Iresa energy complaints - warning!

Kiredoryor

I think IRESA are fine while everything is just going on OK, but if a problem does arise they seem unable or unwilling to do anything about it.
Their meter reading recording system seems to have some problems. Even when a reading is accepted they will sometimes put in estimated values. I've experienced this over the past 4 months. The estimated reading are very high so they have upped the Direct Debit and then additionally taken an extra payment. I had assumed that this could be sorted out easily as I've emailed the correct readings (18 times now!) sent messages to their Support Ticket system (12) all of which have been ignored. I've tried phoning but believe that one shouldn't have to wait over an hour and as I was still over 15th in the queue on each occasion just gave up.
It is a shame as, until November, I thought they were quite good. I imagine that they employ very few people so are unable to sort out glitches. There is no penalty for leaving them so I've arranged with my bank to cancel the Direct Debit and will move. They owe me over £150 which I guess may also ber a battle.

molerat

Use the ombudsman, it works.

MontyBest

IRESA uses sharp practices, possibly fraudulent to increase direct debits. The latest can finally be seen from their own readings, I put in my February reading on the 26th of February, my contract ends in April. They have increased my monthly DD from £120 to £140 then a staggering £169, after the February account I had a £222 credit.

The next time I looked my credit had been slashed to £30.00.

I had already advised IRESA not to take the March payment, but after 14 days had no reply.

When I looked at why the monies had diminished it could be found in their ridiculously high estimate between my reading on the 26th February & their estimate made on the 28th February which meant I used the same amount of electricity in two days as I do in an entire month.

I am certain that IRESA hikes the estimated usage in order to increase their bank balance, you can see scores of people hundreds even who have a devil of a time getting their money back

This is a comppany that all should avoid!

unwina

I am transferring to Avro next week but so far Iresa has

* notified me that Avro have requested my transfer - All Ok so far.
* Opened up a renewed contract with themselves for both fuels at higher rates without my permission!!!
* Their billing system has double billed all my leccy bills suggesting I owe >£400.

I can't seem to get them interested in my DMs, tweets or my entries on their reporting system as I have been trying for days to get them to speak to me on twitter and their internal systems etc.

My last DD went from my bank yesterday, so I decided to cut my losses and stop any further DD's going forwards. I have no idea where this will go but I owe them nothing as far as I can tell but their systems will disagree. I have copied everything and can show they are in error.

Time will tell.....

MontyBest

I've done exactly the same as you. They don't reply to any tickets, so I cancelled by direct debit, they also estimate ludicrous amounts of usage. For instance, I put my readings in February on the 26th they estimated a whole months use of electricity for the 2 days to the end of the month! They are very dodgy, but so long as I can cancel the DD I don't care. BTW I only put my readings in on the last day of the month!

RoyBrock7898

Zarjaz wrote: »

After a year of problems over direct debits, meter readings, etc., I finally switched supplier last week. Today I got an email from Iresa:

This is to inform you that we received a request to switch your ELECTRICITY supply from Iresa to a new supplier. We have denied the switch because there is an outstanding debt on the ELECTRICITY account

This probably explains my problem.

First I agree with the OP, their contact system is dreadful. When you do get through (I managed twice in a year) their operators are very good.

Anyway I sold my house in January and finally got substantial refunds 6 weeks later. Good!

I then moved into a new house and was told the supplier was EON. I switched to EDF and the gas transfer went ahead smoothly. They were not allowed to take over the Electricity account. I rang EDF and they were able to tell me the supplier was actually IRESA.

Now I no longer have, nor wish to have, an account with IRESA and I don't know for a fact who is paying the electricity bills, but it isn't me. It may be the previous tenant, it may be the vendor. My solicitor has contacted the seller's solicitor but not reply yet.

They are now 10 days over their 5 day email response time.

As the OP said, you can be in the phone queue can be in the hundreds. At 8am sharp I was 25 in the queue, now, 19 minutes later, I am down to 11.

Any ideas how I can move things on as OFCOM say they have 3 months (?) to respond.

Lastly:
DO NOT USE IRESA

RoyBrock7898

After a hold of 40 minutes I eventually got through to IRESA. In contrast to getting through, their operators are unfailingly polite and effective.

It seems no one has been paying the bill since October but obviously their system doesn't notice this (we still get monthly reminders to send reading for our previous home).

Anyway I have now given them the reading from out date of occupation and they have agreed to release the account to EDF. Now we wait and see what happens.

nicknike

I send in my meter readings when requested, I pay the monthly DD, and my account is all correct on their web site. I even check it with an accurate spreadsheet. I have no problems with them at all.

Kiredoryor

I wonder if anyone knows IRESA's bank account details.

I have similar experiences to the many listed so won't repeat IRESA's well known shortcomings.

I keep track of my exact expenditure and balance with a spreadsheet and stopped the Direct Debit in January when over £300 in credit. The account is now just a few pounds in credit. I am not prepared to let IRESA have a Direct Debit as I can't trust them not to abuse the facility again. However, I do not wish to owe these people money and provide them with any excuse to stop me switching etc. so I want to set up a Standing Order to make the correct average monthly payments.
Would be grateful if anyone can give me their bank account details.

brewerdave

Kiredoryor wrote: »

I wonder if anyone knows IRESA's bank account details.

I have similar experiences to the many listed so won't repeat IRESA's well known shortcomings.

I keep track of my exact expenditure and balance with a spreadsheet and stopped the Direct Debit in January when over £300 in credit. The account is now just a few pounds in credit. I am not prepared to let IRESA have a Direct Debit as I can't trust them not to abuse the facility again. However, I do not wish to owe these people money and provide them with any excuse to stop me switching etc. so I want to set up a Standing Order to make the correct average monthly payments.
Would be grateful if anyone can give me their bank account details.

Even if you can find out the correct details, I wouldn't risk it! The chances of IRESA identifying that the payments came from you are effectively zero. Also, I'm not aware that they allow any method other than DD for payment -its buried somewhere in the ts and cs.