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How to Handle a Spam Text from a Solar Company

If you are receiving a spam text from a solar company, you may be entitled to compensation under federal law. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that puts strict rules on how companies can contact consumers, and it sets statutory damages at $500 per violation. If a court finds the violation was willful or knowing, that amount can increase to $1,500 per text. Many solar panel spam text campaigns use automated dialing systems, which are heavily regulated. Unless a company has your prior express written consent to send you marketing messages this way, those texts are likely illegal. This means the constant stream of unwanted texts about solar energy, new government programs, or reducing your electric bill could be a source of significant financial recovery.

What Does Federal Law Say About Solar Company Spam Texts?

The primary law governing unwanted marketing messages is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, or TCPA. This law was designed to protect consumers from the nuisance and privacy invasion of unsolicited calls and texts. For a solar company to legally send you marketing texts using an automated system, they must first obtain your "prior express written consent." This is a high standard that requires a clear and conspicuous disclosure informing you that you are agreeing to receive marketing messages from that specific company. Simply entering your phone number on a website to get a quote or clicking a box buried in the fine print of a terms of service agreement often does not meet this legal requirement. The consent must be unambiguous and demonstrate that you knowingly agreed to be spammed. Therefore, many of the unsolicited solar texts you receive are sent in violation of the TCPA.

How Do I Know if a Text Violates the TCPA?

Determining if a solar text violates the TCPA usually comes down to two key factors: the technology used and your consent. The law primarily targets messages sent using an autodialer, which is technology that can store or produce telephone numbers to be called, using a random or sequential number generator. For mass marketing campaigns, the use of an autodialer is almost always presumed. The second, and more critical factor, is whether you gave the sender proper consent. If you have never done business with the company and did not sign a clear, written agreement to receive their texts, any automated marketing message they send is a potential violation. This is true even if you once inquired online about solar panels. That single inquiry does not grant them, or any third parties they sell your information to, a perpetual right to text you. This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Can You Really Get Paid for Spam Texts?

Yes, the TCPA specifically provides a private right of action, which means consumers can sue companies for violations and recover monetary damages. The law sets statutory damages at $500 for each text that violates the rules. This amount can be tripled to $1,500 per text if you can prove the company sent the message willfully or knowingly, meaning they knew they were breaking the law or showed a reckless disregard for it. Because these damages are per violation, a campaign of just a few illegal texts can add up quickly. For example, receiving ten unlawful texts from a single solar marketer could result in a claim worth $5,000 to $15,000. You can learn more about how damages are calculated by reading our guide on TCPA Spam Text Damages: How Much Can You Recover?. Many of these cases are settled out of court, and a review of major TCPA settlements shows that companies pay hundreds of millions of dollars collectively each year to resolve these claims, as seen in our TCPA Settlement Tracker.

The "STOP" Request Rule and Solar Marketers

Beyond the rules for consent, companies that send text message advertisements must provide a way for you to opt out. The most common method is by replying with the word "STOP." Once you send a STOP request, the company is legally required to honor it within a reasonable period, typically interpreted as no more than 10 business days. Any marketing text you receive from that sender outside of a final confirmation message after that window is a separate and clear violation of the TCPA. These are often the easiest violations to prove. If you have a text history showing that you replied STOP and the solar company continued to send you marketing messages, you have strong evidence for a claim. This is a form of willful violation that could entitle you to the higher $1,500 damage award per message. If you are struggling with this issue, it's worth learning how to stop spam texts legally and get paid for violations.

Examples of Illegal Solar Spam Texts

Illegal solar texts often share common characteristics. They may seem vague, create a false sense of urgency, or refer to government programs that sound official. Here are a few realistic examples of what a spam text from a solar company might look like:

Act now! New federal rebates for solar in [Your City] are expiring. See if your home qualifies for a zero-down installation and cut your power bill by 70%. Visit SolarRebatesNow.biz

Hi [Your Name], it's Sarah from Green Energy Partners. Following up on your previous interest in solar. We have new panel incentives that can save you thousands. Are you free for a quick chat this week?

This is a an urgent message from ABC Solar about your property at [Your Address]. Please call us back at 888-555-1234 to discuss new state net metering changes affecting your eligibility.

If you receive texts like these without having given explicit permission, you should save them as evidence. You may have a valid claim and can learn more about how to sue for spam texts and get paid $500 per message.

How to Check Your Phone for Violations

Finding evidence of TCPA violations on your phone is easier than you might think. Follow these simple steps to locate potential claims related to unwanted texts about solar or other topics. Taking a few minutes to do this can uncover valuable evidence for a potential lawsuit.

Check Your Phone Right Now

One of the fastest ways to find TCPA violations is to look for instances where your instructions were ignored.

Open your messages and search the word STOP.

Did any companies continue to send you marketing texts after you told them to stop? Each one of those messages sent after you opted out is a potential violation of federal law. Companies count on consumers not knowing their rights or thinking it is too much trouble to pursue a claim. At SpamClaims.com, we make the process simple. You can submit screenshots at SpamClaims.com for a free, no-obligation case review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for solar companies to text me?

It depends. It is not automatically illegal for a solar company to text you. However, it becomes illegal under the TCPA if they send you marketing messages using an automated dialing system without first getting your prior express written consent. If you never signed anything clearly agreeing to receive marketing texts from that specific company, the texts are likely illegal. Unwanted texts about solar are a common source of TCPA violations because customer leads are often bought and sold to multiple vendors, none of whom have proper consent to contact you.

How much is a TCPA solar text lawsuit worth?

A TCPA claim for a spam text from a solar company has a specific value set by law. You can recover $500 for every single text that violates the TCPA. That amount can be increased to $1,500 per text if a court determines the company acted knowingly or willfully. The total value of a lawsuit depends entirely on the number of illegal texts you received. While individual claims can be valuable, many are resolved as part of larger class action lawsuits. You can review our TCPA Settlement Tracker to see how much companies have paid to settle similar cases in the past.

What if I don't know who the solar company is?

This is a very common problem. Many spam texts come from anonymous numbers or use vague company names. Do not worry if you cannot identify the sender. The most important thing you can do is save the phone number the text came from and the exact date and time it was received. Attorneys who specialize in TCPA litigation have investigation tools, known as discovery, that can be used to trace the number back to the responsible company or marketing agency. Just be sure to preserve all the evidence you have.

What happens after I submit my claim?

After you submit your evidence through a platform like SpamClaims.com, your information is reviewed by a legal team. A paralegal or attorney will assess your screenshots and the details you provide to determine if you have a valid TCPA claim. If the evidence looks strong, they will reach out to you to discuss the next steps, which typically involves signing an agreement to have them represent you. These cases are almost always handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they win your case. The process is designed to be risk-free for consumers.

TLDR

Submit your spam screenshots for attorney review

This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.