Utility 'rip-offs' exposed - I'll do my best

gentlebloke

I can finally come out!

I've been an advisor for Consumer Direct for a while - the guys you call if you've an energy problem. However, the little call centre that we use has decided that I'm not 'corporate' enough, and my concern for the consumer is not impartial (or should that be, takes too long to earn them money). So......

Do you want to know how many advisors there were yesterday, for the whole of the UK? Single figures....

How much we get paid? Little more than minimum wage.

How the figures are massaged, so that the OFT think they're getting what they pay for? Actually, as a taxpayer myself, it's what WE pay for.

Or, perhaps more relevant:

Which supplier pays commission to letting agents to sucker tenants into expensive contracts? Spark

Which supplier actually receives the higher percentage of complaints than they should? Utility !!!!!house (anything for money...), as they're not too affectionately known as in the trade.

Which business supplier will pretend to be another, or an official organistion, to trap the little corner shop? Business Energy Solutions.

Want to know more? Ask and I'll reply - though I do have a life too.

Need a 'whistleblower' - ask too.

chanz4

Why do they take sympathy on people that steal from the grid

soothyerboots

So...you got fired for sucking at your job and now you are feeling bitter.

Thought so.

backfoot

What is your opinion of the charging of Termination (exit fees) on variable priced contracts?

Do you think Supplier's were right to charge when a customer switched following a price increase.

What was your advise to Customer's with reference to SLC23 ?

gentlebloke

backfoot wrote: »

What is your opinion of the charging of Termination (exit fees) on variable priced contracts?

Do you think Supplier's were right to charge when a customer switched following a price increase.

What was your advise to Customer's with reference to SLC23 ?

A) Never encountered suppliers charging exit fees from a standard variable tarif (though if it's an FTC, below applies) - if had, advice would have been, 'they can't'.

Second two are the same question - SLC23 states that termination fees should not be charged following a contract change - this includes a price increase. Guidelines also state that the increase should not be applied in the period that it takes to transfer to another supplier. Provided correct notification is made, of course.

gentlebloke

soothyerboots wrote: »

So...you got fired for sucking at your job and now you are feeling bitter.

Thought so.

If 'sucking at your job' means supporting consumers, rather than trying to increase call centre profits, then yes, I suck.

gentlebloke

chanz4 wrote: »

Why do they take sympathy on people that steal from the grid

They don't!

snowcat53

What was the advice about those trying to get companies to explain exactly how dd amounts were worked out ? Did you advise custiomers were entitled to written calculations?

backfoot

gentlebloke wrote: »

A) Never encountered suppliers charging exit fees from a standard variable tarif (though if it's an FTC, below applies) - if had, advice would have been, 'they can't'.

Second two are the same question - SLC23 states that termination fees should not be charged following a contract change - this includes a price increase. Guidelines also state that the increase should not be applied in the period that it takes to transfer to another supplier. Provided correct notification is made, of course.

You seem to have had an about turn since this thread when you were particularly unsupportive of customers.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3369410

Do you still consider Standard Licence Conditions are voluntary?