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Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC (148 posts)

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universalgoingtocourt
New Member Registered	Universal also scammed/tricked/conned me into signing their contract. I was approached by one of Universal's minion in April 2006, claiming to save me money on my utilities bill. To keep this short, most of us that got conned in signing the contract are familiar with their unethical tactics, that's why we're all posting here. So, I won't go in details. The day I found out they switched me over without my authorization. I flipped and immediately contacted them. It took a couple of days and hours on the phone for me to get the manager as I was persistent. Bascially, they told me the verbal affirmation of the application was the contract when one of their rep called me and interrupted my dinner. He couldn't even speak english that clearly, when he called the way he worded things was affirmation. To me that means they're confirming the info on my application, in actuality when you answer 'yes' to those questions that's where they get you and it's all recorded. You just entered into the 5 yr contract with them. When I spoke to Vanessa (one of the head biatch at Universal) she basically played that recording to me and I'm thinking to myself (you bastards) that was very clever the way I was conned into this contract. Anyways, she told me if I want to get out of the contract I would have to pay roughly $500+. At this point I realized the argument was fruitless so I hung up and immediately contact my lawyer. The court date is set in May 2007 for a prelimary hearing. My lawyer said I can have up to 15 witnesses who's been conned the same way I have. I'm going to take them down and I'm also thinking about a class action suit against them. If you're in the Windsor area or close by and would like to be a witness please let me know, right now it's just a small claims court. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome.
quote / posted 13 April 2007 9:48 AM
AVERAGEJOE22
New Member Registered	I had one of Universals agents come to my door in the fall. He started petting my dog and telling me how he loved dogs. He came across as very down to earth and friendly. As soon as I realised that the guy was not from Direct Energy, I ended up signing up for both there hydro and gas. He was very honest and told me that my hydro bill was going to increase, and my choice was to take a small increase or have my rates raised to the cost price over the years. He mentioned about importing costs from the US as well, and about bonehead decisions by the government. The agent seemed very knowledgeable about the market and answered all my questions honestly. I can say that I have been very happy with Universals gas bill program, because my gas bills have been far lower then the 2 previous winters. I compared my bills to my friend down the street and my bills are a lot lower. However, unfortunatly my hydro bills gone up a lot more then I have expected. I recommend signing up for your gas bill and holding off on the hydro. Joe
quote / posted 16 April 2007 1:38 AM
ivanWood
New Member Registered	Does anyone know if there is a class action suite against Universal Power? I signed up with them for my Gas but because I don't use much electricity and the Ontario Government had capped the rates I said no to the agent. That was 18 months ago then about 6 months ago someone from Universal Energy phone and asked if I want to have my Hydro through them and I again said no, however I notice a couple of months the it said on my Hydro Bill I should contact Universal Power regarding rate information. Since I never asked or approved them to charge my hydro I believe what they have done is illegal and suspect I am not the only one. Can anyone help.
quote / posted 16 April 2007 1:16 PM
UniversalLover
New Member Registered	Ok this is for all you people who do not understand wat is going on I will even provide links to sites as i go along. Prices of natural gas are now at 32 c cubic meter. Universal sells it at 29 cents. The best thing to do is lock into a contract over the next 5 yrs because it can only go up. Nov 1 2007 gas prices will increase to over 45 cents. Hydro rates are going to increase due to the fact of little devices called smart meters. http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/siteShared/smart_meters.asp?sid=ic Rates are going up to 9.7 in the next 5 years. so its in your best interest to research b4 you yapp off. May 1 2007 rates are jumping to 6.9 http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/siteShared/regulated_prices.asp?sid=ic so if you are interested in not losing money in the long run and saving a bundle email me and i will make sure that it doesnt happen to you. but if you have already refused an agent at your door the chances of universal accepting you is slim to none as they mark down who refused. they buy it n supply it to you. they dont have to sign you on. and if you sign its legit..... my email is robertmckay3@hotmail.com
quote / posted 20 April 2007 10:14 PM
UniversalLover
