Formal Notice of BES Group Action

neil-uk

P.S for what it's worth substantial evidence proves that these brokers are entirely fictitious - it's all just one man...... and his 350 paid liars!

naedanger

katmandu1967 wrote: »

6 months before my contract for gas and electricity with Brittish Gas was due to end, I started to get calls from an energy provider. This broker was stating he could get the bast deal for gas and electricity for my business which is a small cafe in Brighton. They kept calling over and over again even after i had asked them to stop calling me. One problem was that I am the owner/chef at my business and usually when the phone rings I am in the middle of cooking for customers. I explained to the broker that I had 6 months to go on my current contract which gave me plenty of time to do my own research and I did not need their help but this did not put them off calling me, sometimes up to 3 times in 1 day.
After weeks of taking calls from this broker, who was really pushy and using every trick in the book not to let me go, he stated that a small company called BES Utilities were offering the best deals and I would save over or about %30 off of my current bills. Once again I stated I wanted time to do my own research but he would phone the next day asking me what I had found out. At this stage I had not even had the time to look into deals as still had 6 months to go and was in no hurry but the broker became really pushy and just to get him off my back I agreed that he could pass my information over to BES.
The next thing I had was BES calling me wanting me to switch over to them. The first 2 or 3 calls I had from BES I explained I needec more time to look into things my self but on the last call I had from them the sales man said that if I were to agree over the phone to a contract, If I wanted I could do my research over the next couple of nights and if I felt unhappy about the contract going to BES Utilities I could get in contact with them and cancel the contract, no problem.
I agreed as I new if I did find a better deal I had been told it was not going to be a problem to cancel the contract. That evening at home I took some time to look into BES on line and was really shocked by the amount of horror storries and complaints. OH MY GOD, what have I singed up to, the company seemed shockingly bad. Tha same night I emailed the contact email address stated on their web-site, explaining that I wanted to cancel my contract, heard nothing. I then emailed again after receiving a letter from them welcoming me to the company. I then rang them stating that I wanted to cancel my contract, was then told that I could not cancel even though I had been told I could.
I am now with a company that miss led and lied to me about the conditions of their contract.
The salesman had lied to me and did not in fact tell the truth that in fact they offer no cooling off period. I was told that a verbal agreement is legally binding, even without a signiture.
Any small young business, watch out for these guys as they are not honest and will tell you whatever they think they need to tell you in order to get you to become one of their customers.
I have now been in touch with a senior member of the complaints department at BES who is trying to tell me that it was the broker who lied to me not BES. This is not true it was BES Utilities that lied to me. After speaking with the BBC3 tv investigator Stacey Dooley, who eats in my cafe, and telling her my story, she has given me the name of one of the producers of the show on BBC 1, Watchdog, and I am going to write to them along with my local MP, also a customer of mine.
I just want out of a contract I never wanted in the first place and was miss sold by a pushy BES sales team member, even though I kept saying I just wanted to do my own research at home where I could decide which company to go with in my own time without being pushed into anything. I would nevr have agreed to anything had I have been told the truth, that in fact there was no cooling off period and I could not change my mind or cancel the contract.
Next stop, TRADING STANDARDS
BEWARE!!!

I second the suggestion that you complete the form that Neil-UK has linked to.

For your interest you might listen to the following BBC radio programme from 2012:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/5live/5linvestigates/5linvestigates_20120422-2245a.mp3

The owner of BES ([TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]) complained about this programme to Ofcom. However Ofcom found that [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] complaint of unjust or unfair treatment in the programme as broadcast should not be upheld. (See pages 66 to 81 of the following document.)
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb216/obb216.pdf

neil-uk

The owner of BES ([TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]) complained about this programme to Ofcom. However Ofcom found that [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] complaint of unjust or unfair treatment in the programme as broadcast should not be upheld.

Yes, there was the interesting concept about the presenter using a voice of incredulity.....which is a nonsensical and makes no sense whatsoever.

Also, you will note the complaint complaining the trainer to be '[TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]' a "junior employee". The in fact this a girl called [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM], who (as the report alludes to) was an employee for 4 years within the company.

It is worth noting to the eagle eyed also that this solicitor '[TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]' has reverted to his birth name for the report ([TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]). Professionally, and throughout the mainstream media he is known in fact as [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] (now of Field Fisher).

It is quite clear to anyone that listens to the Podcast then reads the Report (or vice versa) that the claims made by [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] to Ofcom are entirely absurd..... But if you think that stops [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] spree of ridicule, you ain't see nothing yet!

neil-uk

The owner of BES ([TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]) complained about this programme to Ofcom. However Ofcom found that [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] complaint of unjust or unfair treatment in the programme as broadcast should not be upheld.

Yes, there was the interesting concept about the presenter using a voice of incredulity.....which is a nonsensical and makes no sense whatsoever.

Also, you will note the complaint complaining the trainer to be '[TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]' a "junior employee". The in fact this a girl called [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM], who (as the report alludes to) was an employee for 4 years within the company.

It is worth noting to the eagle eyed also that this solicitor '[TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]' has reverted to his birth name for the report ([TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]). Professionally, and throughout the mainstream media he is known in fact as [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM]r (now of Field Fisher).

It is quite clear to anyone that listens to the Podcast then reads the Report (or vice versa) that the claims made by [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] to Ofcom are entirely absurd..... But if you think that stops [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] spree of ridicule, you ain't see nothing yet!

