Vivint Solar

Ok, this is going to be a little long, so bare with me. But to start with the conclusion: Do not use this company for solar. My Salesmen Brett G. told me I could save 50% of the cost of my electric generated from solar and that the system they would install on my roof would generate 50% of my total electric (total annual savings = approx. 25%; generating half my electricity at half cost). That is almost verbatim the pitch given to me. Unfortunately, this company appears to specialize in bait & switch. The savings are nowhere near 25%. In fact it is closer to 10% or less. When I discovered and brought up this huge discrepency and that the numbers weren’t adding up to Brett G. he told me «well you are getting a tax credit from NY State and that is calculated in the savings». First off, no, it was never explained that a tax credit made up the majority of the savings, & 2^nd, nobody decides & imposes what I use my tax credits for. So, that was as far as I got with Brett. On to his boss.
Next I spoke to Brett’s boss, Dusty B. He was pleasant at first and listened to me, but was basically a company man and gave me the «my hands are tied» line. I was clear with him that I was not asking for anything special or extra; just what I was told I could save! He confirmed with me that tax credits are NOT included in savings estimates and that it was improper for my salesmen Brett to state it was and that he would be «disciplined». I told him I did not want him disciplined, again I just what I was told I would save. When i asked for his Boss’ contact info he started getting short with me. He had other meetings and rushed me off the phone. Plus he refused to supply his Boss’ contact info. Instead I had to go through «corporate». He even intimated that Vivint could bring legal action against me because I turned my system off until this discrepancy is resolved. He also said I would not find anywhere in the contract the 25% annual savings that the Vivint representatives used to lure in customers. That number was however in a customized booklet showing the savings Vivint can offer; a booklet that my salesman took with him after the meeting and would not supply back to me when I asked. Strange considering that everything that I get from Vivint is in digital format. They force you to sign & initial iPads and post all documents online. Neither Brett nor Dusty had or could/​would reproduce this booklet showing that number and the fact that Dusty brought up their legal position unprovoked gave me a strong feeling that many other Vivint customers have or are currently caught up in Vivint’s web of misrepresentations/​bait & switch tactics. The last straw was when I told Dusty I had an email from Brett stating he did indeed use a tax credit to calculate the savings and that it equated to approx. 11 cents a Kwh for the 25% savings (Vivint is charging 15 cents a kwh) PSEG charged me the equivalent of 16 cents a KW hour last month (Brett told me the average was 20 cent a kwh, when it is closer 18 cents; again confirmed by Dusty. Brett inflated that avg. cost thus inflating the «savings». Another misrepresentation). Dusty said «Well, you are still saving money»! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Thats tantamount to a hotel saying pay half price for a $ 500 hotel room and when you get their they charge you $ 450 and justify it by saying «well, you’re still saving money»? Nonsense.
Basically, this is Vivint’s position: we knowingly duped you by inflating savings we can’t deliver & calculated tax credits into the savings your salesmen should not have, but you are still saving money (nowhere near the % we said you would), and after all of this, we aren’t going to do a dam thing for you to make it right. In fact, we might even sue YOU (me).
So it’s on to Dusty’s boss: VP Jeremy L. I’ll update this post if there is anything to report, but judging from my experience with Vivint thus far, I don’t expect much. They have their scheme down. I don’t see how a company that operates like this stays in business very long. So once again, do not use this company unless you want to be in the same position I am. I suggest you get quotes from multiple installers/​engineers before deciding. Its a shame, because its stuff like this that turn people off to alternative energy.

I was approached by two salesmen who rang my doorbell in violation of the Town of Hempstead «Do Not Knock» decal prominently posted next to my doorbell. They claimed they didn’t see it. You’d have to be blind not to.
So unscrupulous business practice number 1.
Since I was already awakened (I work nights, hence the TOH sign), I decided to listen to the sales pitch.
No cost? Really?
NOTHING is free.
Here’s what the business model is, and tell me if I’m wrong.
They state they «borrow» your roof, and install the solar panels. The electricity generated for free by solar panels on the roof that you own is yours to purchase– at a rate about 65% of what the utility charges.
So basically they are an electricity generating company that uses free solar energy for fuel instead of fossil fuel (that’s actually a GOOD thing).
But unlike the utility, they have discovered a way to obtain the real estate for their generators for free. They «borrow» the sites which, instead of a large commercial site that no one wants in their back yard is a collection of smaller rooftop sites-​YOUR rooftops which you are graciously «loaning» to Vivint for free.
Even banks still pay you something (yes, I know it’s almost nothing but it’s still above zero percent) to borrow your assets.
Vivint it seems has «out-​banked» the banks. The banks payout will rise if the Prime goes up, and they also pay a little more if your loan is long term.
With Vivint, your rate of return on the loan will ALWAYS be zero.
The good news is you do get electricity for less than the utility. Which might work out well for you. But unlike the utility, Vivint doesn’t have to apply for a rate hike. So if their costs exceed their income, guess who will pay.
The decision is yours. Just get it in writing that their rate/​kWh will never exceed a fixed percentage of the utility’s rate.
And get it in writing about how issues like roof damage, animal nesting under THEIR panels, compensation if generated power is not nearly what was promised, etc.
Then compare with traditional leasing or purchase of a solar system.

this review in on josh mankes he is one of the worst sales man on the road broken promises lies. stay away from this guy and stop harassing me with phone calls and stopping by no means no i will be contacting the police next.

I love The system i dont understand Wht this people complain so much thank you vivint for yo ur hard Work!

I decided to lease Vivint’s Solar roof panels. It sounded good at the time. My son was having a pool party the same time Vivint’s installers came. The installers were not professional at all! They hooted and whistled at several of the moms at my house. I spoke to the on-​site manager about what they’re doing, and how it was making my guests uncomfortable, and he didn’t care. I yelled at the installers myself, which it stopped briefly, but then they started to curse. They finished installing the roof panels before I had a chance to kick them off my property. Afew weeks later I had flooding issues in my basement from the improper installation. When I called the Plainview office, once I told them my name, I was hung up on. I called back, and the same thing. At this point I am furious and I called their corporate HQ in Utah. Corporate HQ had to handle my situation. Corporate had to hire an outside contractor to fix my problems. I go through Corporate now to have them fix the crappy Install job their employees did… and it is still ongoing with numerous repairs.

This company sucks and all they do is lie about helping with the situation! The system they put on my roof is not large enough to produce any saving!!! They tell me I signed a contract that said there engineers did there best. I should have hired an outside engineer to make sure Vivint engineers knew what they were doing!!! This company sucks!!! Please get other estimates!!! And customer service liars took!!! Each and everyone of them!!!