GoodLeap Financed Your Solar System. Now They’re on the Hook for the Fraud.
GoodLeap LLC is one of the largest residential solar loan companies in the United States. If you had solar panels installed on your Texas home in the last several years, there is a good chance GoodLeap financed the purchase — even if you did not choose them directly.
Here is how it works: A solar company sends a salesperson to your door. The salesperson makes promises about your electric bill, your tax refund, and how much money you will save. You sign a purchase agreement. Then the salesperson hands you a tablet and tells you to sign a few more documents — and suddenly, you have a $40,000 to $100,000 loan with GoodLeap.
When those promises turn out to be false — and they almost always do — most homeowners assume they are stuck. The solar company blames the lender. GoodLeap says they are “just the lender.” Nobody takes responsibility.
But under federal law, GoodLeap is not “just the lender.” GoodLeap is legally responsible for the fraud committed by the solar company that sold you the system.
How GoodLeap Solar Loans Work
Understanding GoodLeap’s business model is important because it explains why GoodLeap is liable for what the solar company did.
GoodLeap does not install solar panels. GoodLeap partners with solar installation companies — companies like Suntria (Arizona Solar Solutions), Southern Solar, Solcius, Freedom Solar, and dozens of others. These solar companies use GoodLeap’s financing platform to close sales.
When you signed your solar contract, the solar company simultaneously arranged your GoodLeap loan. The salesperson handled everything. GoodLeap paid the solar company directly, and you were left with the loan.
This arrangement is the key to your legal rights.
The GoodLeap Lien on Your Home
When GoodLeap financed your solar system, they filed a UCC-1 financing statement — a lien — on your property. Most homeowners were never told this would happen.
What the GoodLeap lien means for you:
- Selling your home: When you sell, the title company will discover the GoodLeap lien. You will be required to pay off the entire remaining loan balance at closing — potentially $40,000 to $100,000 — before the sale can go through. We have seen homeowners lose tens of thousands of dollars from their sale proceeds because of a GoodLeap lien.
- Refinancing: The lien can prevent you from refinancing your mortgage or complicate the process.
- Due-on-sale clause: Some GoodLeap loan agreements contain a due-on-sale clause that requires you to pay off the full loan balance if you sell or transfer your home.
Many homeowners do not learn about the lien until they try to sell or refinance — and by then, GoodLeap has significant leverage.
Common Problems with GoodLeap Solar Loans
We represent Texas homeowners in cases against GoodLeap. The complaints we see follow the same patterns:
Promised electric bill savings that never materialized.
You were told your electric bill would be “$0” or “almost nothing.” Instead, you are still paying $100 to $200 per month in electric bills on top of your GoodLeap loan payment of $200 to $400 per month.
False tax refund promises.
The sales representative told you that you would receive a large tax refund — $10,000, $20,000, even $30,000 — after installing solar panels. The federal solar tax credit is a tax credit, not a refund check. If you do not owe enough in federal income taxes, you get little or nothing. Some homeowners were instructed to sign their tax refund over to GoodLeap.
Buyback promises that never happened.
You were told that if you were unsatisfied, the solar company would buy back the panels. No one has ever honored this promise.
Loan payment reimbursement that stopped.
Some homeowners were promised 12 to 18 months of loan payment reimbursements from the solar company. The reimbursements either stopped early or never started.
Hidden lien you were never told about.
You did not know GoodLeap would file a lien on your home until you tried to sell or refinance.
Solar company went bankrupt.
The solar company that installed your system no longer exists. It may have filed bankruptcy or simply closed its doors. GoodLeap still expects you to pay, even though the company that made the promises — and that GoodLeap paid your loan proceeds to — is gone.
What We Have Achieved for GoodLeap Clients
Arnell Law has represented Texas homeowners against GoodLeap in court and in arbitration. Our results include:
- Loan cancellations — eliminating the remaining balance on GoodLeap loans
- Lien removals — terminating GoodLeap’s UCC lien so homeowners can sell or refinance their homes
- Cash recoveries — monetary damages paid directly to our clients
- Multiple bench trial victories against solar companies partnered with GoodLeap
We try cases. We do not just file paperwork and hope for a settlement. When GoodLeap refuses to do the right thing, we take them to trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue GoodLeap even if they did not install the solar panels?
Yes. Under the FTC Holder Rule, GoodLeap is legally responsible for the claims you could bring against the solar company. GoodLeap financed the transaction and paid the solar company directly — and the Holder Rule makes them accountable for the fraud.
What if the solar company that installed my panels went bankrupt?
This actually strengthens your claim against GoodLeap. When the solar company disappears, GoodLeap is the only remaining party that profited from the transaction. The Holder Rule ensures you are not left without a remedy just because the seller went out of business.
Can GoodLeap foreclose on my house because of the UCC lien?
A UCC-1 financing statement is not a mortgage. However, the lien creates complications when you try to sell or refinance. GoodLeap uses the lien as leverage — and in some cases, homeowners have been forced to pay off the full loan balance at closing to clear the lien.
Do I have to go to court, or is there arbitration?
Many GoodLeap loan agreements contain an arbitration clause. Whether your case proceeds in court or arbitration depends on the specific terms of your agreement. We handle cases in both forums and have achieved results in both.
Free Consultation
Are you a Texas homeowner with a GoodLeap solar loan? Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will review your loan agreement, explain your legal options, and tell you whether you have a case.
Arnell Law, PLLC
Phone: (214) 390-2075
Serving homeowners across all of Texas.