Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/25/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Ambia Solar has failed to provide services adequately per the contract that was entered. Every step of the process has been an issue. First the correct permits were not filed and permission was not received from the city before work began, then only half the permits were filed, now they are failing to schedule the inspection, and we discovered that none of the necessary information has been provided to AEP. At this point our project manager Eden, and sales person Charlie refuse to provide further information or contacts. We are being told "the team" is handling it, but every step of the way the team has failed to accomplish basic tasks. They blame the delays on the city, and refuse to provide proof of their efforts, meanwhile we've spoken directly to the city, and the city has shown us every step and date that something was actually done.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/29/2023

  Ambia was required to submit revised plans to the AHJ regarding their permit. These were issued on 9/19/23. We scheduled the homeowners inspection for the earliest availability which was, 9/29/23. This electrical inspection passed on 9/29/23. There is a building inspection required as well, which we were informed of during the Electrical Inspection, which will be scheduled Monday, 10/2/23, for the earliest availability.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/04/2023

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The permits were issued on that date, and this is far after they should have been. Ambia failed to file the permits properly with the city before construction of the project began. Inspections have no been completed, but this complaint will remained unresolved until the solar panels are actually functional. See original complaint timeline below...
  
  July 10th 2023: Solar panel installation through Ambia. At that time, we
  were told that we cannot turn on the panels until inspections take
  place in 4-6 weeks.
  
  
  Six weeks pass with no contact.
  
  August 18th: We received a letter in the mail, dated August 15th, from
  the city of Gahanna, that we were in violation as no permits were pulled
  to install solar panels. This is now the end of week six, the week that
  we should have been able to turn on the panels. I called the city and
  they informed me that the permit had just been requested for the solar
  panels, but that Ambia had not yet paid for the permit.
  
  
  August 18th: Reached out to Ambia to tell them that the solar permit needed to be paid for.
  
  
  August 21st: Followed up with Ambia and was told that they will “bug the inspections team”
  
  
  August 28th: At the start of week 8, I reached out to Ambia and was again told they would follow up
  
  September 11th: At the start of week 10, I followed up again with Ambia,
  and was told that they reached out to the City of Gahanna to schedule
  and that they were being a “pain to work with” and that they would reach
  out again. I was told that the city had everything that they needed.
  
  September 15th: I called the city of Gahanna and was told again that the
  permit had been approved, but not yet paid for. The city also said that
  Ambia needed to submit a permit for electric, which had not yet been
  done. The electric permit needed to be purchased before the inspection
  could take place and that the electrical inspection needs to pass before
  we can even schedule the solar inspection.
  
  September 15th: Told Ambia of the above and were again told that “the
  city has everything” and were sent a screen shot of the permits. The
  screen shot clearly shows that only the solar had been processed for a
  permit and that it still was unpaid. Told them again, that it needs to
  be paid and that the electric needs to be filed.
  
  September 18th: Followed up with the city and were told that both
  permits were cleared and had been paid. The city sent a note about the
  documents needed in order to schedule an electrical inspection first and
  what was needed to schedule the solar inspection after the electrical
  inspection passed. I sent this information to Ambia, although the city
  had already sent it as well.
  
  September 22nd: At the end of week 11 after the install. With no word
  from Ambia requesting my availability for an inspection, I called the
  city asking if I was able to schedule it myself. I was told yes, but I
  would need three documents from Ambia. As long as I call before 4pm,
  they will come out the following day.
  
  September 22nd: Told Ambia that I was willing to schedule myself and
  that I would need all of the documents for the electric and solar so I
  could schedule them back to back and finish this process. Ambia said
  they would forward my request to the internal inspection team.
  
  September 25th: At the start of week 12, there is no response from
  Ambia, and we received an email from AEP stating that they were also
  missing information from Ambia and that they cannot move forward without
  records of the inspections. We forwarded this to Ambia, although
  members from Ambia were already on that email.
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  *********** *****

  Business Response

  Date: 10/10/2023

  Ambia Solar worked with the city of Ghanna to get the remaining permitting issues resolved as there were certain steps missed and these were issued from the city. Both the electrical and building inspections were conducted and passed on September 29, 2023. The city of Ghanna gave us proof of those passed inspections on October 2nd, 2023. Permission to Operate was submitted to the utility company on October 3rd, 2023. AEP states they will do a review within 20 business days of application submission. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/19/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On June 16th our attic roof access was damaged by one of Ambia's crew members while working in our attic wiring solar panels. The Ambia crew lead took pictures and said he would report the damage. When we didn't hear back, we emailed on 6/20/23. We sent our own pictures on 6/28/23. On 7/5/23 I received an email from our project manager stating Ambia would cover the cost of the repairs, and I sent an estimate on 7/6/23. Since 6/16 we've messaged nine times seeking compensation for the damage. When we do get a response from Ambia, it's always an apology, or excuse. It's now been eight weeks since the attic access was damaged.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/11/2023

  Ambia Solar sent a check for the work directly to the contractor, A Patch to Match LLC, on 8/14/23. We are showing the check arrived on 8/18/23 and was cashed on 9/5/23. The next step would be to schedule the fixes for the damage with the contractor, A Patch to Match LLC. Ambia has been in contact with the customer as of Friday, September 8th to schedule a service call for breakers tripping which was scheduled for today, September 11th. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/12/2023

   
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ***** ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/06/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Ambia Solar talked my parents into having solar panels installed on their home. They were very excited to get this going. Here we are now, months later. The panels are on the house, but they have never been inspected nor turned on. So my parents are trapped -they cant even move forward with a new company. Ambia wil not return their phone calls or do anything to complete the job.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/11/2023

  Good morning! We have been attempting to communicate with the clients, but they only have a land line and are difficult to get ahold of. We were able to reach them on Tuesday this week and have upgraded the clients home with an electrical sub panel, which will allow us to move the customer to inspection.
  
  We will schedule the inspection as soon as possible and get this system turned on as soon as we receive permission to operate the system from the utility once we complete the inspection. 
  
  Also, we would ask that the daughter of our customers reach out to us at ************** so we can facilitate additional communication. We anticipate this process to be wrapped ** in the next couple of weeks if we can all stay in communication.

  Thanks!

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/17/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I originally signed a contract with shield energy to get some solar panels on my house over a year ago. for some reason shield energy either went out of business or sold my contract to another company (Ambia solar). They have come out numerous times to put on the panels and fix the problems that energy shield i guess did incorrectly. Every time they came out they made a mess of the job site and didn't clean up their messes. Every time we get a wind storm I have to go around my house and pick up materials (screws. electrical connectors, hangers etc..) that blows off my roof. I have tried numerous times to try and get company to finish the project and get my solar panels turned on with little to no success. Now I can't get anyone even to respond to my request any longer. Want them to give me a discounted price and a letter of apology.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/11/2023

  Our sincere apologies for our crew. We do our best to keep the job site clean and orderly. We will pass on the feedback to the team. 
  
  We believe we have finished all of the necessary work on the home. We have an inspection scheduled with the city on 8/11/23. They will let us know if any further work needs to be complete before we can submit for permission to operate with the utility.  The utility is taking about 45 days after we receive the inspection so we would anticipate getting your system turned on around the 1st of October. 
  412
  Please feel free to call us on our main line if you have any questions at ************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/22/2023

   
  Complaint: 20332375
  
  I am rejecting this response because:I have been waiting over a year now to get my solar panels turned on just the other day the inspector show up to inspect the solar panels and the inspection failed so now Ambia has to come back out and fix the issues with the inspections not sure if I am ever going to get these panels up and running.

  Thanks

  ****

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************