Solar and battery sales tactics to walk away from

Walk away from any solar or battery seller who rushes you, won't put exact products and prices in writing, asks for a large deposit upfront, or suggests they've been sent by the government. A business with a good offer will give you time to compare. Pressure is often a sign the deal wouldn't survive a side-by-side look.

Tactics that should make you stop

"The rebate ends tomorrow"

This one is tricky, because there's a grain of truth in it. The federal battery rebate does step down on set dates. The factor used to calculate battery certificates is 6.8 until the end of 2026, then drops to 5.7 from 1 January 2027, with further steps after that.

What a seller may not tell you is that the rate is set by the date on your certificate of electrical compliance, which is issued after the installation. Signing a contract today doesn't lock in today's rate if the job isn't finished until January.

It also helps to know the size of the change. For a battery with 10 kWh usable capacity, the step down means 57 certificates instead of 68. At $37 to $40 per certificate, that's a difference of roughly $410 to $440. That's real money, but it's rarely a reason to skip getting a second quote. Our battery rebate calculator can estimate the numbers for your size.

How to check a deadline yourself: go to the Cheaper Home Batteries page on the website of DCCEEW (the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) and read the dates there. For state programs, check our rebates page. Some state programs have genuinely closed, such as Queensland's Battery Booster and the NSW battery install discount, so a seller promising one of those should raise questions.

"This price is only good for today"

A fair price rarely disappears overnight. A today-only deal is designed to stop you comparing. Ask for the quote in writing with an expiry date that gives you time to think, and take it.

Door knocking and cold calls

An unsolicited sale is one where a seller approaches you at your door or by phone without you asking. The ACCC's 2026 review found high pressure selling was widespread in these sales. You don't have to let anyone in, and you can ask them to leave. If you're interested, ask for a written quote and a business name, then check the business yourself before you agree to anything.

Vague "free" offers

Offers of a "free battery" or "free solar" often mean the cost is covered somewhere else: in a higher system price, a finance contract, a long agreement, or by describing the federal rebate as free. Ask what you'll pay in total, including any finance, fees and contract terms.

Quotes without model numbers

"Tier one panels" and "a premium lithium battery" are not product descriptions. Without the brand and model, you can't compare the quote, check the warranty or confirm the products are on the Clean Energy Council approved list, which the battery and inverter must be for the federal rebate. Our guide to comparing quotes shows what a clear quote includes.

Large deposits

Be wary of paying a large share of the price well before an installation date is set. Try to tie the final payment to a system that's installed, switched on, working and signed off. Don't sign anything saying the job is complete before it is. In 2026 the Clean Energy Regulator took action over false "complete" statements made by solar retailers.

"The government sent us"

Government programs are delivered through private businesses that meet the program rules. A seller who implies they work for the government, or have been sent by it, is using that trust to lower your guard. If in doubt, find the official program page yourself rather than using a phone number or link the seller gives you.

Other warning signs

• refusing to leave a written quote
• pushing you to sign on a tablet on the spot
• talking down every other quote you mention
• avoiding questions about who will actually install the system

A list of good questions to ask is in questions to ask a solar or battery installer.

What the ACCC found in 2026

The ACCC, Australia's national consumer regulator, released two reports this year and approved an updated industry code. All three matter if you're buying solar or a battery.

Unsolicited selling and lead generation (28 July 2026). The ACCC found misleading and high pressure unsolicited sales practices were widespread. It found consumer details collected through price comparison websites and online quote forms were being sold on through data brokers. It also said that unless it's made clear your details are being collected to generate a sales contact, a sale that follows is still unsolicited. The ACCC has proposed an opt-in model to replace the current 10-day cooling-off period, higher penalties, and clearly bringing lead generation into the rules. These are proposals, not law yet.

Home batteries (10 July 2026). Consumer reports to the ACCC about home batteries and new energy services rose 107% on the year before. The ACCC recommended that a code of conduct be mandatory for sellers and installers in the federal battery program, and that ombudsman coverage be widened. These are recommendations only.

The New Energy Tech Consumer Code (28 August 2026). The ACCC approved an updated version of this industry code. Businesses that sign it must take responsibility for third parties doing their marketing, including lead sellers.

If you found an installer through a quote website, including this one, it's fair to ask how the site is paid and who your details go to. Ours is explained at how we make money.

Your rights, in general terms

• Unsolicited agreements have extra protections. If you sign after a door-to-door visit or a phone call you didn't ask for, you generally get a cooling-off period, and sellers must follow rules about when they can call or visit, leaving when asked, and taking payment. The ACCC's review refers to the current cooling-off period as 10 days. Check the ACCC website for how the days are counted and how the rules apply to you.
• Businesses must not mislead you. That includes claims about price, products, savings, deadlines and government programs.
• Get it in writing. A written quote and contract give you something to rely on if there's a dispute.

For the details, go to the ACCC website or your state or territory fair trading or consumer affairs office (for example NSW Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs Victoria).

How to report a seller

1. Write it down. Note the business name, the seller's name, the date and time, and what was said. Keep flyers, texts, emails and quotes.
2. Contact the business in writing if you want to cancel or complain, and keep a copy.
3. Report it to the ACCC through its website.
4. Contact your state or territory fair trading office, which may be able to help with an individual dispute.
5. If the business signs the New Energy Tech Consumer Code, raise it with the code's administrator as well. The ACCC notes the code has no external dispute resolution, so fair trading is still your main route for a dispute.

The short version

• Pressure, today-only prices and vague "free" offers are reasons to slow down, not speed up.
• The battery rebate does step down on 1 January 2027, but the rate depends on your installation's compliance certificate date. Check it on the DCCEEW website yourself.
• Never accept a quote without model numbers, and avoid large upfront deposits.
• If you're approached at the door or by phone, you have extra protections, including a cooling-off period.
• Report misleading or pushy sellers to the ACCC and your state fair trading office.