New Member Registered	Here are some questions straight from UEC. This should clear up anything: Who is Universal Energy Corporation? Universal Energy Corporation is a Canadian Company. The company markets its electricity product offerings under the name Universal Power. The principals of the organization have in excess of 100 years of combined experience in the energy industry and are responsible for aggregating in excess of one million customer contracts since deregulation. Is Universal Power licensed in Ontario? Universal Power has been approved and licensed as an Electricity Retailer by the Ontario Energy Board (License #ER-2005-0261). Universal Power is required to follow the Code of Conduct, issued and amended by the Ontario Energy Board. Are you affiliated with a local utility? Universal Power is not affiliated with any Local Distribution Company (LDC). What causes electricity prices to rise? Electricity prices are determined by the competitive forces of supply and demand. The short-term or spot price fluctuates significantly from day to night, season to season, weekday to weekend. For instance, if one generation facility is out of service in the middle of a heat wave our demand for electricity can easily exceed our supply capacity thus having to import electricity from neighboring regions which affects the short term price of electricity. Longer term electricity prices are determined by population and economic growth and by factors such as environmental polices. How do I benefit by signing with Universal Power? There is no risk of your electricity commodity price increasing during the term of this agreement. As in the past your LDC delivers your electricity and provides 24 hours, emergency service. There is no cost to enroll. If I chose Universal Power as my supplier, will I receive my utility bill from you? Your bill will come directly from your LDC as it has in the past. Once, your application has been accepted by Universal Power, our name will appear on your bill as your electricity supplier. Can I cancel this agreement? At any time from the date of entering into the Universal Power's Agreement until 10 days after receiving a written copy of the agreement. If Universal does not make delivery within 30 days after the delivery date specified in this agreement or if Universal Power does not begin performance of its obligations within 30 days after the commencement date specified in this agreement, you may cancel this agreement at any time before delivery or commencement of performance. Man and that was all on thier website which is on the application as well as the pamphlet. You people are just dumb and lazy you deserve to get fucked lol
quote / posted 21 April 2007 6:43 AM
hype519
New Member Registered	I'm also another person that shouldn't have been nice that day the agent came knocking on my door. Honestly, now I don't even know how I let myself get talked into signing anything that morning. It's something that I definately will never - ever - forget. I thought I was signing something that was proof of the agent doing his job, not an application to raise my rates. So after going back to bed (the agent woke me) for a few hours, I got up and started to re-read all the information that the agent had left for me. I quickly realized that I had signed a contract to recieve hydro from Universal at these higher prices. I couldn't believe that I had inadvertantly signed this application. It's right about then I started to feel real stupid. I have to note: it was my beliefe that I was signing a check list of sorts, just saying that the agent had been to my home to talk to me about their program. I thought I was just helping him out I quickly called Universal and made sure that I had not entered into any kind of contract, only an application. I made sure the fellow named "Bill" on the other end of the phone understood that I did NOT want their services and that they were NOT to change my current services with my local provider. He stated that untill I made a verbal agreement over the phone, I could not be enrolled into their program. Whew, that was close. But I still didn't feel that it was enough. So I called my local provider (London Hydro) and told them what had occured with the agent from Universal Power. I asked the agent if their was anything I could do to make sure that Universal Power could NOT take over my account. She said that she would write a message on my account saying I did NOT want any services from Universal Power. They would also monitor my account just to make sure that NO changes would be made. The lady then asked if I wanted the number to the Ontario Energy Board. I quickly said "yes, please". Next I called The Ontario Energy Board and lodged an offical complaint with them. I do not think that the sales tactics (ie lies that were told) of the agent were definately not ethical. I gave my name, number, address, London Hydo's number, the agents name and employee number. The gentleman that I spoke to from the Ontario Energy Board was very nice, and actually very sympathetic to my situation.Without him saying so much directly, he let me know that there were others in the same situation, reporting the same "sales tactics". So now it's been 9 days and I just called Universal again, and again I got to talk to "Bill". I think "Bill" remembered me, although he didn't say so. He again took down the application # and said that untill I verbally said that I wanted to be enrolled into the program, I could not be enrolled into the program. I asked him if by me telling him right now that I don't want