Solar Advice and Mechant West: A Dishonest Experience

I engaged Solar Advice under the impression that they were a legitimate and trustworthy company, but my experience has been extremely disappointing.

In April 2023, I financed a solar system through them and Merchant West, consisting of 15 × 455W panels, an 8kW inverter, and 2 × 5.15kW lithium batteries. All supporting and ownership documentation reflected these specifications. The system was installed on 3 April 2023, and I fully settled the finance on 30 July 2024. At that point, I was provided with ownership documentation confirming everything as per the original agreement.

Believing everything was in order, I used them again for an upgrade. On 18 March 2025, I ordered 3 additional 455W panels and 1 × 5.15kW battery.

After installation, I immediately noticed that the new panels differed from the existing ones and raised the issue right away. For the next two months, I was given the runaround. I was told they no longer had stock of the 450–455W panels and was offered unrelated alternatives, such as a panel cleaning service worth R4000, instead of resolving the issue or honoring what was agreed.

Frustrated, I inspected the system myself and checked the serial numbers. I then discovered that my original installation from April 2023 did not match the documentation. Instead of the 15 × 455W panels I financed and was told I received, 15 × 475W panels had actually been installed. Ironically, the panels installed in March 2025 were the correct 455W panels I had originally been promised.

What concerns me most is not only the discrepancy, but the lack of transparency and honesty. I was misled for two months about stock availability, while never being informed that my original system differed from the documented specifications.

In addition, I have not received a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the alterations and mixed panel configuration.

Based on this experience, I believe both the supplier and the financing partner have provided misleading and inaccurate information. I cannot recommend either of them.