First Choice EPC

kev100_2

charles1234 wrote: »

I'm having very similar problems with this 'company', booked an EPC with them, they took the money immediately (contrary to their website at the time) and provided me with a booking reference and that's about it! Despite trying several messages via their website (and using their email address as well) I heard nothing from them, so after 28 days passed I asked for my money back as they hadn't done anything. Heard nothing further a couple of weeks later so successfully retrieved my money back via my bank. Subsequently bombarded with what seem to be automated emails suggesting I cancelled and owe them a cancellation fee which has now escalated and reached the standard £435ish and threat of county court action. I responded to a few of their messages but they just ignore it with no explanation for their actions. No names, addresses or contact numbers are supplied, all signed off with 'not much love from' FirstChoiceEPC. My card provider now advise me that the merchants bank have stated that the fee that was charged back is a cancellation fee and therefore they intend to re-debit my account. Now it's not just these rogue traders I am fighting!
Needless to say I reported my case to Action Fraud some time ago who have passed to local Police for further investigation. I would suggest anyone in a similar predicament does the same. I do not intend to pay a single penny to this company unless they somehow manage to actually get a judge to order me to do so. Disappointing but not surprising to see they continue this scam with a new 'company'.

Charles,

Please send me a PM and I will get back to you.

Cheers

kev100_2

I just made a post of what to look out for when dealing with EPC panles like https://www.saviepc.co.uk, https://www.firstchoiceepc.com and https://www.epclocal.net. Have a read .. you may find it usefull

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/68053507#Comment_68053507

If you follow some of my suggestions then both the EPC company and the consumer should have a nice easy experience

kev100_2

This is the contents of a letter I recieved today from the Governments Department for Business innovation and skills in responce to communications I have had with Jo Swinson MP and minister for consumer affairs

“Thank you for your email of 25th March to Melanie Young at the Department’s Central Drafting unit about FirstchoiceEPC. I have been asked to reply.
I am sorry to read about your experiences with this company.
Hertfordshire Trading standards are aware of the business practices of FirstchoiceEPC and an investigation is currently ongoing. I am however unable to give you the contact details of the trading standards officer handling the investigation. As advised by trading standards, please ignore any threats or letters from this company. See: http://energyassessormagazine.com/probe_into_controversial_panels.html .”

Thats from the GOVERNMENT .. so make your own mind up .

kev100_2

Seems people are getting the same kind of service with saviepc that they had with firstchoice

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/saviepc.co.uk

Melsie

I've had the same happen to me, after booking it, taking my money and never carrying out the service, no replies to emails. My bank did give me my money back, then I received an email today asking for £9.95.
Not sure what I should do now, obviously don't want to pay, so unsure what to do next.

wealdroam

Melsie wrote: »

I've had the same happen to me, after booking it, taking my money and never carrying out the service, no replies to emails. My bank did give me my money back, then I received an email today asking for £9.95.
Not sure what I should do now, obviously don't want to pay, so unsure what to do next.

Have another read of post #114.

In particular, this bit:

kev100 wrote: »

As advised by trading standards, please ignore any threats or letters from this company.

kev100_2

Come on Whatcott and firstchoice, put your money where your mouth is .. I just called the courts, they told me you have till 4pm today to pay your court fee's.. I realy hope you are not chickening out after all of your threats that you take people to court and take it all the way ..

You can pay online, dont worry if you cant make payment today, they are going to send you a pay or else reminder to give you another 7 days.

kev100_2

I have just had confirmation from the court that firstchoice have NOT paid the court ffees and the claim is bieng referred back to the judge to be struck off ... this is how much notice you can give to these scam companies and the threats they make .. absolutely non.

I am the second person I know of that firstchoice have chickened out and not paid the court fees, I am sure if firstchoice thought they had a case and were abiding by all the consumer regulations they would not turn down the chance to recover nearly 500 quid from each of us.

MJP43

I've had my email today demanding over 400 quid.

I have engaged a tracing agent to locate the whereabouts of these idiots.

When located I will be issuing my own civil action and reporting the criminal activities to the police.

EPC_nightmare

I am yet another of clearly many people who have been scammed by this sham outfit First Choice EPC. I filled in a form online on their website 3 days after initial payment to cancel the order (no service received so legally nothing is payable) but got no reply, and it's not possible to get in touch with them since they have no contact details (or none that work at least).

So I got my money back via a charge back at Barclaycard, then got all the standard idiotic emails from First Choice EPC demanding money with threats, which I ignored based on all the feedback in this forum & from trading standards.

Trouble is now I just got a letter from Barclaycard - First Choice EPC have disputed the charge back!! Barclaycard have said they will charge the £39 back to my card if I don't respond in 10 days?

What do I do?

Why are banks like Barclaycard continuing to let scammers like this use their payment services? They must be inundated with charge back requests from customers - doesn't this rund any alarm bells?