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realconsumeradvocate, Toronto
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
19 March 2007 6:19 PM
Whoever wrote the email supporting Universal Power probably works for them. This company is very underhanded. They are selling a ripoff, make money by gauging, and get customers through deception.
While fixed rates are a good idea in theory, especially with the way energy demands are skyrocketing, you dont pay a fixed rate 30% over current rates! As most of the people dealing with this problem (utilities) will also be home owners, think of it like mortages. You can get a variable rate mortage, instead of a fixed one, and gamble the rates will go down instead of up. But, if you take the fixed mortgate, you take it at CURENT prices, not 30% above. This would mean universal charging 6.5 cents per Kwh, not 9!!! THey are gauging. Plus, rates in ontario, for natural gas (which Universal is also into) just went down with our local distributor, not up!
The stories from people are always the same. The sales agents use the same lines "we are consumer advocates" "you are not protected" across different cities because they are TRAINED in how to trick people. Any company selling a half-decent product, doesnt need to trick people to get their business!
(On a side note - ever try to comunicate with this company through email or phone? THey dont give you their names (first and last, or they give fake first names only. Any legitimate business, has their customer serice people start pheon calls by introducing their name, and sends emails with their full names at the bottom. THis is because they want to take responsiblity if their customers have a problem. Universal doesnt because they have something to hide.)
They say the proof is in the pudding. Well, Universal has only been in business for two years at this time. 24 months, and in that time they already have 40 complaints with the Better Business Bureau. That is between 1-2 a month, and that is only the ones registered with the BBB! More than half are related to their Sales practices. See the pattern of behaviour.
What help I can offer is limited. Basically, if you signed their contract you have to act fast or else there is not much to be done. First off, when THEY approach YOU to make the sale, as they do when their sales agent comes to your house unannounced, then the contract can not be made legally binding immedeately. Under the Consumer Protection Act of 2002, you have the right to cancel the contract without reason within 10 days of signing it. So, email them, call them, and most of all send a written letter to their head office through registered mail so you can prove it got there and on what day. Also fax them and get a fax confirmation report. Second, undre the Energy Board Act of 1998, with soliciting done like this, the written/signed contract cant be made legally binding until they confirm it a second time (and they must waiting until after the 10 day peried to end before they do it). When they try to confirm by phone, tell them NO. Also, they must make a recording of this call to show that you did reaffirm the contract. Legally you have a right to this recording. So to the person who says above that they dont remember the call, tell the company you want your copy of the recording under your rights protected by the Energy Board Act of 1998. They have to make the recording as proof that you said YES so that they can switch your account over. They have until 61 days after signing the contract to do this, so during that window, if they havent called you, you can call them still (i think) and cancel it. After 10 days you certainly can, between 10 and 61 I think, but after 61 days you are most likely stuck. However, give the Better Business Bureay a call and see if they can help. They are there to help consumers with businesses that act inappropriately like this one. Behaviour like this is also EXACTLY why the legislature like the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 and the Energy Board Act, 1998 were made, to stop dirty business practices like these and protect consumers from being ripped off!
Again, never sign anything without reading the fine print. Also, never sign anything under pressure..ask them to leave the materials and come back in a few days so you have time to think it over (if they insist you do it right away, there is your first sign something is fishy!!!).
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