Complete Guide

Solar Loan Help in Florida: Every Lender & the Holder Rule

If a solar loan is billing for a system that doesn't work, there's a federal rule worth knowing: the FTC Holder Rule ties consumer lenders to the installer's conduct. This is the complete guide to Florida solar lenders and how the Holder Rule works. (General information, not legal advice.)

Most Florida solar deals did not start at a bank. They started at your front door. A salesperson working for the installer picked the lender, ran your credit on a tablet, and had you e-sign in minutes. This is called dealer financing. The lender paid the installer. You got the debt. When the seller controls all the paperwork, bad things can hide in it — and in thousands of Florida deals, they did.

The biggest hidden cost was the dealer fee. To offer you a low advertised interest rate, solar lenders charged the installer a fee that industry reporting has commonly placed around 10% to 30% of the project price.

What's on this page

Every section in this article, and what each one covers

1.How Solar Dealer Financing Really WorkedFour paragraphs and three links to other guides, naming PTO, 10% and 30%.
2.First, Check: Is It a Solar Loan or PACE?One paragraph, a callout and two links to other guides, naming GoodLeap and PACE.
3.The FTC Holder Rule: The Strongest Federal Tool for Dealer-Financed LoansFive paragraphs, a callout and one link to other guides, naming Florida Statute 163.086, the Holder Rule and FTC.
4.The Tax-Credit Balloon: Why Payments Jump Around Month 18Three paragraphs and three links to other guides, naming 30%.
5.GoodLeap and Mosaic: The Two Biggest NamesTwo paragraphs and two links to other guides, naming Chapter 11, Holder Rule Notice and GoodLeap.
6.Sunlight Financial: What Its Bankruptcy Means for YouTwo paragraphs and two links to other guides, naming Chapter 11, the Holder Rule and Sunlight Financial.
7.Sunnova: A Lease or PPA Is Not a LoanThree paragraphs and two links to other guides, naming Chapter 11, Sunnova and PPAs.
8.Dividend, Service Finance, and SungageFour paragraphs, naming Holder Rule Notice and CFPB.
9.TILA: The Disclosures the Lender Must GiveThree paragraphs and one link to other guides, naming the Truth in Lending Act, TILA and UCC.
10.FDUTPA: Florida's Consumer Weapon — With a Sharp EdgeTwo paragraphs and a callout, naming the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and FDUTPA.
11.The Arbitration Clause in Your ContractTwo paragraphs, naming Rule 7.010(b), the Holder Rule and TILA.
12.The UCC-1 Filing: Why You Can't Just Sell the HouseTwo paragraphs and three links to other guides, naming UCC.
13.How to Dispute Your Solar Loan, Step by StepOne paragraph, a seven-item list (Step 1; Step 2; ...) and one link to other guides, naming the Holder Rule, the Florida Attorney General and FPL.
14.What a Realistic Outcome Looks LikeFour paragraphs, naming Florida's Construction Recovery Fund, UCC and FTC.
15.What to Do This WeekAn eight-item list (Find your contract; Locate the all-caps Holder Rule; ...), naming Holder Rule Notice, FPL and PACE.

Also on this page

two checklists (15 items in all)
20 links to other guides
three callouts
an FAQ (2 questions)

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Frequently asked questions

Can I hold my solar lender responsible for a broken system?

Only a Florida attorney can answer that for your loan — but the general rule is powerful. The FTC Holder Rule makes lenders on consumer contracts subject to the same claims a consumer would have against the installer. Recovery is generally capped at amounts paid, and the rule can also operate as a defense to the balance. Document everything and consult a Florida attorney.

Why did my GoodLeap or Mosaic payment go up?

Many solar loans assume you'll make a large prepayment (about the 30% tax credit) within ~18 months. If you don't, the loan re-amortizes and the payment jumps — and many homeowners were never clearly told.

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