Richie_dee

Hi, I have too had issues with BES and would like to contribute to any action against them, Please could you contact me with updates and with any information you may have in order to join forces with other disgruntled customers of BES.

naedanger

If you are having issues with BES it is worth reading about the following open investigation by Ofgem into BES and its compliance with its obligations under the gas and electricity supply licences (Standard Licence Conditions 7A, 7B, 7, 14 and 21B) and with the Consumer Complaints Handling Standards Regulations (CHSR) 2008.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/investigation-bes-and-its-compliance-its-obligations-under-gas-and-electricity-supply-licences-standard-licence-conditions-7a-7b-7-14-and-21b-and-consumer-complaints-handling-standards-regulations-chsr-2008

If your issues relate to that investigation I suggest you write to ofgem at consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk

They should be interested provided your information is relevant to that investigation. However please note the email address is a general address. When you first write I suggest you simply state that you have information that you believe is relevant to their investigation into BES and ask if the investigating team would be interested in your information.

Note that this approach will not help with your specific complaint but may help the ongoing Ofgem investigation.

screwedbybes

Morning, another unlucky customer here. They managed to convince my wife to agree to a 5 year contract under pressure.

She was bombarded by broker calls, they passed her onto BES. They didn't allow her time to evaluate all the information and told her she had a 2 week cooling off period. They didn't establish she was a micro business and the minimum usage is way above what she is expecting to use, all of which is against the Ofcom Standard Licence Conditions 7A, 7B. On calling to cancel the contract within their agreed verbal agreement the call was handled by a trainee solicitor,[TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] who claimed to listen to the recordings of the call and found no trace of this agreement or any mis-selling points.

We've a SAR submitted to them for the recordings but going by past comments doubt they'll be much use. They claim to record all calls for training and complaint reasons, something which they're now saying they don't? My husband installs and maintains voice recording systems for a living so is aware of the type of equipment and it's configuration. He can think of no scenario you'd allow an agent to be able to stop and start they're own call apart from PCI-DSS reasons. Quality should be perfect and complete calls including any transfers along with their associated metadata should be made available.

We have submitted a complaint to them via the resolver co uk website which collates all information so that it can be escalated to Ofgem as and when required.

We are not taking this lying down. We will fight this and will be contacting the government to remind them of the reputation of the people they're dealing with. The director of BES Utilities is known to visit No.10 Downing Street and the Energy Minister and Minister for Business & Enterprise, Matthew Hancock, paid a visit to BES Utilities and Fleetwood. It does nothing for the reputation of the government to visit an organisation which is under investigation by a regulator.

naedanger

screwedbybes wrote: »

Morning, another unlucky customer here. They managed to convince my wife to agree to a 5 year contract under pressure.

She was bombarded by broker calls, they passed her onto BES. They didn't allow her time to evaluate all the information and told her she had a 2 week cooling off period. They didn't establish she was a micro business and the minimum usage is way above what she is expecting to use, all of which is against the Ofcom Standard Licence Conditions 7A, 7B. On calling to cancel the contract within their agreed verbal agreement the call was handled by a trainee solicitor,[TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] who claimed to listen to the recordings of the call and found no trace of this agreement or any mis-selling points.

We've a SAR submitted to them for the recordings but going by past comments doubt they'll be much use. They claim to record all calls for training and complaint reasons, something which they're now saying they don't? My husband installs and maintains voice recording systems for a living so is aware of the type of equipment and it's configuration. He can think of no scenario you'd allow an agent to be able to stop and start they're own call apart from PCI-DSS reasons. Quality should be perfect and complete calls including any transfers along with their associated metadata should be made available.

We have submitted a complaint to them via the resolver co uk website which collates all information so that it can be escalated to Ofgem as and when required.

We are not taking this lying down. We will fight this and will be contacting the government to remind them of the reputation of the people they're dealing with. The director of BES Utilities is known to visit No.10 Downing Street and the Energy Minister and Minister for Business & Enterprise, Matthew Hancock, paid a visit to BES Utilities and Fleetwood. It does nothing for the reputation of the government to visit an organisation which is under investigation by a regulator.

I think resolver will escalate (at the appropriate time) your complaint to the Energy Ombudsman rather that Ofgem. The Energy Ombudsman is the correct body for adjudicating on individual complaints and Ofgem is generally not interested in individual customer complaints.

However it just so happens that Ofgem currently have an open investigation into BES. So I think it would be useful if you could also write to Ofgem at consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk and briefly explain you have evidence regarding BES's failure to comply with standard licence conditions 7A and 7B. Ask Ofgem if they are interested in hearing your evidence given they currently have an open investigation into BES. If they are interested then give them all your information.

(Also I suggest you remove the personal name from your post otherwise there is a risk the whole post will be deleted.)

neil-uk

Hello,

You may find it helpful to take a look here:
http://0lly.uk/category/bes-utilities/

You can find a handy contact form here, this goes to various Government departments and some other key people:
http://0lly.uk/2015/03/05/how-to-complain-to-bes-utilities-bes-commercial-energy/

There has just been an expose video of on the practices of how BES get their customers here:
http://0lly.uk/2015/08/19/exposed-bes-utilities-energy-search-ltd-scam-caught-on-tape/:

I hope it helps!

BMWBMW

Wel well well, she's listened to it and has said that is exactly the same type of call she got, these companies need shutting down.