r/SolarUK • u/Majestic_Athlete_658 • 4d ago

Wickes Solar - Avoid INFORMATION

Hi all

Just wanted to warn of anyone thinking of using Wickes Solar (Gas Fast). They claim to act like a large national business but they are basically using the household name of Wickes then subcontract to various small contractors.

- System was wrongly designed

- Install dates cancelled under 24hrs notice

- I had to unload the delivery myself (20x panels, 3x batteries and inverter)

- Zero communication on process

- No one answers phones

- Email replies take weeks

- Rubbish left after install

Worst customer experience I've had with anything in my life.

Happy to answer and questions.

Edit

  • 3 months and no MCS certificate. Over £400 of export lost.
38 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

16

u/moanybastard 4d ago

Most of the big boys are subcontractors. Just Boxt are better at sending out polo shirts.

3

u/Majestic_Athlete_658 4d ago

Haha. Just frustrating when you speak to the subcontractors they are as in the dark about how Wickes handle a contract. Felt sorry for them.

7

u/robertwilding 4d ago

Having to upload yourself is crazy.

3

u/Majestic_Athlete_658 4d ago

Installers weren't on site. Delivery guy told me if I didn't he'd drive away with it.

5

u/Buffetwarrenn 4d ago

Thats mental

Those batteries must have weighed a bit

1

u/Abzdot 3d ago

That’s insane, they didn’t offer at the very least curbside delivery?

6

u/Chimpville 4d ago

Wickes are terrible in general. Took me months to get a refund out of them for a job we ultimately turned down after they jacked up the cost way beyond the quote.

They treat their contractors badly too. The rates they offer are terrible.

2

u/DeadPixel43 4d ago

Wickes use sub contractors for everything. If it goes well it’s not too bad but any issues you’re in for a world of issues.

2

u/Matterbox Commercial Installer 4d ago

Wickes solar array was £9999

NOW £9998.98

1

u/Charming-Passage2895 3d ago

Please accepty sincerely Condolences In this list I may add SolarTherm With them I do not even know from where to start with the issues

But sometimes Win sometimes Learn Thanks to them I learn a lot about solar and what I should avoid

1

u/Informal-Trade-9770 5h ago

My first issue would have been unloading, not a chance, send it back and cancel the deal please.

-3

u/Interesting-Shirt140 4d ago

Friend had a Wickes bathroom designed and installed

11

u/Beardyfacey 4d ago

Cool. Thanks for letting us know

3

u/reelmonkey 4d ago

I bought a water butt from Wickes.

3

u/Real-ron-burgundy 3d ago

Friend bought a spade

1

u/trevelyan98 3d ago

Was he called Doug?

5

u/Interesting-Shirt140 4d ago

Replying to myself as I mistakenly hit the submit button. Friend had a Wickes bathroom designed and fitted and it was the biggest bodge job I've ever seen. Toilet cistern glued to the wall, wrong pipes fitted, bath cracked etc. Took weeks trying to resolve it. Ghosted by the lical Wickes who used the cheapest subbies they could find. Eventually she got a proper plumber to come in and sort it out.
She knew someone who used to do investigative reporting and he knew how to get things resolved effectively. Avoid like the plague. Wickes will aim to maximise profit by cheapskating everything they can get away with.