anything to do with Universal Power, could he pass that on so that I wouldn't even be contacted on the phone ? Of course he said no that the call would still most likely be made. This is BS, I know it, he know's it and you all know it. He could stop the call, but why ? It's one last chance to get me to say something that will get me locked into their so called "savings program". Yet another instance of Universal Power showing exactly what they are. I guess that the only thing to do is wait for the call asking if I want to be enrolled into the program. I will have to make sure that they understant that I do not want to be enrolled into their program, and want nothing to do with their services offered. I'm pretty sure that I can get my point across. Anyways, good luck to all you guys that have gotten stuck with a contract with Universal Power. I really really do feel for you guys. I hope that someone out there can help you guys get out of the scam. I would be more than willing to e-mail, write or call anyone that you guys think we should. I do believe that the sales agent basically lied and conned his way into getting me to sign something I didn't even know I was signing. It was the first time I'd ever been so foolish, never again. Again, best of luck to all. hype519
quote / posted 21 April 2007 11:27 AM
hype519
New Member Registered	I was contacted by one of Universal Powers agents today on the phone, and as soon as they said "Universal Power" I quickly said "NO Cancel, I do not want it . Thank you". The agent said "Thank you" can you please hold" Again I said "NO thank you - CANCEL". Agent, "I know sir, please hold". Another agent got on the phone and started to say something and again I said "NO THANK YOU - CANCEL" Agent: "Yes, I know sir, but I need to know if it's the right contract to cancel" Again I had to say it before I hung up. "NO THANK YOU - CANCEL", and hung up. I really hope that this is the end of the story for me. I hope that they don't decide to change my services even though it's pretty clear that I do not want their services. Now tomorrow the first thing I have to do is call the Ontario Energy Board and my local provider to make sure that they don't change anything. This will be my second call to both on the matter within 2 weeks time. Sleeping before work is going to be nice tonight Hype519
quote / posted 22 April 2007 4:16 PM
bigtrout
Active Member Registered	So here we are siged up for this "saving plan" and now my wife and I seperated. She called and informed them that she was moving where utilities are included (the contract is under her name) so they requested proof. When she called to inform them in regards to the change, they said the contract was going into my name now as we lived together when this contract was signed. They said because we were married that the contract falls under my name cause I still reside in the house. CAN THEY DO THIS? email me: bigtrout@shaw.ca Cancelation $700.00. ( I might pay this as it would pay it self off in 6 months!!!) [This post edited by bigtrout on 24 April 2007 ]
quote / posted 24 April 2007 11:26 AM
bigtrout
Active Member Registered	quoting: bigtrout So here we are siged up for this "saving plan" and now my wife and I seperated. She called and informed them that she was moving (the contract is under her name) so they requested proof. When she called to inform them in regards to the change, they said the contract was going into my name now as we lived together when this contract was signed. They said because we were married that the contract falls under my name cause I still reside in the house. CAN THEY DO THIS? email me: bigtrout@shaw.ca Cancelation $700.00. ( I might pay this as it would pay it self off in 6 months!!!) forgot to say that she is moving where all untilities are included!
quote / posted 24 April 2007 11:27 AM
Avio
New Member Registered	To Acquiesce and Bigtrout: How would you recommend wording a letter to Universal regarding the fact that you and your spouse have separated? I signed the agreement while we were still together (the bill is in both our names). My wife is now in a place of her own and paying her own utilities. Is it enough that I just say this and it will negate the contract? I noticed that the last statement from OPG regarding rates is that most of them have come DOWN. The "rep" that came to the house stated that Ontario rates would be up to 10 cents/Kwh by November 2007. At this rate I don't see that happening.
quote / posted 26 April 2007 7:15 AM
horsemen20
New Member Registered	I just mailed off a nice cheque for over $600 to buy out my contract because of the lies I was told, I was home with my 2 year old and new infant daughter and a nice case of post partum, and was told not only at the door when I asked about paying the 9.6/kwh but on the phone 10 days later as well that I would be paying the lesser of the two prices. And now 2 year and 3 months later I am biting the bullet and paying them to get they out of my hair and some some money back to my kids. I can promise you that I am telling everyone that I know what a rip off these people are and if they send any more reps to my door to try and change my mind (2 in one day were sent to my house one week after my not so nice fax to let them know my intentions to cancel my contract) I WILL be phone ing the police and having them charged with harassement!
