The channel changes. The pitch does not. Whether it is a call, an SMS, an email or a knock on the door, the sequence is nearly always: a rebate you did not ask about, a reason to hurry, then a request for your money, banking details or signature.
Phone calls
Callers say they are from a “government solar rebate program”, a “rebate department” or an energy company, and that you are owed a payment or a discount. They may know your address, which is not proof of anything because addresses are easy to buy. Their goal is to book a salesperson, collect a deposit or ask for bank details to “release” the money.
Hang up. If you want to check, find the organisation’s number yourself and call it. Federal STCs are not paid out to households by phone. See is the STC rebate a scam for how the scheme actually works.
Text messages
Texts typically claim a rebate is pending, ask you to confirm details at a link, or show a “final notice”. The link leads to a page built to harvest card or banking details. Do not tap, do not reply with STOP, and delete it. Reporting it helps, as covered in how to report a solar scam.
Phishing emails imitate regulators, energy retailers and myGov. Warning signs are an unexpected sender, a generic greeting, urgency, a sender address that does not match the organisation and attachments you did not request. Do not open the attachment or sign in through the link. Go to the real site by typing its address yourself.
Door knocks
Door-to-door sales are not illegal, but you have rights. In many states you can display a “do not knock” sticker, and sellers must identify themselves and the company. Be wary of anyone who claims to represent “the government rebate” or who pushes for a signature on the spot. A reputable installer will leave a written quote and let you take a few days. Cooling-off rights apply to some unsolicited sales, so ask for the contract and read it.
Free solar panels
“Free” offers fall into a few buckets: a lease or power purchase deal where you pay for the electricity, a loan or finance product hidden in the paperwork, or an outright fake. The question to ask is who owns the system and what you owe each month. Panels that are not billed up front can still cost a lot over ten years. If the paperwork refers to a caveat or security over your property, stop and get independent advice.
Quick test
- Did I contact them first?
- Are they asking for money, bank details or myGov details?
- Is there a deadline that appears from nowhere?
- Can I verify them independently, including their accreditation?
Two or more yeses means walk away. To check a real installer, see how to check an installer accreditation number.
What this means for you
Keep the transaction in your own hands: you pick the installer, you read the STC line on the quote, and you pay only the invoice. Installers and agents who run clean claims have nothing to hide, and you can see how we handle compliance at how it works. If you are an installer, pricing shows what the certificates are worth and keeps the discount you quote honest.