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nadjam, Toronto
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
23 June 2008 10:32 AM
I question that one too, about UE agreeing to reduce your rates. Last year, I switched my hydro to BullFrog Power. It was a conscious choice, as I want to do more for the environment and use green power. I pay 8.9 cents/kwh. I know this is more than what Toronto Hydro charges, but it is for the environment. What I don't understand is that UE charges even more than that, and locks you in for that same high rate, and it's not green electricity. BullFrog actually lowered my rate last year (from 9.2/kwh), and as more windmills come online, the prices will drop even more. When the UE guy came to our door last month, he completely criticizedBullfrog, and even told my husband that they were a fly-by-night company, they charge too much, and they wouldn't be around much longer. Funny coming from a company that scams people they way they do! At least if I decide I don't want to be with Bullfrog any more, I can just cancel my contract, no penalty and go back to Toronto Hydro. That's what a respectable company should do. Bullfrog is gaining huge momentum through positive word of mouth and they are building fantastic loyalty. That's a lot more than I can say for Universal Energy!
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
07 May 2008 7:20 AM
You indicated previously that you were going to send the letter by registered mail - did you do that?
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
30 April 2008 9:13 AM
Hi ontarioenergysavingsmya$$:
I agree - I am a success story, however, I don't know that I have all the answers! It certainly sounds like you have covered all the bases. I was going to send Universal Energy a registered letter, and if I recall, I never ended up sending it. (just got too busy at work that week). I recall faxing it in, but never got around to actually mailing by registered mail. I think if you have the cancellation number, you are good to go. In the end, it wouldn't hurt to send by registered mail or courier (probably one or the other, not both). When this all happened to me, I sent my e-mail on day 9 (in the evening, after business hours!), not day 2 like you are doing - I was really concerned that if I hit day 10, I would be locked in. In the end, I was okay.
Good luck, and keep us posted on how it goes.
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
27 March 2008 7:39 AM
WOW - Universal Energy came visiting again last night. Amazing how persistent these people are! Fortunately, for me, I wasn't home, and unfortunately for my husband, he was. They tried again to get us to sign up, and my husband just looked at them point blank and said NO WAY! Hubby explained that UE's prices were waaaaay too high (not to mention the fee to get out of the contract!) and that we almost got caught in their plan once before. They actually told him that it must have been their older savings plan, and that if we signed up now, all we would have to do is watch the energy prices, and phone them for a reduction every time the prices went down. HAH! is what I say! After much back and forth, my hubby sent them packing. He talked to them for way too long. I would have slammed the door in their faces and told them I would call the police if they didn't move their butts off my property! In the end, we know better and regardless of whether my husband was just up for some harmless banter, and haranguing of them, they went on their merry way, one less customer.
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
04 March 2008 11:59 AM
Hello Rhinemine,
After I received my cancellation number, I watched my Enbridge bill every month to make sure they were never represented on my bill. Also, they sent me back my original gas bill that I had given to them (yes, yes, I know, I should never have given it to them!).
This is the text from the first e-mail they sent to me when I cancelled. Note they indicate it may take 1-2 cycles to remove them from my bill? (still makes me mad...in the end, however, I never saw anything)
Mrs. **********,
Thank you for writing to Universal Energy Corporation. Please be advised that we are currently in the process of cancelling agreement # **********.
As of June 8, 2007, a cancellation request was submitted to Enbridge and it may take 1 to 2 billing cycles for Universal Charges to be removed from your bill.
If you have additional inquiries or require further assistance, please contact our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-866-900-2373 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm and Weekends 10am-6pm EST.
Customer Service Department
Universal Energy Corporation
Toll Free: 1-866-900-2373
Email: customerservice@universalenergy.ca
Website: www.universalenergy.ca"
This is the text from the 2nd e-mail they sent me on June 11th/07. I had copied Enbridge and the Ombudsman, as I wanted to be absolutely sure they weren't able to switch me over:
"Mrs. *****,
Thank you for writing to Universal Energy Corporation. Please be advised that we received you request to cancel agreement #************.
As of June 8, 2007, your cancellation request was processed. Since the cancellation was within the 10-day cooling period it was not necessary to submit any information to Enbridge, as indicated in the previous email reply.
If you have additional inquiries or require further assistance, please contact our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-866-900-2373 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm and Weekends 10am-6pm EST.
Customer Service Department
Universal Energy Corporation
Toll Free: 1-866-900-2373
Email: customerservice@universalenergy.ca
Website: www.universalenergy.ca"
After this exchange, I did get an actual cancellation letter from them, in addition to the gas bill I mentioned above. I still check my bills today.
Good Luck.
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
10 January 2008 11:04 AM
to snrdrummer....Call them immediately! Tell them you don't want to go with their company, and ask them for a cancellation number. It's good that you didn't get a call from them, however, I would cover all bases, and call them, write to them, fax them, e-mail them, etc. My only question to you, is did they call and speak to anyone else your household? The impression I get is that it doesn't matter who answers the phone and talks to them. As long as they get a phone verification, they deem that as you agreeing to the contract. So, again, don't hesitate, call, fax, e-mail, phone as soon as you can!
Good Luck and keep us posted on this forum!
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
08 November 2007 11:58 AM
Message for Sange....
