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 Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin'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

Wisconsin cancellation window

3 business days after signing

The Wisconsin Consumer Act lets you cancel a consumer purchase that began with an in-person sales pitch away from the seller's regular place of business, or with a mail or phone pitch aimed at you, and was completed away from that place, if it involves credit or is a cash sale over $25. You have until midnight of the third business day after the seller gives you the required written notice. A solar contract signed at your home is generally covered.

Source: Wis. Stat. §§423.201 to 423.205 · Checked November 1, 2026

Conditions that matter

  • Cancel by mailing any written notice to the seller. It counts once mailed, and Wisconsin's consumer agency suggests certified mail for proof. The seller must give you two copies of a "Customer's Right to Cancel" notice when or after you sign, and the three days do not start until it does. Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and listed holidays.
  • Within 10 days after you cancel, the seller must refund all payments and cancel the contract, and you owe no finance or other charges. Any trade-in must be returned within 20 days. If the seller does not pick up delivered goods within 20 days, you can keep them free.
  • The right is limited in emergencies where you decide a three-day delay would put health, safety, or property at risk. It is also limited by a separate dated waiver you write and sign yourself (printed waiver forms are not allowed), and where the seller has substantially begun work in good faith or goods cannot be returned in substantially the same condition. Real estate and auction sales are not covered.

The Consumer Act excludes consumer credit transactions where more than $25,000 is financed (Wis. Stat. §421.202(6)), so a larger financed solar system may not be covered. The federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule may still apply. Under the home improvement rule, you can also cancel later if the contractor misses the contract's deadlines, with unspent money returned within 15 days (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.07). Wisconsin has no solar-specific cancellation law as of this check, and the cancellation sections were last amended by 1991 Wis. Act 316.

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 Wisconsin

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 licensing

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)

Issues trade credentials such as dwelling contractor, electrical contractor, and electrician licenses, and reviews complaints against credential holders. It can only act against a credential and cannot recover money for you.

Visit the official page (608) 266-2112

Consumer protection

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Bureau of Consumer Protection

Enforces the home improvement and direct marketing rules and contacts the business about your written complaint. It cannot give legal advice or act as your private attorney.

Visit the official page 800-422-7128

Utility billing and service

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC)

Helps with electric, natural gas, and water service disputes. You must first try to resolve the dispute with your utility.

Visit the official page 1-800-225-7729

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.