quote / posted 26 April 2007 1:54 PM
bigtrout
Active Member Registered	The cheque is being sent today!!! Just over $800.00 for early termination fees~!!! I was only 2 months into my 5 year contract!!!! . I am going to save a lot considering my last bill was almost $200.00 more. Lesson learned! Next time, I will call the police when they go on my property. [This post edited by bigtrout on 01 May 2007 ]
quote / posted 01 May 2007 12:06 PM
ExUniversalTrainee
New Member Registered	Hi everybody! On my job search i came across a universal energy ad. That was misleading as it says they need managers with no experience nessecary. I just finished college so this of course looked like a great oppertunity. I have seen first hand how universal energy brainwashes it's employees who actually firmly belive that it is actually a good deal for the consumers. It is actually quite scary what goes on behind the scenes of universal... I went to their training seminar and spent a day with a sales rep to learn the tricks of the trade and the whole time the sales rep i was with, was completly obvlivous to the fact that this might be a scam and to how brainwashed he actually is. He was pushy, ennoying and taught me that thats the only way to "get" to the stupid consumer that doesnt realize this is savings. The company uses a very ennoying metod of brainwash. They make you waste alot of time literally sitting doing nothing listeining to a manager crack dumb jokes for hours. Then from 11am to about 1 pm a lengthy session of talking about how to get the customer to hand over that bill and signature. This includes the HOORAH yell every 10 minutes or so... again all employees are completly oblivious to whats going on. They think its all legit. I could see something fishy about this company from the very begining right when they told me that they dont hire managers straight up rather then being a business school themselves. Of course they dont hire managers straight from school.. they need their managers to be brainwashed and have the dumb ass attidude universal is pushing upon all their employees. After the hype up session is finished the reps get loaded up onto vans to hit a certain area of the city. Again a lot of waste of time (about 4 hours) of drivign around talking about random stuff with the manager cracking really terrible jokes that everyone else seems to "force laugh" at. I felt like I lost at least 10 IQ points on this ride... I felt like i was getting dumber by the minute or as if i was breaking down mentally. I knew i was gonna become like the rest of them if i went in for a few more work days. anyways finally by 5 pm we started walking around houses ennoying the crap out of people and basically it felt like nothing but a scam even thought they all say its legit and they all actually belive that. at about 8 pm a van came to pick us up to my relief i was thinking finally ill be back soon and this will all be over.. FAT CHANCE the motherfuckers drove us around in those vans for another 2 hours of brainwash talk and dumb jokes before finally arriving back. I got out of that van with the biggest headache of my life (and probably my first) The manager was telling me how he really liked me and would like to offer me a job... I told him to take this job and shove it up his ass... he laughed and yelled YOU WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER OPPERTUNITY LIKE THIS... THANK YOU... I cracked up in his face... Thanks for reading about my day with universal energy and i hope i provided you with some insight of what actually happens behind the scenes. if there is someone that aims to bring down this evil corporation I am all for it sign me up you got yourself a witness... And now some fun facts about universal energy: Its owner mark sylver has already had a business like this that he appearantly sold for almost a billion dollars... Their offices are popping up all over the world spreading like a cancer... they already went from 2 to 12 offices in 2 years and are opening new ones in BC, the UK and Australia. The only good thing i got out of this whole experience was 2 hours of staring at the 2 very good looking orientation managers who showed alot of cleveage... Ex Universal Trainee
quote / posted 08 May 2007 11:36 AM
ExUniversalTrainee
New Member Registered	I would also like to add that they successfully brainwashed all the other trainees that were in my group. As I was getting out of the van at the end of the day shaking off my headache.. I asked all of them if they are coming back and they all said "of course this job is amazing there is nothing i would like to do more"... LOL Also in the first orientation they tell you that this is a standard 9-5 job and never mentioned any selling or door to door type business. The real standard hours of work are 10 30 to 9 with most of that time being used for brainwashing purposes..
