Experian Class Action: Did It Prop Up Fake Solar Loans?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Experian knowingly allowed fraudulent solar loans to appear on credit reports, harming consumers' financial standing and violating federal law.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers with an Experian consumer report that included Pink Energy Partners.

Court: U.S. Supreme Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Three Virginia residents have filed a lawsuit against credit reporting giant Experian, alleging it knowingly allowed fraudulent solar loans to appear on their credit reports, long after those loans had been publicly discredited.

At the center of the lawsuit is a now-bankrupt company called Pink Energy, formerly known as Power Home Solar, which allegedly partnered with fintech lenders like Sunlight Financial and Goodleap to push deceptive solar panel loans onto unsuspecting consumers. 

The complaint contends the solar systems were often defective or never installed, yet Experian continued to report these debts, hurting consumers' credit scores and financial standing even after numerous attorneys general flagged the problem.

Experian blindly accepted false loan data from disreputable lenders, even when the fraud was obvious and the debts were in dispute, the complaint claims.

Experian Accused of Reporting False Solar Debts

The lawsuit was filed by Wilson and Lashanda Theodore of Hampton and Steven Bilodeau, Jr. of Gloucester, all of whom say Experian reported fake debts tied to their names. 

According to court documents, the Theodores were stunned to find a $64,864 "secured home improvement loan" from a lender they’d never heard of—Cross River Bank c/o Sunlight Financial—listed on their credit reports.

But the couple never applied for or agreed to such a loan, they allege. And Cross River, the complaint says, isn't a traditional bank but a fintech platform criticized by federal regulators for its partnerships with non-bank lenders.

Bilodeau alleges he experienced something similar, discovering an $85,384 loan from Goodleap—another fintech lender—falsely listed on his Experian report. Like the Theodores, Bilodeau disputed the listing in writing, supported by state investigations and public evidence of fraud. But Experian allegedly rubber-stamped the original lender’s claims and failed to investigate.

Lawsuit Details How Alleged Scheme Worked

Pink Energy, the solar company at the center of the controversy, filed for bankruptcy in 2022 amid a storm of lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny. It allegedly sold solar systems door-to-door using inflated loan documents that misrepresented loan amounts, interest, and terms. Much of the money went toward kickbacks and junk fees rather than functioning equipment.

The lawsuit claims Experian didn’t just passively accept this misinformation—it actively failed to follow federal credit reporting rules under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which require credit bureaus to investigate disputed items and use "reasonable procedures" to ensure accuracy.

Despite ample red flags, including attorney general letters and widespread media coverage, Experian continued publishing the debts without even flagging them as disputed, the lawsuit says.

Credit Reporting Agencies Face Mounting Legal Challenges

​​Experian isn’t the only credit reporting agency under legal fire for alleged harm to consumers. Last year, mortgage servicing company Select Portfolio Servicing (SPS) was hit with a lawsuit accusing it of mishandling a homeowner’s credit report after the borrower enrolled in a federal COVID-19 forbearance plan. 

The suit claims SPS violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by reporting late payments, even though the homeowner was complying with the program’s terms, damaging their credit and financial stability. SPS has faced legal scrutiny before, including a settlement with New York regulators over operating unauthorized branches in Utah.

Other credit reporting giants have also been targeted. A class action lawsuit accuses Equifax of failing to properly investigate credit report disputes, allegedly causing significant financial harm. 

In their lawsuit against Experian, the plaintiffs want to represent in the US with a consumer report from Experian that included Pink Energy Partners. They are suing for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and seek damages, injunctive relief, costs, fees, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Theodore, et al. v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
• Case Number: 4:25-cv-00045 
• Court: U.S. Supreme Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Leonard A. Bennett, Thomas Domonoske, Mark C. Leffler, Adam W. Short, and John Maravalli (Consumer Litigation Associates, P.C.)

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