Customers of Trident West Industries Ltd and Star Solar Ltd, two companies run by the same sole director, were exposed to cold selling and doorstep visits, promising government grant refunds to cover the cost of solar equipment and maintenance, but neither company carried out the work for their mainly elderly customers.

More than £3.1m was paid into the bank accounts of the two companies between May 2023 and January 2025, but only £7,010 was returned to nine complainants despite total complaints and County Court Judgments of £413,000. The average age of the complainants was 76 years old. 

Terry Smith, 64, the common company director, told Insolvency Service investigators that he had no control over the bank accounts of either company and could not explain payments totalling over £1m to various individuals and businesses.