If you're a prospective buyer and or interested in solar, you should read this review.
8/13/2017:
When we were first interested in going solar, we contacted a handful of companies before finally settling with Goldin Solar. Albert, who is the sales consultant came to our home to run us through our options. He's very friendly and knowledgable when it comes to solar. He's also very easy to contact regarding any issues that may arise. We honestly signed the contract because of Albert and assumed that the he was an embodiment to Goldin Solar standards. 6 stars.
8/14/2017:
"We are currently running 6-8 weeks from signature to install." All finance agreements were signed and we are ecstatic to go solar. A couple days past and we have our site survey. I also messaged the project manager letting him know of our preferences just to ensure everything goes smoothly.
9/06/2017:
Week 4. We receive the preliminary layout and it's completely wrong. I immediately messaged the project manager and let him know. I was told I'd receive the revised plans the following day. Next day came and nothing received. 4 stars.
9/10/2017:
Hurricane Irma.
9/20/2017:
At this point, I'm a bit concerned and contact Daren (the owner). He was very friendly and immediately resolved all our concerns and issues at hand. Our main concern was being left in the dark regarding updates with our project status so it was quite assuring to hear Daren himself answer all our concerns. Great guy and very knowledgable! We received updated layouts the next day. :) 5 stars.
10/12/2017:
We received the engineering plans and give the go-ahead! Next step, submit the plans to the building department.
10/23/2017:
I decide to check the Building Department website trying to locate our plans for the solar panels. To my surprise, nothing submitted yet. As bewildered as I was, I decided to contact the individual giving me weekly updates and asked for the status of the plans (not mentioning what I already knew). I received a response stating it was in permitting and waiting for approval (which I obviously knew wasn't true). I asked if she can tell me the Process Number so that I could track the status on the building department website. No response. Ironically, later that day, I again checked the Building Department website and noticed that plans were submitted hours after I decided to contact the individual. Laughable. 3 stars.
11/10/2017:
Week 13. I still haven't received any real updates since 10/12/2017. From time to time I check the building department website to see if there are any updates. We're really frustrated at this point so I email the Director of permitting information at the Building Department for some information and receive the following:
"The plans were submitted on 10/23/17, uploads and reviews were completed by 10/26/17 by the Department.. At this time the plans are disapproved by structural, please click on the process number below to view disapproval remarks. No plan rework has been submitted."
A couple things to take away from this. Our plans were submitted on 10/23 and disapproved on 10/26. Just 3 days later, yet today is 11/10 (15 days later) and I have yet to receive a single update from anyone at Goldin Solar. I messaged the individual that's supposed to give us weekly updates and she says they called us 4 days ago (didn't receive any call). When I asked which number they contacted us, she said she doesn't know because they called from a trainees phone who has since been fired. Can you believe it? 1 star.
Conclusion:
We are really trying to be good customers and not try to be annoying in any way but, this whole process of going solar has been a nightmare ridden with delays and lies. I understand the hurricane, some miscommunication here and there, but we were hoping things would look brighter (pun intended) by now. It's very discouraging to realize today is 11/10 and plans still haven't been resubmitted, especially since they are saying that it was a minor fix. For those keeping count, it's week 14. Again, trying to be good customers but SIGH. I will update this review with any developments.