Our relationship with Suncrest Solar began on a high note, but is currently on a very low note.
We had a 9.88 kW system installed, and everything is up and running well as far as we can tell, so the end product we purchased seems to be fine. The representative we worked with up front, Patrick, was great. The installers were great. Everyone we've worked with at their corporate office in Salt Lake City has been responsive and helpful.
The problems we've experienced working with Suncrest relate to poor communications and customer service from their field representatives, and we often got conflicting answers, from different people at Suncrest, etc.
Suncrest reps were not trained to explain the real nuts and bolts of how the net metering process with our local electrical provider would work. We were told we would not have monthly bills other than a $8 per month meter fee. This was completely wrong. I ultimately had to figure it out on my own by contacting the energy provider. Our system was designed to fully meet our electrical demand based upon past usage, so hopefully our net annual cost will, in fact, be zero. We'll see how it works out after one year.
But, when you are investing $35,000+ in a solar system, the company you are working with should explain all of this clearly and accurately. Everyone I spoke to at Suncrest about this was clueless about how the process actually worked.
Patrick was taking very good care of us in the early phases, but before the system was installed Patrick left Suncrest. We were not informed about his departure. Over a period of three or four weeks, I sent Patrick emails, text messages and left voice mails, but all with no response.
I eventually contacted Suncrest's home office in Salt Lake City and chased down the name of another area representative, Alex. I spoke with Alex a couple of times and he was responsive to our questions - but not once did he offer to stop by to introduce himself, even though he lives less than ten miles from us. I guess Patrick had spoiled us with the great personal attention he had give to us.
This week, we heard from a representative of our energy provider that Suncrest Solar has pulled out of South Carolina, and is looking for a company to buy out their equipment and commitments to the systems they have installed in the state.
I contacted Alex by email and phone. The email bounced back as being undeliverable (so Alex is already gone too), and he has not responded to my voice message.
I spoke with a Suncrest rep in their home office who told me they would no longer be selling or installing systems in South Carolina, but that they would continue to service the systems they had already installed. When I asked if they were going out of business, he was very vague with his response. I asked why they had not informed their customers of this development, and he answered that they were working on a mass email message to do that.
Bottom line: if I had it to do over again, I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE MY SYSTEM FROM SUNCREST SOLAR. All I know is that I paid them over $35,000 and feel that I can only hope now they will stand behind their work moving forward if there are any future problems. read more