Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Category: Blue Raven Solar

  • Do Your Due Diligence Before Purchasing Solar Panels


    Dear Readers:

    Earlier, I posted a review on the BBB web site regarding our nightmares with Blue Raven Solar. You may read it below.

    My review of Blue Raven Solar is DO NOT BUY FROM THEM! We signed our documents in August, 2020. November 30 was the first day scheduled to install our solar panels. The office of Blue Raven Solar sent me a text prior to the November 30 scheduled date telling me we needed to reschedule our installation due to the fact Blue Raven had lost one of their teams. The earliest date to install our solar panels would be December 28, 2020. I called them, letting them know this was not acceptable. I wanted the scheduled date of November 30, not December 28. On November 30, the techs arrived. Well, the solar panels were not on the property on that day. The next day two teams showed up; however, The Columbia, SC team was not trained. All they did was SMOKE cigarettes on our property. It has taken November, December, January, and February to get these solar panels in a working stage. Now that they are ready to turn on, we cannot do this until the inspectors finalize the installation.

    Believe me when I say:

    1. Blue Raven Solar is anxious to assist you when you apply for service. Afterwards? They could care less!
    2. Blue Raven Solar rarely returns phone calls. I’ve had to call so many times that they know who I am!
    3. Blue Raven Solar makes promises that NEVER happen! EXCUSES? Blue Raven Solar finds all types of excuses. EXCUSES…AND MORE EXCUSES!
    4. I could continue listing all the issues we’ve had. I’ve documented every one! The file I have looks like a manuscript! When someone from their office contacted me last week, he (and MANY other team PLAYERS) assured me they would get to the bottom of this. He apologized for my being so displeased, and he reassured me I would be happy with them soon. THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I CERTAINLY DO NOT BELIEVE.
    5. What exactly are the issues we’ve endured with Blue Raven Solar??? We failed to receive our 2020 Solar Energy Property Credit since our solar panels are not working yet! Due to the improper installation/scheduling delays — NOT DUE TO OUR ELECTRIC COMPANY — BERKELEY ELECTRIC, but due to the lack of scheduling at Blue Raven Solar! In all honesty, it appears that Blue Raven Solar makes promises to customers; however, they fail to honor those promises!

    Please, do your due diligence before you sign a contract with them. Undoubtedly, BLUE RAVEN SOLAR has the worst customer service I’ve ever dealt with. They fail to return phone calls. They fail to answer emails. One email I sent to them requesting updates and service on December 23, 2020, NEVER GOT A REPLY. They blamed the holidays. Excuses. EXCUSES. E-X-C-U-S-E-S! On December 28, I called Blue Raven Solar requesting a response from the email I SENT ON December 23, 2020. I spoke with Melissa. She assured me Jacob would reply. “He wasn’t there…” Imagine that!

    Later, we heard from Southstar Electric in response to the electric issues we had. Blue Raven Solar approved the electric issues at their expense but the permit could take two days.

    January 8, 2021 — again I phoned Blue Raven Solar since no one returns phone calls, or phones to let the customer know WHEN and IF Blue Raven Solar would schedule the work. Melissa said she would contact the field manager to get this scheduled.

    On several dates, we had no knowledge of Blue Raven scheduled to work on our property. They simply SHOWED UP!

    Now, it’s February, 2021. Still WAITING!

    Earlier this week, Blue Raven Solar phoned me to let me know they had been in contact with our electric company to get this inspection completed. He assured me he would phone me Thursday to let me know the date and time. LAUGH. LAUGH — LAUGH. We never heard from him!

    Friday, a tech from Blue Raven Solar arrived. Apparently, the inspection hasn’t been scheduled. With the ethics and customer service lacking in the Blue Raven Solar organization who knows what will happen and IF we will EVER be able to have WORKING solar panels! Yesterday, the tech said our solar panels SHOULD be working no later than NEXT FRIDAY! FEBRUARY 19, 2021. I have my doubts! Meanwhile, our electric bills continue rising. Oh. Blue. Raven. Solar. Your entire corporation needs major customer service skills. Your techs need training. Your management NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND BLUE RAVEN SOLAR NEEDS TO ANSWER EMAILS AND RETURN PHONE CALLS AND THEY NEED TO TRAIN THE CREWS NOT TO SMOKE ON THE CUSTOMERS PROPERTY! I imagine IF I drained my pond, I would find cigarette butts. All to the credit of Blue Raven Solar!

