BP Solar Panel Product Recall - I need some advice

[NKirby]

In 2004 we installed 42 BP 160 panels on our asphalt shingle roof. We added 10 more 170's in 2006. In 2012, we were contacted by BP that some of our panels might be included in their product recall. It turns out that our 10 170's are, but the 160's are not. They offered to pay us a flat rate of just under $3,000, or they would replace the panels with some other brand, in exchange for being released from their panel warranty.

I want to continue with the size of my current system, so I began asking questions about the options they were offering me and I wanted to make a decision about how to proceed. I spoke with the BP representative, as well as the service provider they sent to my house, and neither one could satisfactorily answer my questions about what size and brand of panels that they were going to place on my roof. They said that they would install whichever types of panels that they could acquire at the time. I think that with good reason I refused this offer as I believe that I have the right to know before I sign anything what they are going to put on my roof. After all, I chose BP originally because they were a long-established company and I also was satisfied with the esthetic appearance of their panels. When neither BP, nor their service provider (who never even called me back), could answer my questions, I just let it go and they closed the case.

Now, BP has sent me another letter and I am back I in contact with them again. Once again they are offering to replace the 10 170's, but do nothing about my 160's. It is the same offer as before. I spoke with their service provider that they sent this time and he informed me that if they were to install new panels together with my old ones, they would probably have to cantilever the panels off one end of the roof. Also, there would be no way that they would esthetically match what I already have as BP no longer produces like panels. This is my problem, what they are offering me is not what I originally paid for. I chose a system that is a cohesive whole, one that looks neat and organized of my roof. They want to give me a mix-matched system and I don't think that I should have to settle for that.

Is there anyone out there who has had any similar experiences with the BP recall? Any advice on how I should proceed? Anything would be helpful at this point.

Thanks so much.

[sensij]

They are willing to pay $3000 for 1700 W of panels? You could buy your own replacements, pay to have them installed, and still have some money left over. I would take the cash, and leave the panels up there until something actually goes wrong with them (assuming the recall isn't for a fire hazard).

[NKirby]

The recall is for what BP titles "A possible thermal event." I'm pretty sure that is legal-speech for "Fire." If I choose to take the money and sign to terminate BP responsibility for the warranty, the panels must be removed and properly disposed of. BP will not allow me to keep the panels. My problem is that I think they should replace all of my panels, even the 160's as well, but those are not in the recall. I did not originally pay for a mix-matched group of panels on my roof and that is what BP thinks I should settle for. I don't think I should have to. As well, I have some friends with the same 160's who have had problems with them burning out one at a time as well.

I would like to know if anyone has had experience dealing with BP on the recall and how they handled coming to reasonable terms to settle the issue that BP sold defective panels.

[sensij]

No panel warranty anywhere promises a replacement of like kind or color. Good luck, but i think you are expecting too much. What you "paid for" is written in the warranty... no more, no less. I would just be glad BP is being so up front about it, and again, take the cash.

[NKirby]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I understand that I am expecting a lot here and maybe like you said, I am expecting too much. I think a part of my problem with BP is that for years they knowingly sold panels that had problems, and now I am expected to be inconvenienced with the fallout of their irresponsibility. I think that they should be responsible to make it right. They do not even guarantee what types of panels they will put on your roof. They buy up whatever panels that they can at the time of replacement. I spoke with one of their service providers and he told me that he had seen them use some inferior quality panels as the replacement. That is not what I originally paid for when I decided to purchase panels from what I thought at the time was a longstanding established company.

[sensij]

You can see another thread on this topic here.

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?9132-BP-Solar-Panel-Problems

I'll PM the member who described a situation like yours, since you don't have enough posts to do so yet. Maybe they will let us know how it went.

[NKirby]

Thank you so much for the link to the older thread. I will check that out and see if I can glean some information from it. Also, thank you very much for the PM to the other member who had a similar issue. I really appreciate your help.