"Qualified Solar Survey" Robocalls: Scam Alert and Protection Guide

You answer a call from an unknown number. A recorded voice or live operator claims to be conducting a "Qualified Solar Survey" to determine if your home is eligible for solar panel installation. They ask about your roof type, electric bills, and home ownership status. Treat that as a lead-generation script unless the caller can point you to an official program page and written terms you can verify independently.

Quick answer: a "qualified solar survey" call is usually a lead-generation or robocall script, not a government solar eligibility check. Do not answer qualification questions, press keypad options, or share utility, credit, or identity details. Save the call log or voicemail, block the number, and report unwanted telemarketing to the FTC, FCC, or National Do Not Call Registry.

How the "Qualified Solar Survey" Scam Works

The Setup

The Call Script:

"Hello! This is [Name] calling on behalf of the National Solar Survey Program. We're conducting a brief survey to identify homes that qualify for the federal solar incentive program in your area. This will only take 2 minutes, and you may be eligible for significant savings on your energy bills."

Why This Sounds Legitimate:

• References "federal" programs (implies government authority)
• "Survey" framing (sounds benign, not sales)
• "Qualification" language (suggests exclusivity)
• Brief time commitment (low pressure)
• Potential savings hook (financial benefit)

The Real Purpose

What They're Actually Doing:

Question They Ask	Information They Gather	How It's Used
"Do you own your home?"	Homeowner status	Qualifies you as sales lead
"What's your average electric bill?"	Energy usage estimate	Sizing potential system
"How old is your roof?"	Roof condition	Sales pitch preparation
"What's your credit score range?"	Financing qualification	Determines loan offers
"When are you looking to install?"	Timeline urgency	Sales priority ranking
"Who is your utility company?"	Utility territory	Installer routing

The Goal: Qualify you as a "hot lead" for solar installation companies, lenders, or home-improvement marketers, then transfer or sell your information for follow-up.

Why This Is a Scam

No Official Program by That Name

The Truth:

• No official federal "National Solar Survey Program" is listed as a consumer eligibility process
• Federal solar incentives do not require an unsolicited phone survey
• The "survey" is entirely a sales lead generation tactic
• Real government energy programs don't cold call homeowners

TCPA Violations

Illegal Practices:

• Autodialed calls to cell phones without consent
• Prerecorded messages without written permission
• Do Not Call violations (most survey calls ignore DNC registry)
• Spoofed caller ID (displays false local numbers)

Your Rights: TCPA and Do Not Call claims can carry statutory damages when the facts meet legal requirements. A consumer or TCPA attorney can evaluate whether your records support a claim.

Data Exploitation

What Happens to Your Information:

1. Immediate sale: Your data sold to 3-10 solar companies within minutes
2. Lead scoring: Answers determine how aggressively you're pursued
3. Persistent sales: Months of follow-up calls, emails, door-to-door visits
4. Data resale: Information may be sold again if you don't convert
5. Downstream marketing: Solar-related products, financing, home improvement

Red Flags: Recognizing Survey Scams

Immediate Warning Signs

🚩 "National Solar Survey Program" — No such program exists 🚩 "Federal solar qualification" — Government doesn't conduct phone surveys 🚩 "Pre-qualification" — Setting up sales pitch, not providing service 🚩 Requests for personal information — Legitimate surveys don't need your credit score 🚩 Urgency: "This survey closes today" — False pressure tactics 🚩 "Can you hear me?" — Recording your voice for fraudulent authorizations

Advanced Scam Tactics

The "Yes" Trap:

"Can you hear me okay?" or "Is this [Your Name]?"

Why It's Dangerous: Your response may be used to keep you engaged, qualify the lead, or support later pressure tactics. Avoid confirming personal details with unknown callers.

The One-Question Hook:

"Quick question: Do you pay more than $100 a month for electricity?"

The Strategy:

• Low commitment (just one question)
• Everyone qualifies ("Yes" leads to more questions)
• Establishes conversation rhythm
• Harder to hang up after engaging

The Prize Tease:

"Complete this survey and you'll be entered to win a $500 gift card!"

The Reality:

• Prizes rarely materialize
• Information gathered worth far more than prize value
• Often no actual prize drawing occurs
• Creates false reciprocity obligation

How to Protect Yourself

Never Engage

The Golden Rule: Hang up immediately. Don't press buttons. Don't answer questions. Don't say "yes."

Why Engagement Is Dangerous:

• Any interaction flags your number as "responsive"
• Voice responses can be recorded and misused
• Questions are designed to gather data
• Politeness costs you privacy

Block and Report

Immediate Actions:

Action	How to Do It
Block number	Use your phone's recent-call menu or carrier blocking tools
Report to FTC	reportfraud.ftc.gov
Report to FCC	consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
Forward texts	Send to 7726 (SPAM)

Register Do Not Call:

• donotcall.gov — allow time for registration to take effect
• Won't stop all calls (scammers ignore), but reduces legitimate telemarketing

Sources and Official References

• FTC guide to stopping unwanted calls explains call blocking, robocalls, phone scams, and Do Not Call registration.
• National Do Not Call Registry is the official FTC-managed site for registering numbers and reporting unwanted telemarketing calls.
• FTC Do Not Call Registry FAQs explains that the registry helps with lawful sales calls but does not stop scammers making illegal calls.
• FCC unwanted robocalls and texts guide covers spoofed caller ID, illegal robocalls, call blocking, and complaint options.
• FCC consumer complaint center accepts complaints about unwanted calls, texts, spoofing, and related phone issues.

