November 22, 20223 yr Does anyone have any information on: https://www.sunsmart.co.za/ https://www.heatsmart.co.za/ Both using incomplete shopify template with terms like: Thanks in advance. Edited November 23, 20223 yr by system32
November 23, 20223 yr Scanning through the sites, I'd hazard a guess that it's still very new and not fully checked. There's lots of [INCLUDE ALL THAT APPLY TO YOUR BUSINESS] type of text in the privacy policy, as if it was copied from a template and they didn't know what to do. Physical address is listed as a PO Box. No matches for their company names on google maps. Some products don't have pricing on their product pages, eg the SolarMD batteries. Some products have template junk at the bottom of the page, eg the Sunsynk 5kw inverter. Same phone number listed for both sites and it's even the same number for branches in different areas of the country? Free shipping under their shipping policy on the solar site? I didn't go through the entire registration process to see what payment options are really presented, but maybe first contact them and ask whether the product can be collected at their premises. That might tilt the scale between the new company vs potential scammer.
November 23, 20223 yr Author I've been informed that these have been created by the same person as: solar-bay.co.za hello-solar.co.za Worth reading the public service announcement on solar-bay.co.za EDIT: Just confirmed that solarbay = hellosolar = heatsmart = sunsmart Edited November 30, 20223 yr by system32
November 30, 20223 yr This is a big concern. I recently made a purchase from them, going to a suite where they are doing an installation today. Will see what is there, might need to report this to the bank as fraud. Also spoke to Grant Mansell, have requested VAT number and also for them to deliver equipment immediately. Think the money might be down the drain. -------------------------------------------- Update ------------------------------------ Managed to get my money back. Reported Fraud with FNB. Payfast did not release the money. Told "Grant" I wanted to cancel and he told me he would refund as soon as Payfast money is in their account. This is also odd cause he got just instruct payfast to return the money. Luckily he would not have received it. He tried calling me, did not aswer. Send me a whatsapp stating he is still waiting for the money. Sent him one liner "That will not happen, all the best to Wendy" Wendy being Wendy Stevenson who is the listed owner on CIPC registration and also involved with solarbay (could be jonthan's wife?) 15 minutes later got a message from payfast that funds are being reversed with a instruction message from sunsmart that I cancelled and could be reversed. Be careful guys. Edited December 8, 20223 yr by GRV
November 30, 20223 yr Author 10 hours ago, GRV said: This is a big concern. I recently made a purchase from them, going to a suite where they are doing an installation today. Will see what is there, might need to report this to the bank as fraud. Also spoke to Grant Mansell, have requested VAT number and also for them to deliver equipment immediately. Think the money might be down the drain. Don't feel bad - join the club - I lost over R90,000. If they one day late immediately take action. post details of your experience on hello peter to warn others log a fraud case with police get a lawyer contact payfast and ask for a refund contact your bank and ask for a refund report business to SARS for VAT fraud His modus operandi is to give excuses until the customer gives up. I’ll be on-site next week as I’m just completing an installation… We on the way, it’s been crazy busy… I have to do software updates on the Inverter, so I can’t be on site, see you next week Sorry, we playing catch up due to weather setting installations back I’ve caught Covid-19 and have to be in isolation for 2 weeks (Sends some photos of Covid testing) Installation team member has died from Covid – just arranging the funeral – sorry will be there next week I’m busy organizing everything. Had to return to Cape Town. Will be back in Johannesburg next week. Thanks for your patience, but the installation team is now on builder’s holidays (16 Dec – 16 Jan). Have a wonderful Xmas and see you in January when the team is back. The installation team has let me down, I’m recruiting new workers and have to get them the certified “PV Green Card”, will take two weeks and then we will be there. I was scammed by a rogue supplier and am trying to recover from my loss. My partner in Johannesburg (Themba Phillip Tsotetsi) is nowhere to be found, I will be in Johannesburg to do the install myself. Sorry for missing the deadlines, I lost my mother-in-law, will be up after the funeral. I’m busy organizing for the supplier to deliver the equipment directly to you. (I ask for the courier details / supplier address so I can collect – but these aren’t forthcoming). My business has gone to shit because of bad Hello Peter reviews – can your remove the review so I can pick up my business. I was on my way when I had an accident – do you want photos of the damaged car? I’m trying my best, will you accept a different inverter as that model is out of stock This is a delay tactic whilst the customer researches if the replacement is OK. This will go back and forth a few times. Oops that inverter is for Off-Grid, can I rather offer you a Hybrid inverter – more delays whilst models are discussed. The battery I was going to install has been recalled… Sorry for the late reply – I had a funeral for my Gran…. As soon as the inverter is ready, they will book it out to you. There is a stock shortage of inverters… I’ve just finished 2 sites, waiting for cashflow to I can complete your site… I’m pushing as hard as I can, it’s tough going, I promise I’ll get you you… Not sure who Grant Mansell is, but Johnathan Stephenson uses aliases as his real name is all over the internet: https://www.google.com/search?q=jonathan+stephenson+solar Good luck - you may be one of the lucky ones that he actually completes the install - most don't get their stuff. EDIT: Report him to SARS for VAT fraud. EDIT2: Just confirmed 100% that: solarbay = hellosolar = heatsmart = sunsmart Edited November 30, 20223 yr by system32
December 30, 20223 yr This post does not come up if one googles anything about Sunsmart. However, if you google "Sunsmart Solar Reviews" another post on Powerforum does get a hit: https://powerforum.co.za/topic/14437-sun-smart/ I have posted a link to this one there, it is necessary for prospective clients to know what they have the danger of dealing with.
