Customers Lose Thousands as Ikea’s Solar Partner Soly Collapses
Numerous customers have lost significant deposits, such as £3,000, after signing up for solar panel installations through Ikea’s website in partnership with European installer Soly. Despite Soly’s European operations collapsing late last year and its UK arm entering liquidation in January, Ikea continued to advertise the partnership without warning consumers. Affected individuals report receiving no advice or refunds from Ikea, which claims it is not a party to the contracts and only earned commissions on successful referrals. Although Soly was acquired by Otovo, the deal excluded existing liabilities and unfulfilled installations. Administrators indicate that refund chances are slim, particularly for those who paid via bank transfer rather than credit card, which would have offered protection under the Consumer Credit Act. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in consumer protection for renewable energy projects when installers cease trading before completion. Ikea has since removed Soly from its site but remains silent on compensating affected customers, drawing criticism for failing to notify users despite the initial fanfare surrounding the launch of the green energy initiative.
Wire timeline
Customers Lose Thousands as Ikea’s Solar Partner Soly Collapses
Numerous customers have lost significant deposits, such as £3,000, after signing up for solar panel installations through Ikea’s website in partnership with European installer Soly. Despite Soly’s European operations collapsing late last year and its UK arm entering liquidation in January, Ikea continued to advertise the partnership without warning consumers. Affected individuals report receiving no advice or refunds from Ikea, which claims it is not a party to the contracts and only earned commissions on successful referrals. Although Soly was acquired by Otovo, the deal excluded existing liabilities and unfulfilled installations. Administrators indicate that refund chances are slim, particularly for those who paid via bank transfer rather than credit card, which would have offered protection under the Consumer Credit Act. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in consumer protection for renewable energy projects when installers cease trading before completion. Ikea has since removed Soly from its site but remains silent on compensating affected customers, drawing criticism for failing to notify users despite the initial fanfare surrounding the launch of the green energy initiative.
The Guardian