How to Avoid Getting Scammed on Factory Solar in Thailand: Red Flags, Contract Traps & How to Verify
Stories of people getting burned on solar are everywhere in Thailand — deposits that vanish, warranties that are just talk, payback numbers that are wildly inflated. This page is a neutral guide to help you protect yourself — not to point fingers at who is a scammer. It gives you the warning signs to watch for, what to ask, and the documents to demand before you pay. The same standard applies to CapSolar itself.
General information, not case-specific advice
This page is general educational information to help buyers protect themselves. It is not legal or financial advice specific to your situation, and it does not accuse any particular company of wrongdoing. For high-value decisions or contracts, always consult a licensed engineer, lawyer, or financial adviser, and verify documents directly with the relevant government authorities.
How do you know if a solar company is trustworthy and won't scam you? Watch for these 5 red flags: (1) an unusually high deposit (over 30–40%) or pressure to transfer money fast; (2) a price far below market with no rational explanation; (3) refusal to show มอก. certificates, real project references, or take you to a live, operating site; (4) verbal-only warranties with no named legal entity backing them in the contract; (5) a payback calculation that looks too good with no stated assumptions (tariff, degradation, O&M cost). Before you pay, ask to see four documents: the company registration, the relevant licenses/standards, a list of real reference projects you can call, and a draft contract that puts the warranty and payment terms in writing.
5 red flags to watch for before you pay
No single sign proves anyone is a scammer 100%, and good companies may show one for a legitimate reason. But when several appear together — or they can't explain them — slow down and verify more before committing.
- Unusually high deposit or pressure to transfer fast — factory solar is normally paid in milestones (deposit → equipment on site → installation complete → commissioning/handover). A large up-front lump sum (over 30–40%) or pressure to pay "today" is a warning.
- A price far below market with no explanation — suspiciously cheap usually means lower-grade panels/inverters, sub-standard mounting, or design and permit work quietly removed. Ask for an itemised cost breakdown to compare; if one bid is far lower, ask what was cut.
- Refusing to show certificates, real references, or take you to a live site — a company that does real work is proud to show มอก. certificates for the equipment, a project list, and will happily connect you to past customers or take you to a working system. Constant dodging is a signal.
- Verbal warranties with no named backer — "25-year warranty" means nothing unless the contract names which legal entity stands behind it and whether that entity will still exist. Read up on warranties and insurance in detail.
- A payback promise that looks too good with no assumptions shown — anyone who guarantees "3-year payback" or "cut your bill 80%" without stating the tariff used, the annual degradation rate, and whether O&M is included is quoting a number out of thin air. Sanity-check it with our own calculator.
Contract traps to read carefully before signing
Most problems aren't about the headline price — they hide in the small contract terms people skim past. Here are the clauses that most often cause disputes, and what to insist is written clearly.
| Contract area | Common trap | Insist it states |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | Just "25-year warranty" with no split between panel, inverter and workmanship, and no named backer | Each warranty layer split out + the legal entity backing it + the claim process |
| Payment milestones | Most money paid before equipment arrives or before commissioning, leaving you no leverage if work stalls | A meaningful final milestone tied to passing commissioning/handover |
| Performance guarantee | No guaranteed energy-yield figure, or no remedy if output falls below what was promised | A guaranteed yield + how it's measured + what happens if it's missed |
| O&M after year one | "We'll take care of it" with no price, scope or response-time in writing | O&M scope, price and response time (SLA) in writing |
| Document handover | No as-built drawings, permit paperwork or manuals handed over — making future maintenance or switching contractors hard | A full handover document list, including as-builts and approved permits |
For the deep question set to interview each bidder, see the 12 questions to ask before signing an EPC.
What to verify: a due-diligence checklist before you decide
These five things you can verify yourself — mostly free and quick. Do them before paying any deposit.
Company registration and age
Ask for the juristic-person registration number and check it against the DBD (Department of Business Development) database — confirm it's real, how long it has operated, and that its registered objectives match energy work. A new company isn't automatically bad, but should offset that with a provable track record and team.
Equipment standards (มอก. / IEC)
Ask to see standards certificates for the panels and inverter. Thailand has reference standards such as มอก. 2210 (PV modules), มอก. 2606-2557 (grid-connection characteristics) and มอก. 2607 (inverter anti-islanding protection). You can check the มอก. mark on the TISI database. Imported panels usually cite the international IEC 61215/61730 standards — ask for the model number and test report to compare.
Licenses and required permits
Electrical design should be signed off by a licensed engineer (ก.ว. license from the Council of Engineers). Grid connection must clear PEA/MEA under the ERC Grid Code, and a real building/modification permit is needed. For factories, the รง.4 rules were eased in 2024 — read the permit & รง.4 guide before believing anyone who says "no permits needed at all."
Real, contactable references
Ask for a list of operating projects with capacity (kWp/MWp), year installed, and where possible, customer contacts to ask about the real experience — was after-sales good, did warranty claims actually work? Photos alone are easy to fake; a real customer you can talk to is the strongest evidence.
Insurance and liability
Ask whether they carry third-party liability and installation (CAR/erection) insurance — especially for risky factory-rooftop work. If something is damaged during installation, who is liable? See the O&M, insurance & financing guide.
How to fact-check a "payback" promise
A credible payback promise is transparent about its assumptions, not a single number out of context. Ask these four things and sanity-check them yourself — if they can't answer, the number can't be trusted.
- What electricity rate did they use, and is it TOU or flat? — payback swings hugely with the assumed tariff. Insist they use your actual bill, not a generic average.
- Did they include annual panel degradation? — panels lose a little output every year (typically around 0.5%/yr for quality modules, not the 3% some claim). See the facts on panel lifespan and degradation.
- Did they net out O&M, inverter replacement and insurance? — a payback that "forgets" running costs looks better than reality. Inverters usually need replacing around year 10–15.
- Is the number a "guarantee" or an "estimate"? — nobody can guarantee future tariffs or sunlight. The honest phrasing is "an estimate under these assumptions." Be skeptical of anyone guaranteeing an exact figure. Run your own numbers with the solar calculator and the factory ROI guide.
If you think you've already been scammed, what can you do
Keep all evidence: the contract, receipts, transfer slips, chat messages and site photos. Consult a lawyer about your contractual rights, and consider filing a police report or a complaint with consumer-protection authorities (such as the OCPB) if fraud is involved. This is general information, not legal advice — please consult a professional for your specific case.
CapSolar holds itself to this same standard
We believe the best way to earn trust is to welcome scrutiny. Our team invites you to apply every check on this page to us — ask to see our company registration, equipment certificates, real references, and a draft contract that states the warranty and payment terms clearly. With 80+ MWp installed across 150+ projects, we're happy to be verified.
About this guide
This guide was written to help Thai factory buyers protect themselves from procurement risk on solar, drawing on engineering practice, industry standards, and Thailand's permitting process. The goal is neutral education, not a sales pitch.
Written by the CapSolar technical team · Engineering content reviewed by the Chief Engineer · References Thai standards and regulations
Frequently asked questions
Want a company that welcomes every one of these checks?
Apply this page's checklist to us. The CapSolar team welcomes you to request documents, references, and a draft contract before you decide — no pressure, no rush.
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