Tesla Solar Roof shady business practices

[ajones05]

Wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this with Tesla related to SolarRoof? And if this is standard operating procedure for Tesla? It feels disingenuous at best, and possibly even illegal…?

What happened: After months of providing documents to them, getting a finalized design (e.g., where the actual solar vs. dummy tiles go throughout the roof), we signed an agreement to get SolarRoof and two powerwalls installed. We agreed to financing terms. And then submitted for permits. A few weeks later, while waiting for permits to come through and schedule the actual install, they sent a brief, automated email that said “Update-Your Solar Roof Price Has Increased.” I received a separate email that said “Review and Accept your Design,” which took me to a page with a new price, nearly 50% higher (~$24K price increase), and an “Accept” button.

When I called, they said this was after a review of the house and due to “roof complexity.” Mind you, they had already reviewed the blue prints of the house in detail and put together a detailed install plan. The guy on the phone eventually acknowledged that this was in fact due to just increasing their prices, and nothing to do with roof complexity.

I was given the option to either agree or cancel.

I am stunned, to be honest. This can’t be normal… right?

[tyingq]

It's been all over the news. For example: https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/tesla-tells-customer...

Discussed on HN 4 days ago, here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26776510

[mraspberry]

You would have to consult with an attorney and show them the initial agreement, but I would think that once you agreed to financing terms the price would be finalized.

[jamescobalt]

Happened to us too. Twice. First time they removed stuff from the contract while increasing the price without telling us they removed stuff. Second time they added stuff we didn't ask for.

The whole process has been a nightmare. For six months we couldn't get ahold of our account manager and her voicemail was full. The year+ delay with the old roof resulted in nasty (and expensive) water damage from a winter storm late last year. We've had countless reschedules, four no-shows (told to get up at the crack of dawn for crews that never arrived), three account-manager replacements and two field manager replacements. Now 16 months after making the deposit and still no roof... Tesla is a mess.

[giantg2]

This seems like a bait and switch or false advertising. Entice you with one price or agreement and then substantially raise the price at the last minute to try to force you into a new deal.

Document everything you can. Contact the attorney general for your state - they handle consumer complaints about these business practices. You can also file with the Better Business Bureau.

Why is this being downvoted?

[toomuchtodo]

Don't bother with the BBB. They are old school Yelp, and have no teeth. The Attorney General advice is spot on, as is a 1 hour consultation with a contract attorney to see if OP can force Tesla to perform for the agreed upon price.

This sort of behavior is SOP for Tesla.

[asavchenko]

The same here, have 20k increase or 30%, after project management board review and due to roof complexity. Roof complexity increased powerwalls price by 2k I ordered 2 and reduced discount for installing roof and batteries together.