Airtricity - cold calls and pure fairytales

weespud_

yesterday I got a random call to my private mobile number from Airtricity. I was on gullible form from the very start: 'you are currently am customer of NIElectric....' ' em, no I am with Budget'... etc etc Ok, so not my sharpest day with the cold call.

But what I am most outraged about is that they told me outright lies about my current supplier in order to get me to change! They said Budget has increased the prices TWICE in the past 8 months. I was shocked and said I had not been notified of this! (that I was usually very up to date with the current prices). The sales agent pointed out that I had recently had 2 x 40 digit codes for my top-up meter which indicated these price increases. I recalled that I had indeed used those codes and believed what this guy said, so I agreed to their offer of a 12 month price freeze and agreed to change over, gave out my details and what not.

Then, I decided to call Budget to ask them about the price increases and see if they would like to give me a better deal in order to keep my custom... Their advisor told me that there has been ZERO increase in prices in over 14 months. Of the two long codes I used, one was to put the price DOWN when they passed on savings from their bulk supplier and the second was to return the price to the usual rate after the special offer had ended.

The Budget advisor also told me that the Airtricity deal to price freeze for 12 months was proving a tenuous offer for a lot of customers, many of whom were returning to Budget when they failed to get the deal offered. I asked how was this possible? He said that they are a no contract company, which means you can leave them at any time, but also that you have no evidence of a deal issued at any time.

SO, I returned the call to Airtricity to ask that I could cancel the changes and to question the fact that their sales reps were misinforming customers. I would descibe the response of 'Sinead' one of their customer service reps as patronising, abrasive and confrontational at best. I came away from the call uncertain that this lady would even bother to remove my details from her system, never mind lodge the complaint that I asked to make. So I followed this up with an email requesting confirmation in writing - I have yet to have a reply....

And dont forget I called 0845 to PAY for the pleasure of NOT becoming one of their customers and to be ignored and marginally abused by a member of their staff!!!!

So, today I feel I would like to warn potential customers and fellow forumites of the nonsense that is AIRTRICITY. BEWARE.
They may produce electric by windmill but their sideline is to run the company on the gas produced whilst their sales agents Poo all over their customers.

Their sales patter is flawed.
Their customer services is abismal
Their phone line for queries and problems costs money

And I am so cross with them that I want you NOT to become their customer!
Thank You

Fire_Fox

Never buy any product or service from a cold caller, every time someone does they perpetuate this sort of intrusive marketing and sharp practices. Remember they will be doing this to people more gullible or vulnerable than yourself.