I am a "success story" as BigTrout calls it. I did what you did, however, I did it all on day 9, rather than on the 1st day. They made their call to me on a Thursday evening looking for the "confirmation of the information". I told them at that time that I hadn't had time yet to review the paperwork (which I had signed at the door) and I needed the weekend to review. They agreed and said they would call me on Monday evening. That's when I did my research and found this chain too. I immediately sent them an e-mail telling them I didn't want to sign with them (I copied the Ombudsman at Enbridge). Since it was after hours, I couldn't call them. I did call them the next day and they verbally gave me a cancellation number. The next day, I wrote a letter and faxed it to them, and I called Enbridge to see if they could stop UE from switching me over. Enbridge indicated that they would not be able to help, if I had indeed signed a contract. After that, Universal Energy sent me a cancellation letter, and about two months later, they mailed my original Enbridge bill back to me. I have checked my Enbridge statements a couple of times, and see nothing on there to indicate that I was switched over (thankfully!). That was 5 months ago.
I am like many many other people on this board. I am an intelligent adult and wonder how on earth I could have been taken in by them. I know the importance of reading paperwork over before signing, and I still wonder how I got "duped" by them. All I can say is thank God that I managed to do what needed to be done before the contract became legally binding. My wish for others is that they are able to learn from all of our experiences on this board and not get caught in an expensive contract. I know for myself, having been almost caught, that I definitely will not sign a contract again before checking it out.
You should be fine, if you have the cancellation number. I would keep on top of them for the next several days and check your bills religiously for a while. You did the right thing by calling and researching right away.
Good Luck.
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
25 June 2007 1:12 PM
Message for WillowdaleTom:
First of all, hopefully you got the name of the agent at your door. I would strongly recommend that you call them, e-mail them, and snail-mail them to make sure that they don't sign you up. It is good that you didn't sign, but I would still be very very careful. If you live in Willowdale, I wonder if it is the same guy that came to my place (I'm in Scarborough, just east of Willowdale). He was very very nice, and quite convincing. He actually convinced me that he was doing me a huge favour by signing me up. At the end of our discussion, he asked me to rate him on a scale of 1 to 10. I can't believe I actually told him that he was very helpful! I feel like such a fool now.
I just received my Enbridge bill today, and I'm so happy to say that I have successfully avoided a UE take-over! Yippee!
So, if you are still within the 10 day window, I would definitely follow up with them, regardless of whether you actually signed anything or not. If they have your account number, then from previous posts, it sounds like they will try to sign you up anyway. Also, from previous posts, be very very careful if they phone, as it sounds like they can have you agreeing verbally you pretty easily.
Good luck WillowdaleTom.
Nadia
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
11 June 2007 9:23 AM
An update to my post on Friday. I did receive a reply e-mail from Universal late on Sunday saying that they were cancelling my contract. What I find quite irritating (and mind-boggling) is that they told me it will likely take 1-2 months to get Universal off of my Enbridge bill. Why, I question, would Universal even submit the request to Enbridge when I hadn't even confirmed agreement to this contract???? I replied again, and told them that should there be any charges for gas at their rate, that I expect to be reimbursed for the overage. I also copied in the Ombudsman for Enbridge. Now, let's see what happens!
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Ontario Forum
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posted in Universal Energy Scam: Rates Higher than Local PUC
08 June 2007 9:08 AM
Hi everyone,
I have read though this lengthy trail and all I can say is WOW! I too had Universal come to my door 10 days ago, and I signed what I thought was only an application. They called me last night, and I told them I needed the weekend to review the information with my husband. After that call, I did some research, and talked to my sister who locked in with another company 2 years ago (not Universal). What I discovered was that the natural gas price they were offering was way higher than my most recent gas bill, and when I reviewed the last 3 years of bills, I discovered that there was only 1 month where the natural gas price was anywhere close to what they were about to charge me. Also, their agent said to me at least 4 times, that I needed to contact Universal to set up the contract, never telling me that they would phone me. He emphatically told me that I was NOT signing a contract, only an application. He also told me that I was to call them after 10 days, and that I had to wait until after June 8th to do so. He told me that the 10 day rule was so that I had adequate time to decide. Is this so that I would be automatically locked in if I didn't call in time to cancel???
I'm so glad that I found this information on the web when I did. I immediately sent them an e-mail last night saying that I did not want to sign up. I also called this morning and again told them I didn't want to sign up, as the prices were way too high. The agent I spoke to on the phone (Hiba), said that she was cancelling my contract, and gave me a cancellation number. I truly hope this means that I have not signed up with them, and will be watching my bills very very closely over the next few months. I plan on calling Enbridge today as well to let them know I do not want to change suppliers. I feel so paranoid right now that I'm covering all bases!
I am completely kicking myself for signing on the spot. I never ever do this and I keep asking myself why I signed. Lesson learned - I will never ever sign at the door again. This is not to say that signing a contract for more stable gas prices is a bad idea. On the contrary, I think it is a good idea, and one worth researching. If this company were truly on the up and up, they would have dropped off their literature, and left it up to me to research more. Has anyone noticed that their literature is an exact duplicate of their website? They offer no additional information of any kind on their website – isn't that where you are supposed to find additional information? I searched for gas pricing on their website, and found none. Also, I found none on their brochures. The only place I could find the actual price was on the "application" that I signed. Again, if they were truly on the up and up, the prices would have been all over their website. In my research, I went to riterate.ca to check their prices, and they are right there on the website.
Lesson learned - I will never ever do that again, and let's hope I have averted a long ugly mess. (sorry this is so long!)
Feeling regretful in Scarborough,
Nadia
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