    I pray this nightmare will end soon. If ever you speak with Blue Raven Solar about solar panels, DO NOT SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE! If you do, you will have NIGHTMARES! Do YOUR Due Diligence and run away from them!

  • Do You REALLY Want Solar Panels???


    Dearest Readers:

    If you are considering hiring a company for the installation of solar panels, please reconsider. The epistle below might enlighten you just a bit.
    These issues started in August, 2020. On December 28, 2020 — WE’RE STILL WAITING!

    By now, you’re probably aware of the RUNAROUND, and LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM WE’VE ENDURED — just to get definitive answers regarding our installation of solar panels. Now, it appears we are LOCKED into waiting. AND Waiting…AND WAITING  — AGAIN! 
    To say I’ve tolerated enough of this is an understatement. I should mention the property I’m referring to is our home.
    After the Charleston crew finished installing the solar panels it was discovered we need conduit installed under the house. Wes suggested an electrician would be contacted. We’ve waited for over two weeks for someone to contact us, only getting a response from an electrician after I sent a sarcastic email to Blue Raven Solar demanding a reply.
    The email I mentioned was sent on December 12, 2020,at 5:41 PM. A reply was sent to me by Jacob Johnson December 14, 2020 at 7:58 PM. Now, it is December 23. Christmas is only TWO DAYS AWAY! By now, I imagine your office excuse will be “IT’S CHRISTMAS!”
    Bah Hum Bug! 
    I should mention, I’ve done my homework and research recognizing our mistake was signing a contract with Blue Raven Solar. I am a reporter. A well-seasoned writer and author! Are you aware of the non-complimentary reviews Blue Raven Solar has received? THERE ARE MANY!

    My biggest concern now is getting the Solar Energy Property Credit for 2020. According to Form 1350 SC SCH.TC-58 State of South Carolina Department of Revenue SOLAR ENERGY PROPERTY CREDIT:
    ‘The credit is earned in the year the property is placed in service…”
    When we met with Isaac Jacobsen of Blue Raven Solar, he assured us we WOULD RECEIVE A REBATE FOR 2020. For our household, it appears to be due to the lack of proper installation/scheduling — including the delays in getting scheduled (NOT DUE TO BERKELEY ELECTRIC – BUT DUE TO BLUE RAVEN SOLAR) AND THE MANY ISSUES WE’VE ENDURED – I IMAGINE ONE OF YOUR CREWS OR MANAGEMENT WILL TELL US THIS INSTALLATION CANNOT BE FINISHED UNTIL 2021. 
    I am holding Blue Raven Solar 100% responsible for all of these issues. And, I anticipate Blue Raven Solar will give us a $2000 rebate from your company since it appears we will not have the conduit done before Christmas (two days from the date of this email) nor will our solar panels be activated to lower our electric bills.
    Your company is a disgrace. All I wanted to know was a definitive DATE for all of this to be scheduled and completed. No one, I repeat NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME TO GIVE US A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.
    My next move will be an attorney – UNLESS I GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER – NOT THE RUNAROUND!
    The only way you, BLUE RAVEN SOLAR, can resolve this is to verbalize the dates. I EXPECT TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WITHIN 24 HOURS FROM NOW – DECEMBER 23, 2020 – 7:08 PM EST.
    No excuses for the holiday or Covid-19 are acceptable. I’ve tolerated this B-S long 
    Regards, Barbie Perkins-Cooper

    UPDATE – December 28, 2020. Of course no one has bothered to contact us, so I phoned them again. I’ve lost count as to how many times I’ve had to contact this company JUST TO GET AN ANSWER.

    According to the pleasant lady on the phone, after checking with someone – PROBABLY A COMPUTER – “our electrical conduit installation has been approved, and someone will contact us today.”

    I ask you, my readers, would you dare to hold your breath until they phone?

    I THINK NOT!

    THIS SAGA WILL CONTINUE. UPDATES TO FOLLOW!!!