Because of the mis-representation of the facts on their website, ex employee of Solartwin, Stuart Lovatt would like to share his experience at Solartwin and it’s product, so you may benefit. The continued and relentless bullying by Solartwin’s staff during and after my employment with this company has spurred me to write this article:
The story begins…
Stuart Lovatt began promoting their solar product on my own personal website (aimed at promoting the use of solar panels) Heat my Home back in 2004. Like many of their customers I thought the concept and thinking behind the product was great. I took their offer of employment and moved to Chester to begin my new career.
Stuart Lovatt says, “I began employment in 2006 and brought into the company over £200,000 in sales (2nd best salesmen in the company), over a 18 month period. My experience during this time is documented below.”
The problem with Solartwin
My perception of Solartwin began to change, after a manager in charge of after-sales service left the company and told me how many unhappy customers they really had. (this was kept secret from other employee’s). This was the reason he was leaving, 76 and growing, unhappy customers all with broken panels, noisey pumps or leaks. He had enough and left.
Shortly after this they were banned from the government approved list of solar technologies, and the Solar Trade Association expelled them for good because of the shoddy quality of their system.
The bullying by Solartwin management begins
Stuart Lovatt states, “My conscious kicked in. Unhappy I approached the managers with ideas to improve their product and service. This did not go down well with them. The bullying started by their management team and I made it clear from the beginning that I was unhappy, but their only solution to their products faults was to encourage me to lie to new customers. This I could not do.
Solartwin management began a policy of bullying me to make me toe the company line, but this came to a head when I left because the bullying and nastiness aimed at me became to much to bear. I handed my resignation letter in and left to start a rival company.”
Solartwin has a high turnover of staff during and after my time, which is strange as they brand themselves as an ethical company? Unhappy Solartwin customers had risen further during my time. Their panels only installed 5-2 years ago were encountering problems. (A good solar panel should easily last 25-30 years)
I took Solartwin to an employment tribunal regarding their bullying tactics which even involved breaching my human right as an employee. Solartwin made me a compensation offer and we settled out of court.”
My experience after emplyoyment
My experience of Solartwin continued when they attempted to accuse me of using internet access worth £2,000. This was dismissed out of court and the real figure of £69 was exposed. This was caused by a mix up when I left the company about website access but they tried to pin their full bill on me.
I acknowledged I used their internet access which I continued using after I resigned to rebuild my life, due to their bullying. The real figure of £69 was agreed in court and my offer to pay them back was accepted. (Court agreement here).
Why?
I have listed below the suggestions and issue’s with the Solartwin product which I originally brought to their attention during my employment and which kick started this prolonged attack on me.
Solartwin Pro’s
1. You can use your existing old hot water tank.
2. It uses a PV solar panel to power the pump.
3. Can easily be installed as a DIY solar panel.
Solartwin Con’s
1. Installing to an old inefficient copper tank is a false economy. You will need to change your tank anyway in the see able future and the panel will become unusable on a more modern efficient tank.
2. The pump is a very cheap car windscreen washer pump you find in any car.
3. The pump is strapped to your rafters with a cheap piece of insulating foam and tie grips.
4. The panel its self is only a large piece of builders (Kingspan) foam encased into a plastic box.
5. The price of the product does not match the quality of the product.
6. The performance of their panel is poor and the lowest on the solar market.
7. The pump is noisey and generally situated above your bedroom.
8. Solartwin promote their product as ZERO Carbon. Lying to their customer even in their marketing. Nothing is zero carbon and certainly not their product as thy claim.
9. Installing a solar panel to an old inefficient hot water tank is like converting your car to LPG then running it on half flat tyres.
10. Because the system is not closed loop. their panels can and do suffer from lime scale problems reducing the lifespan of the product.
Poor quality of a Solartwin installation: (below)
A high quality solar installation: (below)
Conclusion
I would like to add, “I have omitted the improvements I originally suggested to Solartwin about their product during my employment with them and from what I have seen the improvements have not been implemented. Solartwin continue to misrepresent the facts of the latest court case and it’s outcome on their website to this day.”
I continue to promote higher quality solar panels systems through my own website Heat my Home. I hope you will benefit from my experience with Solartwin and make your own mind up, either as a potential employee or customer.
Stuart Lovatt 2009
Stuart Lovatt, profile
Stuart Lovatt, facebook
Tags: bad solar companies, bad solar company, Solartwin, Stuart Lovatt
Your article has dissuaded myself from even applying to work for Solartwin now; so thanks and good luck.
I am not a fan of Solar Twin, in fact I came on here to comment on how unprofessional their sales approach is. I was completely put off solar panels from them after being hounded by their call center then to be followed up with rude salesman at my door. First appearances count!
It sounds like to me that in order for these guys to look good they set up forums to make other companies look bad! This is not on! How do we know that these comments are genuine and not them trying to put down other companies.
Disappointing! To get real reviews I always ask to speak to previous customers local to me, that way I can get the real story!
I am a customer of Solartwin. I had panels fitted just over 5 years ago as part of extending my house and including a new large water tank, with no problems (despite the noisy pump just above my bedroom- who sleeps when it’s sunny anyway?). However, the pump has just stopped working, and when I called solartwin, they told me that I was just out of warranty (typical!) and that they can’t get a replacement old one. To get things going again, they can suppy a new PV and pump at a cost of £300! Not good. I was intrigued by your comment that the pump is only a car windscreen pump!! is this really true, and where can I buy one?
Any help appreciated.
Hugh, near Melrose, Scotland
Their is a whole website dedicated to creating your own solartwin style system, which boasts you can create own for £500 rather than the £2600. Go to:
solarfriend.co.uk