Is it normal for a solar installer to tack on a $2k "rate fee" and completely mess up the 30% tax credit math?
I am looking at a $2,000 fee discrepancy on the system cost and a $1,200 shortage on my federal tax credit due to two specific issues:
The $2,000 Financing Fee: The installer added a $2,000 financing fee to the total cost of the system, claiming it was necessary to secure a guaranteed low interest rate. However, when I contacted the finance company, they explicitly denied charging any such fee for the rate. Is it normal for an installer to invent a separate rate fee that they then say can be added to total cost of system and the federal tax credit will also cover?
The $1,200 Tax Credit Discrepancy: The installer listed my state rebate on the proposal but calculated the 30% federal tax credit before subtracting it. Because the IRS requires the state rebate to be subtracted first, my actual credit was $1,200 short of what they proposed. Is it standard practice for solar companies to intentionally manipulate the math this way to inflate the projected federal tax credit?
The installer is currently refusing to discuss the math or the $2,000 fee discrepancy with me. I just want to know if this kind of shifting paperwork and inflated rebate math is a standard occurrence in the solar industry, or if this is completely out of line.