March 26, 20242 yr WARNING: SUNSMART SOLARBAY HELLOSOLAR HEATSMART SUN SMART SOLAR - SCAM ALERT ⚠️ Stock image used by HelloSolar as Home Page Public service announcement - Solar industry SCAM This is a public service announcement by victims of Jonathan Clive Stephenson & Themba Phillip Tsotetsi. 🔴 WARNING: Avoid sunsmart.co.za solarbay.co.za hellosolar.co.za heatsmart.co.za and any company associated with: Jonathan Clive Stephenson (sometimes uses the name Grant Mansell) RSA ID: 810627 XXXX 08 4 Themba Phillip Tsotetsi RSA ID: 881104 XXXX 08 6 Wendy Stephenson RSA ID: 710316 XXXX 08 0 Eskom failure creates demand for Solar PV solutions Due to corruption and incompetence, the South Africa national grid operator (Eskom) is failing and unable to provide a reliable electrical supply. To address a limited electrical supply, Eskom has: Implemented daily rotational blackouts to prevent a grid collapse caused by demand exceeding supply, aka Load Shedding. See MyBoadband Stage 8 Load Shedding warning See Wikipedia South African energy crisis Increased tariffs exponentially to recover lost revenue due to illegal connections, theft, corruption, increased staffing, etc. See PowerOptimal report Eskom tariff increases vs inflation since 1988 These two factors resulted in South African home owners purchasing Solar PV systems to overcome these two issues. Unscrupulous South African scammers have exploited the high consumer demand and set up fake web sites that offer Solar PV products and services. The websites are professionally setup and use fake “stock” photographs of installations, product photographs, reviews, promotions, SOE, etc to attract victims. Solar Solutions offered Products offered on sunsmart.co.za solarbay.co.za hellosolar.co.za heatsmart.co.za include: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels Grid Tie Inverters Hybrid Inverters Lithium Batteries Installation and commissioning of the equipment Certified installation (Certificate of Compliance - CoC) not on site till the job is done - Upfront Deposits & Payments Payments are upfront via Credit Card or ETF (Electronic Funds Transfer). Once they have your payment, they fail to deliver your purchase. Due to corruption and incompetence within the South African criminal justice system and high costs of litigation most victims are unable to recover their funds. 🔴 AVOID: sunsmart.co.za solarbay.co.za hellosolar.co.za heatsmart.co.za and any company associated with Jonathan Clive Stephenson, Themba Phillip or Wendy Stephenson. Media reports Social media & media reports related to Jonathan Clive Stephenson, Themba Phillip and Wendy Stephenson: https://www.hellopeter.com/we-group-africa-ta-we-drill-africa https://www.hellopeter.com/solar-bay https://www.hellopeter.com/hello-solar https://www.hellopeter.com/solar-bay/reviews/solar-bay-jonathan-stephenson-beware-3378203 https://www.hellopeter.com/hello-solar/reviews/beware-this-business-owner-has-history-of-taking-lots-of-money-and-never-delivering-3664435 https://www.sasheriff.co.za/aup11808/aid6023/44-bergvliet-road,-meadowridge,-southern-suburbs,-7806.html https://powerforum.co.za/topic/9785-the-official-list-of-solar-power-scammers https://www.greengazette.co.za/pages/legal-notice-33465-of-20-aug-2010-vol-542-b-part-3-of-3_20100820-LNB-33465-008 https://m-net.dstv.com/show/carte-blanche/season/33/news/solar-powerless-carte-blanche-sunday-17-october-2021/news Twitter - Carte Blanche Promo for exposé “Solar Power(less)” - 17 Oct 2021 FIN24 - Solar horror story: Clients say company leaves work unfinished, refuses refunds - 29 Jan 2022 Youtube - Carte Blanche exposé “Solar Power(less)” - Solarbay, Hellosolar and Jonathan Stephenson - 17 Oct 2021 DSTV - Carte Blanche exposé “Solar Power(less)” - Solarbay, Hellosolar and Jonathan Stephenson - 17 Oct 2021
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