A UK solar company has been shut down following a fraud investigation that uncovered a scheme targeting elderly consumers with false promises of government grant refunds. A second company linked to the case entered insolvency earlier in 2025.
According to findings by the UK government’s Insolvency Service, 80 complaints were lodged over cold calls and uninvited home visits made by representatives of Trident West Industries Ltd. and the connected firm Star Solar Ltd.
Investigators said sales agents specifically targeted people who already owned solar installations, pressuring them to buy additional parts or maintenance plans with assurances that government grant refunds would reimburse their payments.
In one case highlighted by the Insolvency Service, a customer paid GBP 3,420 for an inverter that was never delivered. After cancelling the order, they were persuaded to purchase a maintenance plan for GBP 1,883, with the remaining balance supposedly refundable — a refund that never materialised.
Financial analysis revealed that more than GBP 3.1 million ($4.0 million) passed through the companies’ bank accounts between May 2023 and January 2025. Just GBP 7,010 was returned to nine complainants, despite the total value of complaints and court judgments amounting to over GBP 413,000. The average age of the complainants was 76.
Trident West Industries Ltd. was wound up by order of the High Court in London on Oct. 28. Star Solar Ltd., connected through common director Terry Smith, entered voluntary liquidation in April 2025.
Mark George, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said the companies appeared to deliberately exploit vulnerable consumers through aggressive cold calling and doorstep sales tactics.
“Customers handed over their money believing they would receive solar equipment and maintenance plans and were repeatedly told government grants would refund their payments. The promised goods and services were not provided, and when customers tried to get their money back, the companies simply stopped responding,” George said.
“This is exactly the sort of predatory behavior that undermines consumer trust and will not be tolerated by the Insolvency Service.”
The listed director of both firms claimed he had no control over the companies’ bank accounts, no understanding of their assets or liabilities, and was unable to explain payments totaling more than GBP 1 million to various individuals and businesses.
A court-appointed official has now been assigned as liquidator of Trident West Industries Ltd.
