Essential Connect: Abbotsford solar company accused of misleading customers
A Melbourne solar business has been accused of using aggressive sales tactics to get customers to sign up to bogus deals.
South East
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A solar company boss has been accused of using aggressive sales tactics to get people to sign up to dodgy deals during the pandemic.
Essential Connect director Sunny Srinivasan is also facing accusations he owes staff thousands of dollars in pay entitlements.
It comes after the Federal Court earlier this year found Mr Srinivasan had previously used aggressive sales tactics and misled consumers while director of Dandenong South-based Vic Solar.
Raquel Kawiti, who managed Essential Connect’s Abbotsford call centre, said staff had been given “aggressive” scripts to use when cold calling residents, including telling them signing up to the deals would help “cover your electricity usage” as it “skyrocketed” during COVID-19.
Essential Connect, which was set up in March last year, also allegedly employed doorknockers to try and get people to sign up to a “community bulk-buy” solar deal.
Ms Kawiti said Mr Srinivasan had “dropped off the edge of the earth” in January, and had blocked staff phone numbers.
When she went to collect things from the office last month, no one was there and files appeared to have been taken from Mr Srinivasan’s office.
“I tried calling him from a friend’s phone in case he had blocked my number but I couldn’t get hold of him,” she said.
“No one has seen or heard from him since late January — he’s just disappeared.
“But he’s definitely screwed a fair few people over.”
Customers were offered no upfront fees and a $1000 cashback payment upon installation.
Ms Kawiti said several people who had signed up for the Essential Connect deals had complained they had not received the services or the cashback.
Documents seen by the Leader show staff and service providers used by Mr Srinivasan’s company are owed more than $13,400.
In January, the Federal Court found Vic Solar and Mr Srinivasan, 31, had breached Australian Consumer Law by making misleading representations to consumers and by failing to comply with legal protections for unsolicited consumer agreements.
Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the outcome served as a stern warning to all sellers that aggressive tactics and misleading consumers would not be tolerated.
“Businesses cannot avoid responsibility for dodgy sales practices by using lead generators”, she said.
The Leader has made several attempts to contact Mr Srinivasan.
Consumer Affairs has been contacted regarding the most recent allegations.
