Solar deposits under cloud after collapse of Solagex Australia, owing more than $3 million

A FIRM that touted itself as one of Australia's most established solar supply and installation companies has gone under owing more than $3 million.
 
Solagex Australia Pty Ltd ceased trading in early September and went into liquidation on October 29.
Customers and businesses from Queensland, Victoria, NSW and South Australia - including many who paid deposits between $500 and $5000 - never received systems.

Solagex was a national company, with its Queensland headquarters in Southport.
A creditor list compiled by liquidator David Ross, of Hall Chadwick, outlined 179 parties owed a total of $3.129 million.

Leading wholesale distributor Conergy Pty Ltd is out of pocket $2.5m, while other creditors include the Australian Taxation Office, AAPT, Workcover Queensland and the Office of State Revenue.

Mr Ross told The Courier-Mail that another company, Freetricity, had bought the business and was working with deposit holders to try to complete installations.

Noosa builder Peter Collins is among those waiting to see if they will recoup deposits
handed to Solagex before it hit hard times in a market that went into overdrive in the dying days of the State Government's 44 cents solar feed-in tariff, which ended on July 9.

Mr Collins said he paid $1210 last March but approached the firm a few months later to get his deposit back after having second thoughts.

"I had a big holiday planned so I asked for my money back. They stalled me and said that's no worries, we will delay your job until after you come home," he said.

"Now they've gone belly up and I'm not real hopeful of recouping my money.

"I've had two in my life - where companies have gone broke owing me money - and never seen a cent."
"Pro-solar" Chinchilla mum Joanna Embry said she decided to sign with Solagex in June before the government incentives were reduced.

She paid a 10 per cent deposit of $1531.20 and was annoyed to learn the firm had gone into liquidation.
"It could have been worse as they wanted a much bigger deposit than I agreed to.

"I paid by credit card and have checked with the bank to see if there is anything they can do. They have asked for more information and we'll just have to see what happens."

The Office of Fair Trading (Queensland) advises any customers who paid a deposit to Solagex for goods or services they did not receive to contact Hall Chadwick on 07 3211 1250.

news.com.au 3 Dec 2012

Solar companies like Solagex are committing fraud, against the consumer, where ultimately they are able to get away with the crimes they commit.

Australian law supports corporate criminals, especially when the crimes are committed against the masses.

Amongst other failed schemes like:

• set top box installations
• free roof insulation 

another fraud sponsored by the government.