How to Report Solar Fraud in Florida: Agency Guide
Step-by-step guide to reporting solar panel fraud in Florida. File complaints with the Florida AG, BBB, FTC, and local authorities. Get your free case review.
How to Report Solar Fraud in Florida: Step-by-Step Agency Guide
Disclaimer: This article is informational, not legal advice. If you believe you are a victim of solar fraud, consult with a qualified attorney about your specific situation.
Florida consistently ranks among the top three states for solar fraud complaints. With over 800 active solar companies operating in the Sunshine State and more than 50,000 new installations each year, the opportunities for deceptive operators are enormous. If you have been victimized by a solar scam in Florida, you have multiple state and federal agencies ready to take your complaint.
This guide walks you through every step of the reporting process — from gathering your evidence to filing complaints with the right agencies. Each section includes direct links, what to include in your complaint, and realistic timelines for resolution.
Before You File: Gather Your Documents
What to Collect
Before filing any complaint, organize your evidence. Agencies and attorneys need specific documentation to investigate your claim effectively.
| Document Category | What to Gather | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | Full signed agreement, all addenda, financing documents | Proves what was promised vs. what was delivered |
| Communications | Emails, text messages, sales materials, recorded calls | Shows misrepresentations and false promises |
| Financial records | Invoices, billing statements, loan documents, bank statements | Documents financial harm and overcharges |
| System documentation | Installation photos, production data, inspection reports | Proves system deficiencies or non-performance |
| Advertisements | Flyers, mailers, social media ads, website screenshots | Shows misleading marketing claims |
Create a Timeline
Write a chronological summary of events including:
- Initial contact — How the company reached you (door-to-door, phone, mailer, online ad)
- Sales presentation — Date, location, what was promised, who was present
- Contract signing — Date, pressure tactics used, documents reviewed
- Installation — Date, problems observed, deviations from contract
- Post-installation — Performance issues, billing discrepancies, unreturned calls
- Current status — What is unresolved, financial impact, ongoing harm
Tip: Keep a log with dates, times, names of people you spoke with, and summaries of each conversation. This detailed record strengthens every complaint you file.
Florida Attorney General
Filing Your Complaint
The Florida Attorney General's office is the primary state agency for consumer fraud complaints. They have the authority to investigate, mediate, and prosecute companies engaged in deceptive practices under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUPTA).
How to file:
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Online | Visit MyFloridaLegal.com and use the online complaint form |
| Phone | Call the consumer hotline at 1-866-966-7226 |
| Download the complaint form and mail to the AG regional office serving your area |
What to Include in Your AG Complaint
A strong complaint includes the following elements:
- Your contact information — Full name, address, phone, email
- Company information — Full legal name, address, phone, license numbers, any DBA names
- Detailed narrative — Your chronological timeline of events (2-3 pages maximum)
- Specific violations — Reference FDUPTA violations where applicable (false claims, omissions, bait-and-switch)
- Financial impact — Total amount paid, estimated damages, ongoing costs
- Desired resolution — Contract cancellation, refund, system repair, loan termination
- Supporting documents — Attach copies (never originals) of contracts, emails, photos
Expected Timeline
| Stage | Timeline | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | 1-2 weeks | Complaint reviewed and assigned a case number |
| Acknowledgment | 2-4 weeks | You receive confirmation and case number |
| Company notification | 4-6 weeks | AG contacts the company for a response |
| Mediation attempt | 6-12 weeks | AG may facilitate voluntary resolution |
| Investigation | 3-12 months | If mediation fails, formal investigation begins |
| Action | Varies | Settlement, civil action, or referral for prosecution |
Important: Filing with the AG does not pause any contractual obligations or financing payments. Continue making payments unless advised otherwise by an attorney.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
When to File Here
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) handles consumer complaints against businesses operating in Florida. They maintain a consumer complaint database and can mediate disputes.
