First4Solar Reviews 372

Avoid using this company very poor not even last for solar. They sold me battery for solar panels told me install within 4 weeks they had to be chased for installation as had paid 25% deposit after numerous calls they gave me a date no one turned up no phone call no e mail text when called they blamed snow then gave me another date again no show. When phones was fobbed of by switchboard staff then after a week was informed they were having scheduling meetings after further week finally spoke to someone who told me installation next week never happened .. then phoned only for switchboard asked for my deposit back was told they would pass message on and again nothing. They fence you of and latest thing is porthole system to avoid speaking to go where you get generic message. I just said if you can fulfil my order I want my deposit back. This company have 0 integrity and my bank is going to recover my money. I dread to think if you had problems .. to be avoided

I wish I could give them less than 1 star as they deserve no star at all!!

We gave them the benefit of the doubt for the last 6 months (since my husband already wanted to cancel there and then) but it was not worth it. Absolutely avoid this company. Never been treated this poorly ever!

We purchased battery solutions by GivEnergy on 27 May 2022 and the salesperson was so good - they said we'd have it installed by June/July since it was "on the shelves" in the Cambridge warehouse. Since that day we didn't hear anything we started following up and chasing them and never got a concrete date. We called several times and they promised to call back but we got no calls or emails back. They pretty much "ghosted"all the calls and emails.

Eventually we got 15 January 2023 and when we asked if they'd still were gonna turn up as we heard nothing until we called them and they then said they have cancelled, they said they were gonna tell us which I do not believe. Same happened for tomorrow's install date for the 28th of April, We emailed and called - without a response - and finally after days got to hear nobody will come via email today. My husband and I have spent hours on calling and emailig and asking anyone to call us back since July - nobody EVER called me back. Getting emails back also never - very hardly - happened. Very annoying if you'd have to take a day off work to be home to wait for these people. Not everyone can work from home e.g. NHS staff..

Although the people I spoke to on the phone have been kind to me, I am sure they suffer as much from the position this company is in and the workpressure. The directors and people behind the company really should be ashamed of themselves letting the company and the people get into this position.

Since they have introduced the ticketing system it's impossible to speak with anyone on the phone - which makes it even more impossible to get any answers.

At the moment we have requested our money back and I just wished it hadn't come to this. This is really fraudulent behaviour and my husband and I are incredibly disappointed. I just hope we get our money back and can move on from this ordeal

Thia is the worst company I have ever engaged with. Paid my deposit in Septemeber and I've not had a single call or contact since. All communication was initiated by me numerous times to try and move things along with limited progress. Now asking for my deposit back and again no response after sending multiple emails to the relevant people. That was 8 weeks ago. Now looking into other options to get my money back after the receptionist on the phone was incredible rude (time 14:51 on the 27/4/23) which was the last straw. Avoid at all costs regardless of any positive reviews you find.

Terrible service – 11 months in and still no install, I’ve had enough and cancelled the order and asked for my deposit back on the basis of unable to honour the contract and deliver the product , despite emails and phone calls can’t even get acknowledgment of my cancelation, no response via email, phone or text. If you ring all you get is someone who takes your details and says the message will be passed on..
6 cancelled install dates having originally placed the order end of May 2022, after escalating my dissatisfaction the director, Daniel Hawkins, he stepped in to try and sort my install and terrible customer service, after a phone discussion with Daniel everything seemed very positive , I was given a new date of April 24th and assured he would be managing my install, I felt reassured.

Well it seems even the Director was unable to sort my Install I was given a date of April 24th after requesting I delete my previous negative reviews. Daniel assured me the install would definitely go ahead. Again as usual no communication/updates and no show on the day, interestingly I can no longer get hold of Daniel via text/phone or email..

Oct 31st , First install date 'Van broken down' (Only to find date not even entered into the Schedule)
Dec 5th , Second install date 'Sickness'
Feb 3rd , Third install date 'Winds'
Feb 23rd , Fourth Install date ‘Install team too busy and behind schedule due to backlog’
March 23rd, Fifth install date (Lack of Electrical Engineers)
April 24th Sixth Install No reason , no communication and no-one turned up.

All calls , emails text etc are being ignored ..
So I have cancelled and as I cannot get a response from F4S I am putting this case in the hands of my credit card company to pursue credit card consumer act section 75 or chargeback to return my deposit.

My case is by no means unique and older orders in particular are no being dealt with.

43 weeks on.
Lots of promises, but never a call back. 2 installation dates canceled at the last minute. Promised reschedule date email never arrived. 43 weeks in.
Too much work, not enough fitters. This company must be operating on people's deposits, it surely cannot continue to operate with so much work and very few fitters.
Go elsewhere.

We have had numerous installs cancelled rang on many occasions spoke to many people keely,jake Charlotte.Jessica no avail shocking company and customer service and still waiting for response but unfortunately paid but now in contact to sort refund with credit card company
Please contact me on mobile 07977 415277 you have 24 hours

My story is the same as many others on here.
If what I suspect is going on here, then you should be ashamed.
If the funds owed are not in my account tomorrow,then I will commence a section 75 claim and the appropriate legal action.

