As the Biden administration faces questions from Congress about support for the solar industry, an 86-year-old mother with dementia applied for a loan to buy $60,000 worth of solar panels. A woman believes she has been the victim of a scam.
“It was a salesman from a solar power company who came and talked to her and said, 'We'll set you up with solar power. You can essentially get solar power for free. . Because you get both state and federal tax credits,” Patsy Brownson told host Jesse Watters.
”[They said] Install solar panels and make sure everything goes smoothly. ”
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Brownson told Watters that she then received an upsetting phone call from her mother, who had been left with a large bill.
“I got a call from my mom. She's in a complete panic. She's crying. Basically, the funding company or the lending company said, 'Welcome on board. $60,000 for a child over 25. I received a letter saying, 'I have more than one loan.' For years,'' she said.
“My mom says, 'Did I do that? How did you do that?'”
Patsy Brownson said her 86-year-old mother was defrauded by a solar company under the watchful eye of Republicans in Congress. (Jesse Watters Primetime/Screenshot)
When Brownson asked how her mother, who lived on a fixed income, was able to obtain a loan of that size, she said the company declined to provide details.
Watters responded to Brownson's story, accusing the company of seeming to be promoting a “huge fraud.”
“They're preying on the elderly and the poor with dementia. This has to stop. And Joe Biden is funding it,” Watters said.
A spokesperson for ADT Solar (formerly SunPro) told Fox News Digital, “We understand that choosing a solar provider is an important decision for families, and we understand that choosing a solar energy provider is an important decision for families, so we ask all of our customers to We strive to provide you with sufficient information so that you can purchase with confidence.
Earlier this week, Watters spoke with Terry Bryce, who told a similar story and accused Sunnova Energy of deceiving his 86-year-old father, who also has dementia, into buying $30,000 worth of panels. did.
Her complaint matches many others, including the 2019 report. Puerto Rico Energy Department, As reported by USA Today, the company accuses the company of misleading consumers about costs, contract lengths and potential savings from the service.
Watters said many viewers have emailed him with similar complaints about solar energy sales practices.
Houston-based Sunnova has reportedly engaged in “predatory sales tactics” similar to those described by Brownson, and has come under fire from Republicans in Congress.
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Biden's Energy Department is being pursued by Republicans in Congress over the $3 billion it recently awarded to Sunnova. (License, Getty Images)
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Ranking Member John Barrasso, Republican, Wyoming., It expressed such concerns about consumer complaints in a letter to DOE Loan Programs Executive Director Jigar Shah.
“We have made numerous consumer claims against Sunnova, including those alleging questionable sales practices, including forcing elderly homeowners in poor health to sign long-term contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars. “We are alarmed by recent credible reports that we are receiving complaints,” they wrote. .
The lawmakers continued, “These reports include interviews with individuals who struggled to meet large contracts signed by their elderly parents shortly before their deaths, alleging delayed maintenance and predatory sales tactics. “I am making a consumer complaint.''
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Sunnova did not respond to Fox News Digital's preliminary request for comment.
However, a Sunnova spokesperson told the Washington Free Beacon that “all customers, regardless of age, undergo a thorough verification process to verify their identity and ensure they have read and understood the terms and conditions. It needs to be completed.” The company said, “We can't do it. [does] Don't refuse to sign a contract because of the customer's age. ”
”[Sunnova is] We are committed to helping all our customers resolve any issues that may arise during the contract period or due to external factors. ”
FOX News' Thomas Catenacci contributed to this report.