File with FDACS when:
- The solar company is a Florida-registered business
- Your complaint involves misleading advertising or sales practices
- You want the complaint recorded in the state's consumer complaint database
- The company failed to honor warranty or service agreements
How to File
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Online | Visit fdacs.gov and search for "consumer complaint" |
| Phone | Call 1-800-435-7352 (consumer helpline) |
| Request a complaint form by phone or download from the website |
What FDACS Can Do
- Record your complaint in the statewide consumer complaint database
- Contact the company to facilitate voluntary resolution
- Refer your complaint to other agencies if warranted
- Provide information about your rights under Florida law
- Take enforcement action against companies with patterns of complaints
Better Business Bureau Florida
Filing a BBB Complaint
The Better Business Bureau is a private organization that mediates disputes between consumers and businesses. While the BBB has no enforcement power, a complaint creates a public record and many companies respond to protect their rating.
Steps to file:
- Visit bbb.org and search for the solar company by name
- Click "File a Complaint" on the company's BBB profile
- Provide your contact information and the company's details
- Describe your complaint clearly with dates and specific issues
- State your desired resolution
- Upload supporting documents
What Happens After You File
| Stage | Timeline | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Submission | Day 1 | BBB reviews your complaint for completeness |
| Forwarding | 1-3 days | BBB sends complaint to the company |
| Company response | 14-30 days | Company asked to respond in writing |
| Mediation | 30-60 days | BBB facilitates communication between parties |
| Resolution | Varies | Accepted, rejected, or unresolved |
| Rating impact | Ongoing | Complaint becomes part of company's public BBB profile |
Why the BBB matters: Even if the company ignores your complaint, the unresolved complaint appears on their BBB profile — warning other consumers and documenting a pattern of misconduct.
Federal Trade Commission
When to Involve Federal Authorities
File with the FTC when your case involves:
- Cross-state fraud (company operates in multiple states)
- Telemarketing violations (Do Not Call list violations, robocalls)
- Financing fraud (TILA violations, undisclosed loan terms)
- Identity theft (unauthorized credit applications)
- Pattern of fraud affecting multiple consumers nationally
How to File
Visit reportfraud.ftc.gov to submit your complaint online. The FTC does not resolve individual complaints but uses them to:
- Identify patterns of fraud across the country
- Build cases for federal enforcement actions
- Refer complaints to other law enforcement agencies
- Inform policy and regulatory decisions
FTC Holder Rule
The FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR § 433) is particularly important for solar fraud victims with financed systems. It preserves your right to raise claims and defenses against the lender if the seller engaged in fraud.
What this means: If the solar company defrauded you and you financed through a third-party lender (such as GoodLeap, Mosaic, or Dividend Finance), you may be able to dispute the loan itself — not just the solar contract. Learn more about this powerful tool in our solar fraud attorney guide.
Local Law Enforcement
When to File a Police Report
Contact your local police department or county sheriff's office when your case involves potential criminal activity:
| Criminal Activity | Examples |
|---|---|
| Forgery | Your signature was forged on contracts or financing documents |
| Identity theft | Credit applications opened without your knowledge or consent |
| Theft | You paid for equipment or services that were never delivered |
| Fraudulent misrepresentation | Deliberate deception for financial gain (may be criminal fraud) |
| Trespassing | Unauthorized entry onto your property |
How to File
- Call the non-emergency line for your local police department
- Request to file a report for consumer fraud or theft
- Bring your documentation — contracts, communications, financial records
- Get a case number — you will need this for insurance claims and civil actions
- Follow up — ask about the detective or investigator assigned to your case
Why a police report matters: Even if law enforcement does not pursue criminal charges, a police report serves as powerful evidence in civil proceedings and strengthens complaints with other agencies.
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
Reporting Installer Issues
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), part of the University of Central Florida, certifies solar equipment and maintains standards for the solar industry in Florida.
File a complaint with FSEC when:
- The installer used uncertified or non-compliant equipment
- Installation does not meet Florida Building Code requirements
- The system fails to meet performance standards
- You suspect equipment substitution (cheaper panels than specified)
How to contact FSEC:
- Website: fsec.ucf.edu
- Phone: (321) 638-1000
- Email: Check the FSEC website for current contact information
Note: FSEC does not have enforcement authority but can provide technical documentation that supports complaints to other agencies.
