Has anybody tried to complain about Ofgem?

davidgmmafan

Hi folks, I've thought for a while that Ofgem are part of the problem rather than part of the solution when it comes to the energy market. I had no idea there was any mechanism to hold them to account and then I discovered this.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/transparency/freedom-information

Things can be taken to a Parliamentary Ombudsmen. I do wonder how they would explain, for example the Consumer Focus secured a much better outcome for customrers with regards ot gas sculpting for example or the fact it took sooooo long for them to take any action with regards to Npowers woeful service since they moved to a new billing system.

Does anyone have any experience of pursuing such a tactic?

Anthorn

Am I missing something here? Ofgem are part of what problem?

jd87

Write to your MP?

rtX_2

I think the original OP is correct. The latitude given to all the energy suppliers is ridiculous. Why anyone should have to wait 8 weeks for example before the Ombudsman becomes involved. That is far too long. There should be punitive measures brought much sooner on non-performing customer service issues.

Energy provision is an essential service and the shoddy attitude of many of those entrusted with it is indicative of a system that is arrogant in the knowledge that it won't cost them anything significant to delay resolution.

As an example, missed appointments cost the customer far more than the energy provider. One energy provider has now failed 4 times to turn up to appointments made with me. They turned up on one further occasion but the engineer said that the energy company had given incorrect information and he wasn't competent to do the necessary work. I've given up 5 days pay to wait in at their request and the work has still not been done. So far I've been offered £90 total compensation. I get paid more than £18 a day! The work has not been done. I've also spent hours and hours waiting to get through to their call centres and written dozens of times. It's now nearly two weeks since they last failed to attend and I have yet to have any meaningful communication from them. If they were required to pay £200 or more for non-attendances, £30 for each phone call made, £30 for each written communication, we'd see a dramatic improvement overnight. The whole system stinks. The Ombudsman is little more than an Ombudspoodle by all accounts and Ofgem permit this to carry on.

I doubt that complaining to another government entity however will have any effect whatsoever as they too are insulated from the upshot of their decisions. The only way to fix this sort of issue is by concerted action by us the consumers. I don't know what that might look like, but something needs to be done.

Ken68

The magazine 'Private Eye' has regular features about OFGEM in particular about the revolving door of energy provider CEOs taking up senior positions with the regulators.
Ombudspoodle is the right word.

twokcc

Same opinion here Ofgem should have stopped Npower, Scottish Power from accepting any new customers whatsoever they then might have taken getting there customer service right seriously

Energy ombudsman just as bad not realised that they are funded by the big six power suppliers(according to the Telegraph) no wonder max compensation that any one seems to get is circa £100, no wonder its not any sort of detriment to the suppliers to refer you to the Ombudsman.

C_Mababejive

OFGEM is nothing much more than a fat cat old boys club that is happy to pay itself well but likes to lash the backs of ordinary workers in the energy supply industry.

Just dig deep in their accounts and you will see their generous pay, pensions, expenses and trips all over the world on junkets.

A lot of people think they are there for end consumers but no they are not. They have no direct interface with end consumers.

They do like to treat themselves because

they do work so hard,,maybe 2 or 3 days every other week.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2577262/Fury-bosses-power-watchdog-Ofgem-run-1-2million-bill-luxury-rewards-staff-consumers-hit-sky-high-price-hikes.html



http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/davidhughes/100007454/ofgems-greedy-bosses-make-mps-look-models-of-self-restraint/



They have NO SHAME...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/6082576/Ofgem-chief-Alistair-Buchanan-claimed-50-for-fuel-poverty-drinks.html

undaunted

There has to be an impression that there's something you can do if unhappy with a Govt body. In reality I think you'll find they all just cover each others backs on most occasions & you are just wasting your time I'm afraid.