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BDS Solar reviews
• updated MAR 3, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
BDS Solar has a troubling split. We found repeat customers who trusted owner Ken Sampson for second and third installations, saying he navigated tough utility red tape and even handled unpaid warranty recalls a year after install. One commercial client used the company three times over nine years. But we also uncovered a pattern of serious fraud allegations: three reviewers accused the owner of stealing rebate checks, installing used equipment without disclosure, and ghosting customers once the deposit cleared. One homeowner said their system sat disconnected for over a month because paperwork was never filed with the utility despite repeated claims it had been sent. Another reported the owner stopped returning calls nine months into a one-year warranty, and the office secretary flatly refused a minor repair. Twenty-two reviewers praised fast, clean installations and transparent pricing. Six others used words like "thief," "fraud," and "deceptive." The gap is stark.
If you proceed with BDS Solar, pay in stages tied to verifiable milestones and confirm every utility filing yourself. The positive experiences are real, but the fraud claims are too specific and numerous to ignore.
3 Stories That Stood Out
Amir Arif hired BDS Solar to install a rooftop system and walked away calling the whole experience a fraud. He discovered the crew had fitted an aftermarket or used inverter instead of a new unit and accused the owner, Ken Samson, of taking about $3,000 in LADWP incentive money without telling him. Despite telling the installers not to, they put panels on his patio — a structure that lacked a permit — and because of that the patio later had to be dismantled. He described the experience as extremely bad, warned that Ken can come across as friendly but then acts in self-interest, and posted the review to try to keep others from becoming similar victims. His concrete takeaway: double-check who is handling incentive payments and insist on where and what components will be installed before work begins.
Meir first hired them in 2014 for a commercial installation at his Culver City business. He returned in 2022 to put panels on his house; that rooftop system has performed well and even generated a surplus-production check in 2023. When his business moved in 2023 he used them again — they navigated Southern California Edison’s tricky commercial requirements, obtained the PTO, and finished the install despite the power-company obstacles. About a year after that installation recalled components needed replacing, and the crew came back and replaced them at no charge. He found their fees fair for the work, and what stood out was their follow-through: pushing through Edison hurdles and handling post-install recall repairs without extra billing.
Li hired Building Design Specialist for a residential solar installation and ended up watching every step because they kept catching mistakes the crew seemed ready to leave uncorrected. They met Ken Sampson early on — an effective salesperson who repeatedly pushed upgrades and steered most decisions — and quickly found themselves negotiating and re‑checking details rather than trusting the process. What should have been straightforward felt like a constant battle: Ken either forgot earlier conversations or acted as if he didn’t remember, so Li stayed home to monitor the install and insist on fixes as things came up. When the project finally finished, the panels and work looked good, but Li credits much of that outcome to their own vigilance rather than smooth project management. The warranty became another headache: about nine months after completion a small repair was needed, and a month of unanswered calls and emails followed. Only after Li pushed the office did the secretary say he wasn’t going to make the repair; Li began to suspect financial trouble or that the team was shifting focus — they later learned Ken started a new company, BDS Solar — while still resuming sales calls.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 72
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 16 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating
Not BBB rated.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
What You Can Expect
W L. hired Ken from BDS Solar to replace a roof and install a solar panel system with battery backup on their home. They discovered Ken was professional, communicative, and thorough throughout the project—keeping them informed at every step and making sure they understood how the system and installation would work. What stood out most was Ken’s dependability: when unexpected issues arose, he showed up, coordinated fixes, and kept the schedule and quality intact. They walked away with a new roof and a functioning solar-plus-battery system—and the lasting impression that Ken’s follow-through during problems made the whole process stress-free.
While shopping for solar, Ashley Cetto Perez met owner Ken Sampson and found him genuinely knowledgeable and upfront. She watched his team handle the job professionally and deliver solid workmanship, and—after worrying about scammy competitors—appreciated that BDS was transparent from the very beginning. The crew kept the process straightforward and made the experience unexpectedly easy. The lasting impression: Ken’s plainspoken honesty paired with a professional staff turned a wary shopper into a confident customer, and she thanked BDS for that clear, trustworthy approach.
Stephanie L. had BDS Solar install a system on her home. The installation went smoothly and the array ran well for the first two months, but within about three months the system began malfunctioning. When she pursued a warranty repair, she encountered the company owner, Ken Samson, who pushed back with multiple reasons to avoid honoring the warranty. She came away convinced the company was acting fraudulently and called the experience extremely bad. The detail that sticks: she ran into resistance from the owner when trying to use the warranty, which became her main warning to other buyers.
Meir first hired them in 2014 for a commercial installation at his Culver City business. He returned in 2022 to put panels on his house; that rooftop system has performed well and even generated a surplus-production check in 2023. When his business moved in 2023 he used them again — they navigated Southern California Edison’s tricky commercial requirements, obtained the PTO, and finished the install despite the power-company obstacles. About a year after that installation recalled components needed replacing, and the crew came back and replaced them at no charge. He found their fees fair for the work, and what stood out was their follow-through: pushing through Edison hurdles and handling post-install recall repairs without extra billing.
Cynfull asked that all panels be placed only on the back of the house, and the team designed the system to honor that constraint. The installation moved quickly and neatly, and the crew took extra care to leave the yard spotless, removing any debris. After the job finished, the owner of BDS kept checking in and remained available to help with questions or concerns. The crew demonstrated clear expertise and professionalism from start to finish. What stood out most was the owner's ongoing follow-up — regular check-ins that turned a clean, efficient install into a reassuring, hands-on experience.
Nic decided to add solar panels and found BDS handled the whole project smoothly. He watched them pull the permit promptly, complete the installation on a timely schedule, and secure final approval. Strong coordination from management and a professional, hardworking crew made the process straightforward. The thing that stood out was how efficiently BDS moved the job from permitting through to approval.
d p decided to go with the company after Ken presented a quote that matched other bids but broke every line item down far more clearly. They appreciated Ken’s steady communication through the entire process, and the panels are now up and running — they can actually see the meter feeding power back into the grid, a simple, tangible confirmation that the system is working.
Dave had a residential solar installation that stalled when the original contractor ran into trouble during the COVID lockdowns, so he brought BDS in to finish the job. Ken offered a quote that matched other bids on price but actually broke the costs into clear line items, and he kept communication steady throughout the process. BDS’s installers showed up on time, stayed organized, cleaned up thoroughly at the end of each workday, and handled every note on the final punch list without complaint. The panels are live now and the meter is feeding power back into the grid — a neatly completed turnaround where transparent pricing and a no-fuss crew made the difference.
Amir Arif hired BDS Solar to install a rooftop system and walked away calling the whole experience a fraud. He discovered the crew had fitted an aftermarket or used inverter instead of a new unit and accused the owner, Ken Samson, of taking about $3,000 in LADWP incentive money without telling him. Despite telling the installers not to, they put panels on his patio — a structure that lacked a permit — and because of that the patio later had to be dismantled. He described the experience as extremely bad, warned that Ken can come across as friendly but then acts in self-interest, and posted the review to try to keep others from becoming similar victims. His concrete takeaway: double-check who is handling incentive payments and insist on where and what components will be installed before work begins.
Long-term Satisfaction
Recent customers rate BDS Solar 4.5 ★
Long-term reviews carry the most weight in our methodology because they are most representative of what you should be paying for: a system that will perform for years.