Enable Call Protection

Carrier Services (Free):

• AT&T: ActiveArmor (download app or call 611)
• Verizon: Call Filter (My Verizon app or *611)
• T-Mobile: Scam Shield (#662# or app)

Third-Party Apps:

• RoboKiller: call blocking and screening tools
• Nomorobo: crowdsourced spam database
• Hiya: caller ID and spam detection

Use a Secondary Number

For Forms and Online:

• Google Voice: Free secondary number
• Burner apps: Temporary numbers for short-term use
• Never give primary number to unknown websites

If You've Already Responded to a Survey

Damage Assessment

Low Risk:

• Answered basic questions (roof type, home ownership)
• Didn't provide contact information beyond phone number
• No financial or sensitive data shared

Medium Risk:

• Provided utility account information
• Shared credit score range
• Gave email address
• Confirmed name and address

High Risk:

• Provided Social Security Number
• Shared bank account or credit card information
• Signed up for "follow-up consultation"
• Gave utility login credentials

Recovery Steps

For Medium Risk:

1. Monitor accounts: Check utility, bank, credit card statements weekly
2. Credit monitoring: Consider free credit monitoring service
3. Expect sales calls: Prepare to block aggressively
4. Watch for phishing: Scammers may use gathered info for targeted phishing

For High Risk:

1. Credit freeze: Immediately freeze credit with all three bureaus
2. Bank notification: Alert banks of potential fraud risk
3. Utility security: Change utility account passwords
4. Identity monitoring: Sign up for identity theft protection
5. Fraud alert: Place fraud alert on credit reports
6. Report identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov

Reporting and Fighting Back

Document Violations

Keep Records:

• Screenshot caller ID
• Note date, time, and phone number
• Record call if legal in your state (inform caller)
• Save voicemails

Legal Action Options

TCPA Lawsuit: You can sue for $500-$1,500 per illegal call:

• Consult TCPA attorney (many work on contingency)
• Class action potential if widespread
• No upfront costs with contingency arrangement

Small Claims Court:

• File against calling companies if identifiable
• Seek damages for harassment
• Typically $50-$200 filing fee

Help Stop the Scam

Report Every Call:

• FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
• FCC: consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
• State Attorney General: Consumer protection division
• Better Business Bureau: bbb.org

Warn Others:

• Post on neighborhood forums
• Share on social media
• Tell friends and family (especially seniors)
• Report to local news consumer segments

Legitimate Solar Research

Real Resources

If you're genuinely interested in solar:

Resource	What They Offer	Cost
NREL	Technical guides, calculators	Free
Energy.gov	Federal program information	Free
State energy offices	Local incentive information	Free
Utility websites	Net metering details	Free
Licensed installers	Quotes and assessments	Free quotes

How to Research Safely:

• Visit official websites directly (don't click links from calls)
• Use Google Voice for quote requests
• Read reviews on multiple platforms
• Verify licenses independently

Key Takeaways

1. No official eligibility check: Treat "Qualified Solar Survey" as a lead-generation script
2. Never engage: Hang up immediately on survey calls
3. Don't authorize by phone: Wait for written terms from a verified company
4. Block and report: Every call should be reported to FTC
5. Protect your information: Your data is worth money to scammers
6. Monitor if exposed: Watch accounts if you shared information
7. Legal rights may exist: Call logs and opt-out proof can support TCPA or Do Not Call complaints
8. Real research is free: Government resources don't cold call

Remember: Legitimate solar research starts with you contacting official programs, utilities, and licensed installers directly.

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Related Reading:

• Solar Spam Calls: Complete Robocall Guide
• "American Solar" Calls: Telemarketing Scam
• How to Stop Solar Robocalls: Blocking Guide

FAQ

Is a qualified solar survey real?

Usually no. "Qualified solar survey" calls are commonly lead-generation scripts, not government surveys or neutral eligibility checks. The caller is trying to qualify you as a sellable solar lead by confirming home ownership, electric bill size, roof condition, and creditworthiness.

Why should I not answer survey questions?

Every answer makes the lead more valuable. Saying you own the home, have a high utility bill, or want solar soon can route your information to multiple installers, lenders, or call centers within minutes.

What should I save if I answered a solar survey call?

Save the caller ID, voicemail, text, date, time, company name claimed, questions asked, landing page screenshots, and any follow-up calls. The solar scam evidence checklist can turn that into a usable complaint packet.

What pattern does this scam fit?

It usually fits solar telemarketing, fake government-program claims, lead-generation data resale, or unauthorized credit-prequalification. Use the solar scam pattern database to map the pitch before sharing utility, credit, or Social Security information.

How can I check the installer who contacts me afterward?

Treat the follow-up installer as separate from the survey caller. Verify its license, complaint history, physical address, and financing partner, then compare the name against the solar company fraud and scams directory.

Got blindsided by a solar deal that did not deliver?

You may have a claim — and the law may make the company that defrauded you pay your legal fees. Our 2-minute eligibility check screens for the consumer-protection statutes that apply to your situation (TILA § 130, the FTC Holder Rule, your state UDAP) and connects you with a consumer-protection attorney in our network if you qualify. Use the eligibility form to route your facts through the right intake path.

Start the eligibility review →