A story of 2 halves - initial install in 2020 went smoothly (although did require some chasing). I’m very happy with the system. Would have been 4 or 5 stars.
HOWEVER, I ordered an additional battery a year ago. 6 failed install dates - all cancelled at the last minute or simply a no show. Have been chasing them for a refund of my deposit for 2 months now as they clearly cannot or will not do the install. They do not return any calls, emails or reply on the new support ticket system. All calls now go to a 3rd party messaging service and there is no point leaving a message. Worst company I have ever had to deal with.
My next steps are complaint via HIES, then small claims court. Unfortunately I did not pay via credit card so don't have that route for a refund.
Yet another 1 star review; maybe this will get a reply....

I've had a very similar experience to most other reviewers here whereby First4Solar was great up until the deposit is paid, but have been pretty much ghosted since. I paid an initial deposit for a solar+battery solution back in June 2022 and had a survey completed soon after. 2 months later the install design was completed and sent. After repeated calls, I finally got an initial installation date of March 2023 but received an email on the morning of the install informing me that it won't happen and I've not had any responses to queries from them since. Avoid them at all costs!

Shocking company, they do not return your call, cancel all insulations. Avoid them. trying to claim my money back via section 75 of the credit card
company.

Thanks for the reply on the review , but it’s been another week and still no phone call back, no way of cancelling the order.

4 failed appointments for Solar installation which were supposedly guaranteed. Huge loss of earning and strung along for 8 months.

Such a disregard for their customers, now changed their call system to make it difficult to get in contact with anyone.

Awful company. Avoid. As with other reviewers, I agree that one star is one too many.
Deposit of £1223 paid in November 2021. Calls and emails are not returned. I finally managed to speak to Daniel Hawkins (director) on 13/04/23 after I left a bad review here on Trustpilot. He assured me that things are improving and booked an installation date for 25/04/23. They did not turn up. He is not answering his phone. Emails are ignored and callbacks do not occur. I have asked for a chargeback on my credit card and if necessary will initiate Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for a refund. I can supply his mobile number but he does not respond.

Worst experience in my life. They failed to deliver the contracted goods and services, but happily asked me to pay 4.5k for the privilege. They even offered to pay a refund which never materialised. I am shocked how this company continues to exist. My only consolation is that I paid by credit card. Failing that, small claims court or the county court should be your next step. By the way, the “industry under lots of pressure” is BS. The provider I went for after this fiasco installed the same within ONE week, 1/3 cheaper.

All I wanted was a battery system to supplement my existing solar array. I ordered a GivEnergy system from First4Solar at the end of March 22 and paid the 25% deposit in early April. My expectations were managed and told that the installation would be in August. In August it moved to November, in November it moved to January... To cut a long story short today was the 7th promised date and they've failed again.

Like others I've had Keely involved since November and Daniel Hawkins since January. It seems that even the MD of the company is not able to influence the outcome despite his calls to me late into the evening and promises that an electrician (Levi) is on his way down to the South to look after your install.

They have recently implemented a support ticketing portal and a 3rd party messaging service. These basically stop you being able to talk directly with anybody that actually works for the company. If you use the portal you are told that you'll be contacted within 14 days. Today I needed an update as to when/if the electrician was coming and despite calling, messaging, emailing, and texting over 10 times nobody had the courtesy of calling me with an update. This is shocking customer service.

Over a year since the deposit and 7 broken promises. Am I a fool for giving them the benefit of the doubt?
Maybe.

I hate myself for giving them 1 star but that's the lowest you can give.

Same as everybody else, paid my deposit June 22 and many promised install dates have come and gone, followed by a pack of lies when I called them.

Now they won't even answer the phone or return emails or calls.

Currently in contact with HEIS to get my money back.

Extremely disappointed.
Everything seemed fine until looking at installation dates then zero contact.
Sent maybe 15 emails without a reply. 20+ phone calls but have not been answered once.

Avoid first4solar.

I wish I had please do not make the same mistake I did

Called August 2022 for Solar PV & Battery Install (£14k System). Sales team very efficient at extracting deposit of £2,500. Paid Sept 2022. 'Surveyor' was fine but failed to submit his survey to design team for more than a month. Once design finalised, Install date given as March 2023. Multiple install dates given and missed, they never arrive. Last Install date was 11 April 2023 since then tried to get my money back. HIES Deposit protection only lasts 120 days (completely useless). Deposit refund requested from Customer Services. Now being ignored by email and telephone. I issued a Section 75 Claim against TANREC T/A First4Solar with my credit card provider. Credit Card refunded by bank immediately who are now attempting to extract money from this useless company. There are some really good Solar providers out there, this is not one of them.

I have posted other reviews about my experience with First4Solar, really stressful and the worst company I have ever dealt with. If you do ignore the poor reviews and decide to go with them pay your deposit by credit card if you can. I only got my deposit back after the bank got involved.

Despite my constant calls and emails, so far it’s been 2 weeks of being ignored by First 4 Solar. I can only assume they have taken my money and have no intention of carrying out the work..

Benefit of doubt.
I have been waiting for solar for a year with many communications isssues.
I received a call from the Director today (Saturday) reassuring me that they are working on my own situation.
I would suggest hold fire if you haven’t ordered from them, but if you have, talk to them when you are able. The ticket system seems to be working.