Do I have to repay them ?

davidgmmafan

If automatic processes and a billing system are causing the OP and other customers detriment I believe it would be very relevant...

isolation

Following the rep stating that they were going to look into this and get back to me, I didn't hear anything else.

I wrote to the Ombudsman, they got Spark to write back to me.

I am not happy with their response.

A couple of people have written asking about the problems caused by Spark. I have tried to provide proof of their actions here:-
http://sparkenergy2.wordpress.com

wakeupalarm

The Ombudsman service is paid for by the energy companies to keep complaints out of court. They are hardly impartial as anyone who has gone through the long laborious process will tell you, they suck up to the energy compaines and fob you off with paltry £25 compensation amounts after you've spent a good year or so presenting your complaint to them and compiling evidence for them.

As for spark energy they have the worst reputation of all the energy companies and considering how bad the rest of the energy companies are that is some feat.

Good luck OP.

isolation

Many thanks wakeupalarm, I am resigned to the conclusion that I will have to go through the courts with this one sadly. My MP has helped and an advice centre has put me in touch with a solicitor who seems pretty decent if / when it comes to that (which it looks as though it will as Spark keep trying to defend the indefensible )

Thanks again and best wishes

Richie-from-the-Boro

They're already being investigated by Ofgem, they starred on BBC Watchdog, Money Mail raised concerns and Consumer Futures featured them. Fight & complain.

isolation

Thanks for all the messages and PMs, much appreciated.

After initially refusing to respond to almost all points in my letter of complaint, they then attempted to do so when asked to do by the Ombudsman. When several of the responses again seemed to be 'economical with the truth' (to give them the benefit of the doubt), I was told that I would need to contact the ombudsman from now on. Surprisingly they then contacted me again asking why I still wasn't happy... I haven't had a response to this yet.

Sadly it looks as though this will only be settled via the court system. fortunately I have been offered representation on a no win no fee basis as the evidence is so strong. I have no desire to do this but it's no skin off my nose if the company wants to play that way

As an aside - it is great to see that so many people use these forums, the views on my blog have been massive since mentioning it on here!

Have a great weekend all

http://sparkenergy2.wordpress.com

isolation

Well I must say that Spark are surpassing themselves at the moment.
Last week they wrote to me asking for details of the things I was dissatisfied with. It seemed as though this was an attempt to amend for their previous repugnant service.

This took me a fair while to do but I thought it was worth it if the company were interested in communicating with me to hopefully resolve the issue.

I had not heard back nor even had an acknowledgement so I wrote back to them to ensure they had received my response.

Stunningly they said they had no intention of even replying to me (despite the fact that they asked me to write to them) nor even acknowledging my response.

Had I not been treat so badly by them in the past, I would be absolutely shocked by this rude and ignorant level of service... as it is, it is no great surprise

http://sparkenergy2.wordpress.com