MSE News: Spark Energy customers chased for payment by debt collectors BEFORE...

When I worked for an energy provider Spark energy were by far the worst provider I ever encountered. Riddled with errors and flouting rules, for example if a customer wanted to leave them they used to object (which there are only supposed to if there is a balance owing already) then tell the customer to give a meter reading so they could bill them and insist they paid that before they let them leave.

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No wonder many have concerns about switching to the smaller suppliers.

fatbelly wrote: »

Some of the big 6 practices are not too good.

Do your research. I'm not going to name companies in this thread but several of the smaller companies have customer service better than anything the Big 6 can provide, and they're cheaper.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/energy/2017/04/smaller-energy-firms-still-top-for-customer-service-mse-poll-finds

That may be so, and I'm not disputing it, however, I've been with Npower for several years and I've not suffered any of the apparent 'horror stories' that some customers have. Indeed, I'd go so far as to say, Npower have been excellent in my own case, but then, I have always provided monthly meter readings so my bills are always correct and what I 'expect' them to be. Furthermore, I fixed with Npower in June last year for two years, I'm currently on one of the cheapest dual fuel tariffs in the country, not a single smaller indpendent company can come anywhere near what I'm currently paying. Unfortunately, that will all come to an abrupt end in June 2018 and for the first time in years I may have to switch, but I assure you, I will be choosing very wisely and after plenty of research.

It seems though, we can trot out the advice about being proactive and providing monthly meter readings until the cows come home, but some people doggedly refuse to help themselves or rather bizarely, use the most common excuse trotted out, 'I have a very busy life, I don't have time for things like that'. A very good friend of mine has almost finished paying of a 1k energy bill built up over 14 months because not once did they or their provider bother to take any meter readings. When my friend decided one day a few months back to actually bother to check and submit a reading, they were in utter shock when the correct bill came through. In their own words, 'I can't believe my own stupidity. I won't be that foolish again'. Thankfully, my friend avoided a visit from the bailiffs. My neighbours a couple of doors away, not so lucky, house broken into under Warrant by their energy provider and force fitted pre-payment meters. Perks of living in a 'Buy to Let' property where the tenants up and leave without paying the bills.