Rushed Tablet Signing at the Kitchen Table
This is just the standard paperwork. Tap here, here and here, and I'll fill in the rest so we can get you on the install schedule.
What's actually true
Those screens can include a 25-year lease or loan, a lien filing, credit authorization and a waiver of your right to cancel. If you don't see the full document before you sign, you don't know what you agreed to.
If a solar rep hands you a tablet and walks you through a string of “tap to sign” screens, stop. Those screens may commit you to 20 to 25 years of payments, a loan with a hidden fee, a lien filing on your house, and sometimes a waiver of your right to cancel. A legitimate company will email you the full contract and let you read it on your own time.
Why salespeople do it
A fast e-sign flow keeps the momentum of the pitch going. You never pause on the payment schedule, the escalator or the cancellation terms. It also lets the rep blur the line between a “soft” credit check, a “pre-approval” and a signed loan. Complaints and lawsuits against solar sellers have included reps entering information for customers and, in some cases, signatures the customer says they never made.
State attorneys general have pursued deceptive door-to-door solar sales. Minnesota’s attorney general sued several sales companies and lenders in 2022. In April 2026, the Texas attorney general opened investigations into sales practices at several residential solar companies, including Sunrun and Freedom Forever. As of October 2026 no outcome had been reported in Texas.
What’s often inside those screens
| Screen | What it might actually be |
|---|---|
| “Get you approved” | A loan application and credit inquiry |
| “System agreement” | A lease, PPA or installment contract |
| “Homeowner acknowledgment” | Statements that you received disclosures you never read |
| “Schedule your site survey” | Consent to start work, which can affect cancellation rights |
| “Utility authorization” | Permission to access your utility account |
A worked example
A loan agreement for $39,000 at 1.99% for 25 years with a 30% dealer fee built in. On a tablet, signing it can take a minute or two. The total of payments is about $49,500, for a system with a cash price around $30,000. That number is in the Truth in Lending box, which most people never see on a scrolling tablet. See hidden dealer fees.
How to slow it down
- Ask for the complete contract as a PDF before signing.
- Read these sections first: total price, cash price, payment schedule, annual escalator, cancellation rights, equipment list, warranty, and anything mentioning a lien or UCC-1 filing.
- Hold the device yourself. Don’t let anyone type or sign for you.
- If the contract was negotiated in Spanish or another language, ask for it in that language. California requires that in many cases.
Questions to ask
- “Can you email me every document I’m about to sign, in full?”
- “Is this a loan, a lease or a cash contract? Who is the lender or owner?”
- “Does any screen waive my right to cancel or start work early?”
- “Will I get a signed copy of everything immediately?”
Your right to cancel
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you 3 business days to cancel a sale made in your home, as long as the price is over $25. California extends this to 5 business days for buyers 65 and older and bars starting work during that time. Many states have their own rules. Cancel in writing and keep proof. Our cancel solar contract tool and guide walk through it.
Before signing anything, compare quotes with compare quotes and read our guide on door-to-door solar sales.
Bottom line: If you can’t read the full contract before you sign, don’t sign.
Where to report it
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Your state attorney general’s consumer protection office
- CFPB: consumerfinance.gov/complaint if a loan was opened without your clear consent
- Your state contractor licensing board
Related red flags
"This Price Is Only Good Today"
Solar equipment and labor costs don't change overnight. A discount that disappears tomorrow was almost always built into a high starting price, and it exists to stop you from comparing quotes.
Pressure to Waive Your Right to Cancel
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives you 3 business days to cancel most sales made at your home, and some states add more, such as California's 5 business days for buyers 65 and older. Starting work right away or asking you to waive the right is a common way to discourage cancellation.
A Lease or PPA Sold as a "Purchase" or "Program"
In a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), the company owns the panels. You rent the equipment or buy its power for 20 to 25 years. That affects who gets tax credits, what happens when you sell your house, and who fixes the system.
Targeting Seniors and Non-English Speakers
Retirees and households pitched in another language are frequent targets of misleading solar sales. Deals can rely on tax credits the buyer can't use, run longer than the buyer plans to stay, or come with a contract in a language the buyer can't read.
"Can I See Your Electric Bill?"
A fair quote does need your usage history. But a photo of your bill also gives the rep your utility account number, which can be used to file paperwork in your name, and a single high bill is often used to exaggerate your savings.