Abusive Utility Companies... Where to go to avoid them?

backfoot

chris1973 wrote: »

@Willowgirl - you mention in your opening post references to some companies who have given a poor level of service or have 'ripped' you off

Surely for both clarity and fairness, you should also be giving the instances as to what the poor level of service was and how exactly you were ripped off on each occasion?. Its not much use just rolling the end credits before we know the story.

Can you pls explain in more detail or better still give the links to the forum posts where you've raised any of these instances as a topic?

Is it necessary for all of us to provide this detail?

willowgirl

jalexa wrote: »

In relation to energy utilities, I have experience of most and cannot say I could recommend any one of them. Even the one that self-trumpets the best customer service.

In relation to OVO, they failed (twice) to respond to my pre-sales emails.

That is why I am content with the (current) differentiation of Edf offering the most cost effective tariffs.

Funnily enough I concur with you about Plusnet. My previous ISP was BTinternet (dire customer service). Plusnet is a BT company. Doesn't make sense unless the message is Sheffield good, Mumbai not good. If I am allowed to say that.

Isn't it interesting how their sales team ISN'T based in Mumbai but their customer support is. Hmmmmm! Yes BT are a very silly company generally. I feel they are more just silly and useless then anything...well I'm not going to use the word again.

Plus.net didn't used to be a BT company of course and I think it's kind of telling that they havn't really messed with it since they bought it. I think they are a bit worried they might mess it up! Maybe it's also the whole Sheffield thing too, like if they want to start changing things it's going to mean a trip up't North. (Horror of horrors!)

It is very ironic. After a bad support experience with BT, I was toying with the idea of switching to Virgin or even 3 but what made me want to stay was that my internet was with plus.net and they are great! :j

Now my line rental and calls are also with plusnet too! :rotfl:

I think you have a good tip there, about maybe emailing the companies first and seeing what response you get, a bit like contacting ebay sellers before buying!

chris1973

backfoot wrote: »

Is it necessary for all of us to provide this detail?

Why not? . Forum talk is cheap, I could make a post that i'm related to Royalty, but it doesn't make it a fact.

If you ran a business (for example) and somebody came online ranting about a poor level of service or making accusations about being 'ripped off', don't you think a full story and even a little foundation to the background of the allegations should be volunteered.

Anybody can post an online rant about a company, regardless of whether they are even a customer or not, but it takes a bit more effort to provide an explanation. It would also assist anybody thinking about joining any or all of these companies to make an informed decision.

In the same way as people will openly criticise something, but never seem to actually go on to tell us exactly how they would go on and do it better!.

willowgirl

chris1973 wrote: »

@Willowgirl - you mention in your opening post references to some companies who have given a poor level of service or have 'ripped' you off

Surely for both clarity and fairness, you should also be giving the instances as to what the poor level of service was and how exactly you were ripped off on each occasion?. Its not much use just rolling the end credits before we know the story.

Can you pls explain in more detail or better still give the links to the forum posts where you've raised any of these instances as a topic?

I think you may be misunderstanding where I'm trying to go with this thread.
I'm more wondering about positive experiences than to dwell on negative ones.
I'm not looking to whine endlessly about the bad stuff but to look for solutions and find more positive stuff!

I'm looking to ditch the bad stuff and find the good! As I have already done with my switch to plus.net. :T

backfoot

chris1973 wrote: »

Why not? . Forum talk is cheap, I could make a post that i'm related to Royalty, but it doesn't make it a fact.

If you ran a business (for example) and somebody came online ranting about a poor level of service or making accusations about being 'ripped off', don't you think a full story and even a little foundation to the background of the allegations should be volunteered.

Anybody can post an online rant about a company, regardless of whether they are even a customer or not, but it takes a bit more effort to provide an explanation. It would also assist anybody thinking about joining any or all of these companies to make an informed decision.

In the same way as people will openly criticise something, but never seem to actually go on to tell us exactly how they would go on and do it better!.

Thank you for the lecture. I would invite you to read my full posting record. If you have any questions or dispute any comments I have made,please let me know,especially if you doubt the voracity of any issues.:D

chris1973

I think you may be misunderstanding where I'm trying to go with this thread.

I'm also intrigued as to how Pipex admitted they were ripping you off and how?. Did the phone ring a little voice the other end say "Hi, Ms Willowgirl, this is Pipex and I need to come clean and tell you that we are ripping you off"

or was there more to it

Thank you for the lecture.

Anytime, glad to have been of service.

I would invite you to read my full posting record

Thank you for the invitation, however I don't feel that one person, and their own personal opinions or beliefs are above or over-ride the whole forum in general do you?, like everybody else here I will choose to either agree / disagree with your opinons and points (and anybody else whom I choose to) depending on my own point of view and will offer my own advice or experiences and ask my own questions as appropriate, and I don't have to justify having a different opinion to you, either wholly, or on the invited post-by-post basis.

willowgirl

HappyMJ wrote: »

Yes cancel the lot of them. Get off the national grid and make your own electricity. Use free firewood for heating and cooking and candles for light. Battery operated TV's and so on.

Not ruling it out!

However, I've found plus.net and before Orange were bought out they also used to have great service, so it is possible! I just want to find a gas and electric company like that!

willowgirl

chris1973 wrote: »

Not at all, you made some pretty powerful negative comments relating to your experience with these companies but never told us what they were in any real detail. It formed a large part of your opening post, so I believe its valid in relation to the thread.

I still think you are misunderstanding. The fact I have been in abusive relationships (and worse stayed in them!) is relevant I feel. I would also point out that my more positive experiences also formed a large part of my opening post.

However the point I'm trying to get to is more discussing positive experiences with utility companies, whereas you seem keen to get the dirt on the negative ones!

I think discussing bad experiences definitely has it's place and can help people deal with stuff or to know what to avoid etc, but thas was not really the point of the thread, which was more about avoiding the bad stuff!

Hope that's clearer!

meggsy

willowgirl wrote: »

I think you may be misunderstanding where I'm trying to go with this thread.
I'm more wondering about positive experiences than to dwell on negative ones.
I'm not looking to whine endlessly about the bad stuff but to look for solutions and find more positive stuff!

I'm looking to ditch the bad stuff and find the good! As I have already done with my switch to plus.net. :T

My bad stuff was Pipex as well and npower !

My good stuff is Zen Internet and hopefully Co-operative Energy
Prefer to try them rather than any of the Big 6!

willowgirl

chris1973 wrote: »

I'm also intrigued as to how Pipex admitted they were ripping you off and how?. Did the phone ring a little voice the other end say "Hi, Ms Willowgirl, this is Pipex and I need to come clean and tell you that we are ripping you off"

or was there more to it

I get the impression that there are a few people here keen to hear more of the stories. I suspect for entertainment value.

To that end I would point out that the Pipex stuff is way more entertaining than the EDF stuff, at least so far, (the EDF stuff is ongoing)!

...and yes the Pipex conversation was a lot like that only it wasn't so much a little voice as a deeper booming voice. It started rather like that and then continued into a sales pitch for why I should get into a new contract with them! It was very bizzare. He was very friendly about it all mind, a bit like Rebbeka Brooks is apparently!

It was rather like "we are treating you sooo badly, but we can turn all that around, if you enter into a new contract with us it will all be different!"