If you were misled, you have options

Being told your bill would disappear, that the system was free, that a tax credit would pay off the loan, or that you were only signing up for an inspection can all matter, even long after a cancellation window has closed.

  1. Your state's consumer protection law. Every state has a law against deceptive and unfair business practices. False promises about savings, costs, tax credits, or who you were dealing with may fall under Alabama's law.
  2. Missing paperwork and disclosures. Many states require specific disclosures and a written cancellation notice. If you never received them, a deadline may not have started, or the contract may have other problems.
  3. Your lender may share responsibility. When a seller arranges your financing, federal rules often let you raise the same claims against the lender that you have against the seller, up to the amount you paid. Check your loan for a notice about the FTC Holder Rule.
  4. Official complaints. Complaints to Alabama's agencies are free, create a record, and can lead to mediation or an investigation.
  5. Professional help. A solar attorney or solar exit company can review your documents and tell you which of these options fit your situation.

Not sure which option fits? Tell us what happened and we will help you see your options. It takes about two minutes.

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Your right to cancel

Alabama cancellation window

3 business days, financed home sales only

Alabama's Mini-Code lets you cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after you sign. It only covers consumer credit sales, where the seller extends or arranges the credit, that the seller personally solicited away from its place of business and you agreed to there. A solar purchase financed through the seller and sold at your home may be covered.

Source: Ala. Code §5-19-12 (definition in §5-19-1) · Checked November 1, 2026

Conditions that matter

  • Cancel by written notice to the seller. Your notice counts when it is delivered, or when it is mailed with correct address and postage. If the seller did not give you the required written notice of your right to cancel, you can cancel in any manner for up to one year after the sale.
  • Within 10 days after you cancel, the seller must return your payments, any trade-in (or its stated value), and any note you signed. You must make delivered goods available at your home if asked, and if the seller does not ask for them within 20 days after your notice, you can keep them without paying.
  • Does not apply to sales that follow negotiations at the seller's place of business, sales under an existing open-end credit plan, motor vehicle sales, or emergencies where you gave the seller a separate, dated, signed personal statement waiving the right (printed waiver forms are not allowed).

The state law only covers consumer credit sales, so a cash purchase or a loan you got on your own may not be covered. The federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you three business days to cancel a home sale of $25 or more, including cash sales, with a refund within 10 days. Alabama has no solar-specific cancellation law as of this check.

Canceling one agreement does not always cancel another. A separate loan, lease, or power purchase agreement can have its own terms, so check each document you signed. If the sale was made in Spanish or another language, read your rights when a contract is not in your language. To compare deadlines, see the cancellation period in every state.

Where to get help in Alabama

These are official agencies. Filing a complaint is free. An agency can investigate or mediate, but most cannot act as your lawyer or guarantee a refund.

Installer and contractor complaints

Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board, Office of Compliance and Consumer Affairs

The Board's advisory opinion says installing solar panels on a home requires its unlimited license. Complaints must be on its form, signed, notarized, and mailed as an original.

Visit the official page 1-800-304-0853

Consumer protection

Alabama Attorney General, Consumer Interest Division

A consumer specialist is assigned to your complaint. Filing is not a legal action, and the office does not give legal advice.

Visit the official page 1-800-392-5658

Utility billing and service

Alabama Public Service Commission, Consumer Services

Contact your utility first and keep notes of who you spoke with. File by phone, online, or by mail.

Visit the official page 800-392-8050

Before you contact anyone

  1. Gather every document you signed. The sales or installation agreement, any loan, lease, or power purchase agreement, and any change orders.
  2. Identify each company. The seller, installer, lender, and current servicer may be different businesses. Your latest statement shows who services your account now.
  3. Write down the timeline. When you were contacted, when you signed, when work started, and every promise made about savings or cost.
  4. Keep proof of every notice. Save emails, certified mail receipts, and the date you sent anything.

Guides for your situation

Questions to ask

  • Which agreement am I trying to cancel or change, and who is the other party to it?
  • What does my agreement say about cancellation, notice, and where to send it?
  • Did the seller give me the cancellation notice and disclosures required in my state?
  • Is my loan separate from my installation contract, and what happens to it if the contract is canceled?
  • Was a dealer fee built into my loan? Estimate it with our calculator.

National resources

General information, not legal advice.

This page can’t tell you whether a right applies to your agreement. For that, contact a licensed attorney or the agencies above.

Other states

Solar rules change at the state line. See every state and the review status of each.