What Happens After You Report
The Investigation Process
When you file complaints with multiple agencies, several things happen simultaneously:
| Agency | Primary Role | Possible Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| FL Attorney General | Investigation, mediation, prosecution | Settlement, civil penalties, restitution |
| FDACS | Complaint mediation, database tracking | Voluntary resolution, referral to AG |
| BBB | Dispute mediation, public record | Company response, rating impact |
| FTC | Pattern identification, federal enforcement | Federal enforcement action, industry regulation |
| Local law enforcement | Criminal investigation | Criminal charges, restitution orders |
| FSEC | Technical review | Technical findings for other agencies |
Potential Outcomes
Best outcomes:
- Full or partial refund from the company
- Contract cancellation without penalty
- System repair or replacement at no cost
- Loan modification or cancellation
- Company faces regulatory penalties
Realistic expectations:
- The process takes weeks to months, not days
- You may need to file complaints with multiple agencies
- Mediation may result in partial resolution
- Some companies ignore complaints or go out of business
- You may need legal representation for full recovery
Multiple Complaints Are More Powerful
Filing with several agencies creates a paper trail that:
- Documents the pattern — Multiple complaints against the same company trigger investigations
- Creates pressure — Companies face action from multiple directions
- Preserves your rights — Each complaint has different deadlines and statutes of limitations
- Builds your case — Agency records support future legal action
When to Contact a Solar Fraud Attorney
Signs You Need Legal Help
Consider contacting a solar fraud attorney when:
- Your losses exceed $15,000
- The company forged your signature on documents
- Your system does not work or produces far less than promised
- The company went bankrupt or stopped responding
- You are being sued by the lender for non-payment
- Your complaint with the AG did not result in resolution
- You discovered unauthorized liens on your property
- The company violated specific Florida laws (FDUPTA, home solicitation rules)
How an Attorney Can Help
| Service | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Contract review | Identify violations and illegal clauses |
| Demand letter | Formal legal demand often prompts settlement |
| FDUPTA claim | Pursue treble damages and attorney fees |
| Lender negotiation | Challenge financing under the FTC Holder Rule |
| Lawsuit filing | Pursue compensation through the courts |
| Contingency arrangements | Many attorneys work on contingency — no upfront fees |
Finding Legal Help in Florida
For more information about finding the right attorney, visit our Florida solar fraud guide or read about your legal rights against solar companies.
FAQ
How long do I have to report solar fraud in Florida?
Under Florida's FDUPTA, you generally have four years from the date the violation occurred to file a lawsuit. However, administrative complaints with the AG or FDACS can be filed at any time — though earlier is always better for evidence preservation. Criminal statutes of limitations vary by offense, typically 2-5 years for fraud-related crimes.
Do I need a lawyer to file a complaint with the Florida AG?
No. You can file a complaint directly with the Florida Attorney General's office without an attorney. The online complaint process at MyFloridaLegal.com is designed for consumers to use independently. However, if your complaint involves significant financial losses or complex legal issues, consulting with an attorney before or during the process can improve your outcome.
What if the solar company has already gone out of business?
You can still file complaints with the Florida AG, FTC, and BBB — these agencies track complaints against defunct companies and may take action if a pattern of fraud is identified. More importantly, you may have claims against the financing company under the FTC Holder Rule if your system was financed. Contact a solar fraud attorney to explore your options against the lender.
Can I stop making loan payments while my complaint is pending?
Proceed with caution. Filing a complaint does not automatically pause your obligation to make payments. Stopping payments can damage your credit and trigger collection actions. However, under the FTC Holder Rule, you may have the right to withhold payments if you have a valid fraud claim against both the seller and the lender. Consult with an attorney before stopping payments to understand the risks and proper procedures.
Will filing a complaint cost me anything?
No. Filing complaints with the Florida Attorney General, FDACS, BBB, and FTC is completely free. These agencies do not charge consumers for filing complaints. If you choose to hire an attorney, many consumer fraud attorneys offer free initial consultations and work on contingency, meaning you pay only if they recover money for you.
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. Free review, no upfront cost, no obligation.