quote / posted 08 May 2007 11:45 AM
hype519
New Member Registered	A little follow up for anyone that's reading this thread. I've finally recieved an e-mail from Universal Power saying that my application was cancelled ! Hoorah, what a relief to know that I will not be charged almost double than what my currents rates are at. I really do hope that someone brings this to the media's attention, so that others can be warned about these 'legal scams' before they find themselves in the middle of one. Best of Luck to everyone else that has found themselves in the middle of Universal Power's scam. Maybe someone in our provincial/federal government will decide to do something about this 'legal scam' that they have created. hype519
quote / posted 10 May 2007 6:48 AM
UniversalLover
New Member Registered	quoting: ExUniversalTrainee I would also like to add that they successfully brainwashed all the other trainees that were in my group. As I was getting out of the van at the end of the day shaking off my headache.. I asked all of them if they are coming back and they all said "of course this job is amazing there is nothing i would like to do more"... LOL Also in the first orientation they tell you that this is a standard 9-5 job and never mentioned any selling or door to door type business. The real standard hours of work are 10 30 to 9 with most of that time being used for brainwashing purposes.. well if you went to training you would've found out that it is a work your own hours as well as it isn't a scam. All you people who do not understand that it is a long term choice are very stupid. 5 years not 5 months.... you'll wish that you were still signed up. Actuactlly mark sold the company direct energ for almost a billion dollars and then started up again from scratch. so get your fuckin facts straight before you yapp off. Ill be glad to answer anyones questions
quote / posted 16 May 2007 6:25 AM
gaslad
New Member Registered	I don't know much about energy costs, but I've been around long enough to recognize hard sell tactics and scam artists when I see them. A Universal Power rep showed up on my doorstep today and tried to convince me I had nearly missed out on the greatest guaranteed savings. I immediately asked if he were trying to sell me something- he said "no". (He lied). I asked if he had any brochure or literature I could examine- he said "yes" (he lied). I asked if he were trying to change my energy supplier- he said "no". (He lied). He asked to see my last gas and power bills, and after examining them indicated some mistake had been made, and that I was somehow overlooked for these great savings. He kept flashing his Universal Power ID badge as though that was all the authority I needed. All he was interested in was my personal info and signature which I refused to give him. I again asked for some written literature, and he said "That's not how we do things- give me your phone number, we will call you and you will have x days to reconsider". I again refused, so he ripped up some forms in front of me and stalked off! I just laughed. It's been a long time since I was subjected to such brazen snake-oil sales tactics. Reputable companies do not do business this way. Buyer beware!
quote / posted 23 May 2007 8:24 PM
BadLuckSliprock
New Member Registered	I have to laugh at this “UniversalLover” character – he tries to come across as having something relevant to add to the thread of discussion, but clearly lacks the mental prowess to come up with anything more germane than feeble quotes from Universal Power's Machiavellian propaganda. Sprinkle his time-wasting, meaningless drivel with a pinch of profanity, a dollop of misspellings and a generous amount of grammatical errors and you have the perfect recipe for moron soup. I cannot imagine anyone who holds their time or intellect in esteem having any questions for UniversalLover – and judging by the precedent he's set, I certainly can't imagine his answers providing any significant redress… But, I digress… I, too, wish to cancel my 'contract' with Universal Power. When I called and informed them, the rep told me I'd have to pay an “early termination fee” of about $800. I laughed. I laughed right in his ear. Then, I politely inquired as to this fee. I was told that since Universal Power had purchased energy on my behalf, when I cancelled the contract, the company would be left with energy they wouldn't know what to do with. If I weren't still chuckling about the fact that they expect to get this “early termination fee” out of me, I might have told that rep exactly what Universal Power could do with their excess energy… But, Miss Manners would never allow that. So, I very warmly wished the kind representative a good evening, hung up the phone and now… it's on. Understand this: I've gone head-to-head with plenty of the big boys, including the likes of Canadian Tire, Value Propane, Culligan, Sherwin-Williams and General Motors – corporations that span countries and decades. I'm not the least bit intimidated by Universal Power, regardless of who started it, who owns it, or who's involved in it. They tried to swindle the wrong person, this time.
quote / posted 30 May 2007 11:06 PM
bigtrout
Active Member Registered	Good luck, I hope it works out for you! The way I looked at it, I caught it early enough that paying the early termination fees, I was ahead! My first and ONLY bill was over 200 more!!! So I did the math and went with the early termination fees. Was I dumb? Hopefully the letters from the lawyers and threats of it shows up on your credit report did it for me. I signed a contract and I did not read the fine print. Sucks to be me! Again, let me know what happens. Good luck!
quote / posted 01 June 2007 3:23 PM
Truthful_help
New Member Registered	Hello to all those who are suffering through a ridiculous 5 yr contract with UEC. If you do seek help or advise please e-mail truthful.help@hotmail.com Sincerely, Mary
quote / posted 02 June 2007 7:31 PM

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