MCS has been made aware of several cases of scams that are potentially putting consumers at risk by imitating our brand and scaremongering by providing false, misleading information.
We want to alert consumers, our installer base, and wider stakeholders to the nature of these possible scams and outline what action we have taken against them in order to protect consumers moving forward.
What to look out for
We have received evidence from consumers who have received text messages stating their solar warranty has expired, asking them to call the number provided to get it renewed. In these cases, the sender ID shows as ‘MCS.’ However, this text is not from MCS, and the phone number provided is not linked to MCS in any way. If you do receive a text or call claiming to be from MCS, please always check the number carefully and ask why they are calling.
Additionally, we have been made aware that a company is falsely claiming to be MCS and misleading customers to believe that they are associated with us. They are also reaching out to consumers via texts, emails, and cold calls, presenting themselves as representatives of MCS and attempting to sell a ‘maintenance package’, as well as ‘warranty packages’ by falsely claiming that the customer’s warranty has expired.
To be clear, the only website linked to MCS is www.mcscertified.com.
How MCS is taking action
Following on from the complaints received, MCS has immediately taken the necessary steps to report these scams to the relevant bodies.
The spam text message regarding solar PV warranty has been reported to Ofcom and the National Cyber Security Centre. We urge recipients of this text to forward them to 7726 following advice from Ofcom. More information on this can be found on their website.
The company claiming to be aligned with us has been reported to the relevant Trading Standards office. We have also issued a cease and desist letter to the company to ask that they refrain from such activity immediately.
If you become aware of scams similar to this or if you are unsure of the validity of any communications that you receive, contact our Customer Support Helpdesk and we will provide guidance.