First Utility - Any users or reviews

anselld

Probably the worst Company I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.

Trying to get my final bill after moving but it is like communicating with a black hole. No response to emails, complaints, letters, nothing.

I'm not waiting 20+ mins to talk to these idiots on the phone.

Never again, no matter how cheap they offer!

loubya1

Hi Guys,

i read the forums all the time but this is the first tie I have posted something, I like anselled am having the same issue, i have spent HOURS on the phone waiting to get through to someone, I have e smiled and tweeted - nothing. I have also move home 3 months ago! they have £164 credit on my account….anyone had the same issue? I am in the midlands so could go to their head office - I think its in warwick!

Any advice or similar experiences anyone?

Kendall80

I have just started with First Utility. Just today submitted my readings. All has gone well in the past few weeks but I guess the real test begins now. My first payment is due to go out tomorrow. So in effect i'm paying up-front before any usage which feels odd but maybe perfectly normal.

It should work out around £200 cheaper than Swalec. We'll see.

Pureedfruit

anselld wrote: »

Probably the worst Company I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.

Trying to get my final bill after moving but it is like communicating with a black hole. No response to emails, complaints, letters, nothing.

I'm not waiting 20+ mins to talk to these idiots on the phone.

Never again, no matter how cheap they offer!

I have exactly the same experience, and even though I sent a formal complaint and demanded my money back they continued to take money by re-opening the closed DD behind my back long after they were in credit. They have finally sent me a "final" account which is a complete work of fiction that is not contiguos with the last account rendered, have closed down my old account, opened up a new account which was then difficult to access, and generally speaking making it as difficult as possible to calculate what the final bill really should be.

I think I have now finally managed to do that and now will begin what I suspect will be the long battle to get back the c.£400 they owe me.

This is a company who IMHO is simply not to be trusted.

I too would never use them again no matter how seemingly good the tariffs appear to be. I was on a seemingly good fixed term tariff which they then terminated prematurely and dumped me on to their rubbish standard tariff so I jumped ship. As a result I am getting all this punitive ****.

botmission

This lot have failed to collect the direct debit for nine months and have now sent me a demand for £2500. I've never had to chase a company to make sure they take my money before!

botmission

loubya1 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

i read the forums all the time but this is the first tie I have posted something, I like anselled am having the same issue, i have spent HOURS on the phone waiting to get through to someone, I have e smiled and tweeted - nothing. I have also move home 3 months ago! they have £164 credit on my account….anyone had the same issue? I am in the midlands so could go to their head office - I think its in warwick!

Any advice or similar experiences anyone?

Yep! Drop a line to the chair... [EMAIL="ian.mccaig@first-utility.com"]ian.mccaig@first-utility.com[/EMAIL]

NonGeographicalMan

I really can't believe that after all this time First Utility hasn't either yet been made to mend its ways or been closed down by the incompetent, ineffective and yet vastly overpaid staff of its so called regulator - Ofgem.

AliceBanned

I switched from Npower to FU recently - went live on 20th November. Is it too late to switch to another supplier? They took first direct debit on 21st giving me no notice and sending me over my overdraft. I have recalled the payment of £57 but they protested - I think my bank ended up bouncing it anyway.


I wish I had read this thread before switching, but didn't think any company could be worse than Npower for being in a mess. I can start the next payments from next week after pay day, but not sure I want to carry on with FU.


I did email them today saying that taking that payment caused me hardship and distress. I have a splitting headache today, partly down to having no money and trying to make ends meet this month and worrying about it all. Pay day on Tuesday and a friend has kindly offered a loan until payday but I am trying not to borrow any more.

AliceBanned

botmission wrote: »

This lot have failed to collect the direct debit for nine months and have now sent me a demand for £2500. I've never had to chase a company to make sure they take my money before!

Npower did that to me for a year. But I don't trust a company that gets in such a mess. I owed them £550 in one go which was difficult. I'd rather they just sort themselves out. I've now switched to FU. Probably no better if this thread is anything to go by.

marcosdjcm

Ok just reporting back, I did join First Utility after a dodgy friend hassled me enough to change to it (he was receiving a kickback).

After the mandatory ~month of membership I switched out to Good Energy as they do 100% renewable for the same price as SSE and First Utility.

No major problems, FU phones are quite slow to pick up, long wait time, but they did answer and they did process the cancelling properly and they refunded the excess I paid.

So, bullet dodged, but no hassle. Join Good Energy instead!