quoting: packrat67

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I am in the same boat...but have had them for 1 1/2 years and just got out by pretending I moved and putting my hydro in another name. I received my August hydro bill.....$459.72 for one month, and I don't have air conditioning. That was the final straw. Besides dying or falling off the face of the planet, they make you feel like they have you by the you-know-whats. The thing is, the hydro bill has always been in my name, but my husband signed up with them, so his name is on the contract. Go figure how that would be binding. Once you break your contract, either by moving or some other circumstance, they send you threatening letters that say if you don't contact them within a certain amount of time, they will forward your account info to their legal department, and you will be responsible for their costs of any litigation. Yeah, I'm sure this scares alot of people into getting in touch with them. I recently moved and thought that I would be done with them....not the case. After freaking out over my last bill and calling Ontario Hydro (Hydro One Networks), I explained my situation. I asked what my electricity charge only would have been if I didn't have Universal Gouger....she told me the info I needed to figure it out....Hydro One rates are 5.3 cents/KWH for the first 600kwh, anything over 600, the rate is 6.2 cents. So I did the math.....my electricity charge (no debt retirement charge or transportation charge, just straight electricity), had I not been with Universal Gouger would have been $160.21........my charge with Universal Gouger was $280.71. Now you tell me how it is that they didn't break the terms of the contract when they didn't save me all of this money that they professed they were going to save me when they came to my door? They charged me 10.4 cents/KWH. So last month, I called Hydro One again, and they were very sympathetic....I did a disconnect, paid a $31.00 charge, and put the bill in a different name so it would appear like there is a new owner. WELL WELL WELL, guess who called today.....(11days later), Universal Gouger. I have spoke to a lawyer already and thankfully since the name of my husband has never appeared on the hydro bill, and he is the one who signed the contract, I am good to go. Their next phone call or letter to me will have them being advised that they are harassing me and I will bring a lawsuit against them. However, there are thousands out there (I know of 7 alone just where I work), who feel or are trapped. If enough people did this (change the name on the bill), Universal Gouger wouldn't have a hope in hell. Oh, and don't even bother calling the Ontario Energy Board, what a waste of our tax dollars that is, I can't even believe people get paid to say "I can't help you, you're stuck". Bull, our government needs to step in and kick these morons to the curb. I tell everyone I know, DO NOT LET THEM IN YOUR HOME!!!!! They are very very bossy, will demand to see your energy bill, etc. Pick up the phone, and in front of their mini manipulators, dial 911, or pretend to, and say you have someone harassing you at your door, trying to get in. Believe me, they will go. Please please please pass this on to everyone you know....we have to get these companies out of here!!!!!

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[This post edited by bigtrout on 29 September 2007 ]
 

quoting: Spousegottook

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We also got taken by the UEC crooks and also by Summitt Energy who are a sloppy version of UEC from my experience. I've actually stopped paying the bills until this is resolved but sadly I don't know if I have a legal leg to stand on as they've sent me copies of the reaffirmation calls. As others here noted these are cleverly worded to get you to commit to the five year contracts whereas you think you are confirming the sales agent gave you all the right information at the door. Now I'm looking at paying to cancel collectively four (hydro & gas x2) contracts my spouse unwittingly signed us up for. I was considering legal action but given what others have written it sounds like a waste of time (and money). Are there any tactics one can use in the law suit that would make the likes of these crooks settle at the 11th hour? I'm thinking to subpoena everyone at UEC I can attach a name to. Some of which I'm sure are no longer in their employ and wouldn't even show up to court. This tactic seemed to work when I fought an HTA charge years ago. I'm not a lawyer so I don't know how realistic this would be.

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[This post edited by bigtrout on 22 August 2007 ]
 

quoting: Haloonie

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I regrettably got into the contract. I will not recount my story as I have read it over and over again.

My early termination fee is close to $800.00. Paying it now will save me an estimated $3000 in the long run. How pathetic is that?

The one thing that I feel "duped" by is this "balancing charge". I am not only paying for my usage, I am also paying for excessive usage in my "rate class". When I inquired about this I was referred back to my contract. Of course it is there, written in cryptic terms that only an industry insider can understand. Apparently they only purchase power at 90% of expected usage. Anything usage over and above that is charged on a pro-rated basis to all members in thie "rate class". No, I don't get it either.

I am interested in joining a class-action lawsuit. If anyone knows of one that has been started, please post the details.

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