, I paid my deposit in August and I was told 12-14 weeks maybe earlier as it’s a bungalow.
24 panels and 2 batteries with eps
I wasn’t in a rush but I was told it was delayed due to disruptions in supplies which I could understand and didn’t mind. I was called out of the blue to arrange installation (a 3day job) for the 20th of February. I had not heard anything leading up to that week so I called to ask why no one had asked for my second payment (they split the payments into 3, deposits, before install and final payment)
And I was told on Friday before the Mondays installation was due that they were delayed that day due to the high winds. So I asked ok so you will be coming Tuesday “no, we need to rearrange fir another time”.
Now I was frustrated as I am a business owner and had to loose wages I would have earnt as well as paying out some one else to work which cost me £780. Just to make it clear I did not chase for this first install date they just called me to arrange and then don’t let me know it has cancelled. I had changed my heating to electric due to the booked installation hence my frustration. I then called everyday until I was given a new install date as the reviews all sound like this one. They finally gave me a new install date of 6th of March yesterday. I called on the Wednesday before to confirm and was told some one would be in contact Thursday or Friday to sort the scaffolding and everything was on track for the installation Monday. So Friday I get a missed called then an email cancelling the new install date AGAIN. I should have known they were outright lying as they still had not even asked fir the second payment. I doubt they have even ordered my equipment.
I replied and told them I would give them until Monday to get back to me with a guaranteed install date or I will be cancelling and contacting HIES for a refund. I have had no email no calls so I will be contacting HIES tomorrow. I would not recommend this company at all keep clear and read their reviews.
Now they are complaining to trust pilot when everything I wrote is true and can be proven.

Can't give 0 star but it should be! DO NOT USE this company. Your deposit is not secured as company not registered with HIES (the deposit underwriters) despite their misleading website statement to the contrary. Like many reviewers have stated, they took a deposit (9 months ago in my case), virtually impossible to contact, do not respond to emails/phone calls. Given installation date approx Oct 2022, then changed to 6/3/23. No contact from company, after chasing got told 3 days before they are not coming to
install. New date will be given!! I see others have had up to 4 dates given and no installation. Some now been waiting over 1 year. Companies House shows financial 'charges' against company. Will now take legal action to recover my deposit. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Took out a Platinum Maintenance package in June 2021 on the basis that it included an annual healthcheck of my Solar PV system. Paid £15 a month for 19 months, and they still wouldn't schedule a system inspection despite numerous phonecalls and emails over a 7 month period. They advised me in a phonecall that I was wrong, and that the platinum package was an insurance policy only, and didn't include an annual inspection - completely contradicting what I had been told when I took out the scheme. Lucky for me, I kept all of the correspondence.
Finally had to resort to Small Claims Court for Breach of Contract. Summary: First4Solar are ok at sales, but seriously need some work on their customer service and communications - particularly around aftersales and complaints.

This is an update after an earlier post only awarding 2 stars following an initial poor customer experience with F4S which was mainly due to a lack of clear communication on their part. I am very happy to report that our installation took place one month (4 weeks earlier than forecast) ago and we are extremely happy with the service we eventually received. The installation was carried out very well by two young, polite, professional and very helpful installers and the battery commissioning was, after initial problems, sorted very quickly after their technician spotted a problem remotely and sent the installation team back to make an adjustment. Our batteries are working well and have seamlessly integrated with our EV charger. It is also evident that the company are doing everything they can to make the customer experience a much better one and should be applauded for that. Well done and thank you for listening to my concerns at the beginning. I can now unreservedly recommend First4Solar to anyone wanting their services.

UP3: Have been contacted by the director to try and get my issues sorted. Have marked these reviews as pending while they arrange something.

Like most of the poor reviews on here, First4Solar have repeatedly missed installation dates, and I still have no working solar. I placed an order in May 2022, with a circa 3 month time to installation. The scaffolding was ready in August, and was up on my property for 15 weeks before the solar panels were installed on the roof. I am now awaiting a First4Solar electrician to finish the installation. They have given numerous installation dates, all for the electrician to not arrive. I have been in contact with First4Solar over 200 times since August, and no-one in the office knows anything, so promises a call back for that call back to not happen. I am told I am a 'priority case', and am talking directly to the director (when he rarely picks up), yet I am still no further along with my installation. The only person in the F4S office who seemed to care about customer service was Keely, but unfortunately I think she does not have the power within First4Solar to resolve my issue. I am now in contact with the HIES to try and resolve my case.

Edit 10/03/23 in response to Michael. Please review my case fully before responding. Whilst my panels are installed on the roof, they are not connected to the inverter. The inverter has been at my property in a box since November ready to be fitted, but we are awaiting a first4solar electrician to turn up over the past 4 months. The batteries are not in short supply, I can buy them with next day delivery from suppliers, and even if they are in short supply, you have had 10 months to order them. The only reason first4solar came last week was because of this bad review - to those in a similar situation as me, they respond quicker if a bad review is put on here.