Ohio Solar Consumer Protection Laws, Cancellation Window & AG Complaint Playbook
Complete statutory reference for Ohio homeowners: exercise your right to cancel a door-to-door solar contract, file an online fraud complaint with the Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Section, claim restitution from state contractor bonds/recovery funds, and invoke the federal FTC Holder Rule against solar lenders.
1. Ohio Deceptive Trade Practices (UDAP), Recovery Funds & Mandatory Disclosures
Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA, R.C. § 1345.01 et seq.) & Home Construction Service Suppliers Act (R.C. Ch. 4722) — Treble (3x) Damages + Attorney Fees; Missing HSSA Notice Extends Cancellation Indefinitely!
Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Restitution Fund & Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
Ohio CSPA Itemized Estimate Rule, HSSA Duplicate Cancellation Form & PUCO Net-Metering Disclosure
2. Ohio Solar Permitting, Incentives & Quote Audit Resources
3. Ready-to-Copy Ohio Attorney General & FTC Holder Rule Demand Letter
Fill in the bracketed fields, attach your signed solar contract and loan promissory note, and submit to the Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Division while mailing a Certified copy to your solar lender:
FORMAL SOLAR FRAUD & FTC HOLDER RULE COMPLAINT — STATE OF OHIO
================================================================================
TO: Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Section
Consumer Fraud & Home Improvement Enforcement Unit
Online Portal: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint.aspx
Hotline: (800) 282-0515
CC: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) & Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
[Name of Solar Lender: e.g., GoodLeap / Mosaic / Sunlight / Dividend Finance]
DATE: [Current Date]
FROM: [Your Full Legal Name]
[Your Street Address, City, OH ZIP]
[Your Phone Number & Email Address]
RE: FORMAL COMPLAINT FOR DECEPTIVE SOLAR SALES PRACTICES, STATUTORY DISCLOSURE
VIOLATIONS & FTC HOLDER RULE DEMAND (16 CFR PART 433)
Solar Installer / Sales Dealer: [Name of Solar Company & License #]
Solar Loan Servicer & Account #: [Lender Name & Account #]
Total Financed / Contract Amount: $[Total Contract Price]
Dear Consumer Protection Investigator & Lender Compliance Officer:
I am filing this formal statutory complaint pursuant to Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA, R.C. § 1345.01 et seq.) & Home Construction Service Suppliers Act (R.C. Ch. 4722) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Holder in Due Course Rule (16 CFR Part 433) regarding a residential solar transaction executed at my primary residence in Ohio.
1. SUMMARY OF STATUTORY & CONTRACTUAL VIOLATIONS:
• Unlawful Misrepresentation of Utility Bill Offset, Federal Tax Credits (IRC § 25D), and Hidden Loan Dealer Fees (25%–35% undisclosed principal markup in violation of the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601).
• Violation of Ohio Mandatory Solar / Home Improvement Disclosure and Cancellation Statutes (3 Business Days).
• Breach of Contract & Abandonment / Failure to Achieve Timely Utility Permission to Operate (PTO) or Honor Express Warranties.
2. RECOVERY FUND & SURETY BOND NOTICE:
Please cross-reference this complaint with Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Restitution Fund & Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) and freeze or audit the contractor’s active license and surety bond on file in Ohio.
3. FORMAL NOTICE OF CLAIMS & DEFENSES TO LENDER UNDER 16 CFR PART 433 (FTC HOLDER RULE):
Pursuant to the mandatory FTC Holder Rule Notice printed in my solar loan contract, the lender stands in the shoes of the solar seller and is subject to all claims and defenses I assert herein. I hereby demand:
(a) Immediate cancellation and rescission of the solar loan contract (or a permanent principal reduction equal to $[Amount of Damages / Completion Cost]);
(b) Termination of any UCC-1 fixture filing recorded against my Ohio real property title under UCC § 9-513; and
(c) Placement of my loan account in formal "Disputed Status" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2) with zero adverse credit reporting pending resolution.
Enclosed are copies of my signed Solar Installation Agreement, Promissory Note, Utility Bills, and Photographic / Permit Evidence. I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Ohio that the foregoing is true and correct.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________________
[Your Signature & Printed Name]Ohio Solar Consumer Protection FAQ
How many days do I have to cancel a residential solar contract in Ohio?
In Ohio, homeowners have a statutory 3 Business Days (Ohio Rev. Code § 1345.22 Home Solicitation Sales Act; 5 Days on Telephone Solicitations). Furthermore, if the solar salesperson failed to provide the mandatory written Notice of Cancellation or Ohio CSPA Itemized Estimate Rule, HSSA Duplicate Cancellation Form & PUCO Net-Metering Disclosure at the time of signing, your legal right to rescind the contract is extended under Ohio and federal consumer protection law until proper disclosures are delivered.
Can I sue a deceptive solar company for triple (3x) damages in Ohio?
Under Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA, R.C. § 1345.01 et seq.) & Home Construction Service Suppliers Act (R.C. Ch. 4722) — Treble (3x) Damages + Attorney Fees; Missing HSSA Notice Extends Cancellation Indefinitely!, Ohio homeowners harmed by willful solar misrepresentations, hidden dealer fees, or unpermitted installations can pursue statutory remedies—and thanks to the federal FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR Part 433), you can assert those exact same claims and defenses directly against your solar loan lender to cancel or reduce your loan balance.
What if my Ohio solar installer went bankrupt before finishing my system?
First, file a formal complaint with the Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Section ((800) 282-0515) and pursue restitution through Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Restitution Fund & Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). Simultaneously, serve the ready-to-copy FTC Holder Rule Demand Letter on this page via Certified Mail to your solar lender and the CFPB.