Shining a Light on Solar Confusion

When a Lakeside resident realizes sheโ€™s been paying double for her solar power, NBC 7 Responds steps in to help cut through the red tape.

When you make a mistake paying a bill to a company or business, that business often wants you to clear it up right away. But what happens when the company or business makes a mistake? 

Sonja Ramos says she is a big fan of solar power at her new home in Lakeside. โ€œThe solar panels have been awesome, working with Solar City was wonderful,โ€ she said. โ€œThey have been terrific as far as all their customer service goes.โ€ 

But Sonja soon realized a mistake had been made when she set up a payment schedule with Solar City. 

โ€œI set up an auto pay, which is through my bank, which automatically sends a check to the company,โ€ Ramos said. 

At the same time though, her husband was also setting up automatic withdrawal payments with Solar City. So simply put, Ramos said, โ€œThey [Solar City] were auto deducting from one of my accounts and I was auto paying through another account...so they [Solar City] were getting double payments.โ€ 

Ramos discovered the problem and called Solar City immediately. 

โ€œI need to close these accounts,โ€ she said. โ€œI need to close these books, I need to move forward because itโ€™s taking a lot of time calling them every week and they were not contacting me.โ€ 

Ramos stopped the double payments but was in the dark when it came to getting her money back. 

โ€œThe customer service agent responded, he did his figures and found they owed us an $1100 reimbursement.โ€ she said. 

For two months, Sonja went back and forth with Solar City representatives but did not see the refund she was owed. Thatโ€™s when she called NBC 7 Responds. 

โ€œI appreciate you coming out to help me with this because I feel like Iโ€™m just hitting a brick wall,โ€ Ramos said when NBC 7 Responds came out to meet her. 

By the end of the week, NBC 7 Responds went back out to see Sonja. 

โ€œYou spoke with me on Monday and by Wednesday morning, I got a voicemail that said we want to talk to you about a resolution from Solar City.โ€ she said. โ€œThey told me a tracking number and said a check is in the mail.โ€ 

Ramos received a check from Solar City for the amount of $670.26 and a credit for the next two months of solar service. 

โ€œI couldnโ€™t have done it without you,โ€ she said. โ€œI had been trying but I could not have done it without you.โ€

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