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Why this guide
A booming market also attracts abuse
The enthusiasm for solar and heat pumps has produced two phenomena that consumer-protection bodies document regularly: lead-brokering platforms that resell your enquiry to several companies at once, and recently created companies that sign fast, collect large deposits, then disappear — or invoice unexpected extras.
You don't need to become an expert to protect yourself. It is enough to ask the right questions — in writing — and to demand verifiable answers. This guide gathers them. Ask them of every company you consult, without exception.
The checklist
12 questions before signing
How long has your company existed — and where can I verify it?
Problematic companies usually disappear before their third year — sometimes to be reborn under an almost identical name. The commercial registry (Zefix) is public and free: check the founding date, registered office and any changes of company name.
Abelarti's answer: Abelarti has been active since 2015, based in Bussigny (VD), with more than 1000 projects completed in Switzerland. Our registration can be consulted on zefix.ch.
Are you a member of a recognised professional association — and do you appear in its official directory?
The FRC documents cases of logos displayed without any real membership. A logo on a website proves nothing: Swissolar's official directory is public and searchable online.
Abelarti's answer: We are Swissolar members. Verify it directly in the official directory on swissolar.ch — not on our website.
Does the quote itemise brands, models, mounting hardware and labour, line by line?
"12 high-performance panels with warranty" is not a quote — it is a verbal promise in disguise. Without precise brands and references, you can neither compare offers nor assert your rights in a dispute.
Abelarti's answer: Every Abelarti quote lists the exact brands and models (panels, inverter, battery, mounting hardware) and the labour, and the technical datasheets are handed over at signature.
Is the stated price final? What additional costs may arise, and under what conditions?
The most frequently reported scenario: a very low teaser price, then "unforeseen items" invoiced after signature — grid connection, scaffolding, roof reinforcement. Demand that the conditions of any extra cost appear in writing in the contract.
Abelarti's answer: Our quote specifies what is included, item by item. Any adaptation is handled through a written amendment validated by you before execution — never through a surprise invoice.
Who actually carries out the installation: your employees, or subcontractors who change from site to site?
Rotating subcontracting is one of the main documented causes of defective workmanship: unqualified teams, low-grade mounting hardware, and nobody answering after the job.
Abelarti's answer: Our installers are Abelarti employees — not rotating subcontractors. The team that installs your system carries our name and remains reachable after commissioning.
Which insurance policies cover the work, and where do they appear in the contract?
If a defect is discovered months later — or the installer goes bankrupt — only documented insurance coverage protects you. A serious company states its insurance references in writing, without hesitation.
Abelarti's answer: The references of our professional insurance coverage appear in our contracts. Ask us — the answer will be in writing. Demand the same from any competitor.
What is the payment schedule? Can I pay in stages, according to progress?
The classic pattern of short-lived companies: a deposit of 50% or more "to order the equipment", then silence. The Vaud police documented precisely this scenario in 2025. Staged payments tied to verifiable milestones are your best protection.
Abelarti's answer: The payment schedule appears in black and white in every Abelarti contract, tied to actual site progress. Be wary of any majority deposit demanded before work begins.
Do you accept that I have your quote checked by an independent body?
SwissEnergy (the Confederation) offers a free, neutral review of your solar quote: the solar quote check. An honest company has no reason to object. Watching the reaction to this question is a test in itself.
Abelarti's answer: Yes — we encourage it. Submit our quote (and our competitors') to SwissEnergy's solar quote check. A neutral comparison favours properly calculated work.
Who handles the subsidy applications, and are the amounts put in writing before signature?
False subsidy promises ("you'll get half back, it's automatic") are a classic. Real support depends on the work and the canton: the federal one-off payment (Pronovo) for solar, the Buildings Programme for heat pumps and insulation. Demand written, project-specific amounts.
Abelarti's answer: We prepare and file the subsidy application for you, and the amounts applicable to your project are quantified in the quote, before signature — not after.
Will you give me time to decide — or is the offer "only valid today"?
"The subsidies will soon run out", "the price won't be valid tomorrow": time pressure is the signature of the aggressive sales methods documented by the FRC. For door-to-door or telephone sales, Swiss law moreover provides a right of revocation (art. 40a ff. CO).
Abelarti's answer: We do not do door-to-door selling. An Abelarti quote remains valid while you think it over — compare, have it checked, decide at your own pace.
May I contact recent clients near me — and visit an installation?
Real, reachable references cannot be faked for long. A company created six months ago cannot show you an installation that has been running for five years.
Abelarti's answer: Ask us for references in your region — with more than 1000 projects across the 7 French-speaking cantons since 2015, there is very likely an Abelarti installation near you.
Who is my contact person, by name — before, during and after the work?
When everything goes through an anonymous hotline, nobody is accountable. Projects abandoned midway almost always have one thing in common: no identifiable project manager.
Abelarti's answer: One project manager per file, whose name you know before signing — reachable during the work and after commissioning.
Official sources
Verify for yourself
These resources are public, free and independent of any installer — including us.
Transparency
Don't take our word for it — verify us
The solar market attracts short-lived companies and opaque contracts. Here is how to check who we are, through official sources that don't depend on us.
Commercial registry
Abelarti is registered in the Swiss commercial registry. Verify our legal existence, our Bussigny (VD) headquarters and our history on Zefix, the Confederation's official registry.
Search “Abelarti” on ZefixSwissolar member
We are members of Swissolar, the Swiss solar professionals' association. The official directory is public — any company displaying a logo without appearing in it should alert you.
Check the Swissolar directorySince 2015 — 1000+ projects
Ten years of activity in French-speaking Switzerland, more than 1000 installations. Problematic companies usually disappear before their third year. Ask us for references near you — and contact them.
Salaried teams, no rotating subcontractors
Our installers are Abelarti employees. You know your project manager's name before signing, and they remain your contact after commissioning.
Itemized quote, verifiable by a third party
Every quote lists brands, models, mounting hardware and labour — with subsidies calculated before signature. You can submit it for free to SwissEnergy's solar quote check: we encourage you to.
Solar quote check (free)