Spotting 'Fly-by-Night' Installers: A Warning

The "Phoenix" Company Problem

The solar industry is plagued by "Phoenix" companies. They start up, sell cheap systems with 25-year warranties, go bankrupt to avoid paying warranty claims, and then restart the next day under a new name.

How to Spot Them

1. ABN Check: Go to ABN Lookup. Check how long their ABN has been active. If it's less than 2 years, be cautious.
2. Google Street View: Look up their address. Is it a legitimate office/warehouse, or is it a virtual office or a residential house?
3. Director Search: A quick search of the director's name can reveal if they have a history of liquidated companies.

Why It Matters

If your installer goes bust, your "Workmanship Warranty" is gone. You might still have a manufacturer warranty on the panels, but you will have to pay someone else to come out and diagnose the fault, remove the panel, and ship it back. This labor cost often exceeds the value of the panel itself.