Published: 27 October 2026 | Category: Home Improvement Scam Alerts
If you have solar panels installed on your home, be cautious about unexpected calls, texts or emails claiming that your solar panel warranty has expired.
Energy Saving Trust has highlighted warnings from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) about companies impersonating the certification organisation to sell solar panel maintenance packages.
Some homeowners are being contacted with claims that their existing system requires urgent attention.
How does the scam work?
A company contacts a homeowner unexpectedly and claims to be associated with MCS or another trusted energy organisation.
The caller may suggest that the homeowner’s solar panel warranty has expired or that maintenance is required.
The aim may be to persuade the homeowner to purchase an unnecessary maintenance package or disclose personal information.
These approaches can be particularly convincing because solar installations are expensive and homeowners naturally want to protect their investment.
Do solar panels need annual servicing?
Solar photovoltaic panels generally require relatively little maintenance.
However, electrical components, including inverters, can develop faults, and periodic inspections may be appropriate depending on the installation and manufacturer recommendations.
An unexpected telephone call is not evidence that your system needs repairs.
If someone claims your solar panels are unsafe or your inverter must be replaced, obtain an independent assessment before agreeing to expensive work.
Five checks before agreeing to solar panel maintenance
- Check who is contacting you. Never assume a caller represents MCS, your installer or an official organisation.
- Check your warranty paperwork. Your solar panels, inverter and installation workmanship may have different warranty periods.
- Contact your original installer independently. Use contact information from your existing paperwork rather than a number supplied by an unexpected caller.
- Verify installer certification. Check the official MCS register if a company claims to be MCS certified.
- Get independent quotations. Don’t agree to expensive repairs or maintenance packages during an unsolicited call.
What if your original installer has closed?
This does not automatically mean that your solar panels are unsafe or that their warranties have expired.
Check your product warranties and any insurance-backed guarantees supplied with your installation.
If maintenance is genuinely needed, approach an appropriately qualified installer yourself.
Beware of government and certification claims
Some misleading sales approaches rely on making the caller sound official.
A company may mention government schemes, grants, certification bodies or consumer protection arrangements to make its offer appear more trustworthy.
Always verify these claims independently.
The Homestead Project’s advice
Never purchase a solar panel maintenance package simply because an unexpected caller says your warranty has expired.
Check your paperwork, verify the company and obtain an independent professional opinion before spending money.
Sources and further reading
- Energy Saving Trust — How to spot an energy scam (updated 19 October 2026): https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/how-to-spot-an-energy-scam/
- Which? — Beware these solar panel cold calls: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/beware-these-solar-panel-cold-calls-aH0fP6b22eOc
This article is for consumer awareness and does not imply that all solar maintenance companies or unsolicited offers are fraudulent.