“10 days to NOT answer a customer service email - it's not good enough, Covid or not.
And did I mention how EXPENSIVE Ecotricity is?!
We are out of here!”
“Absolute rubbish and very expensive. Left them 2 months ago after they encouraged me to move to direct debit and increase the charges? Let me think about that for a minute, no!
Have just received a new payment demand with no supporting invoice! So I will be spending the morning on the phone to try and sort it out. Nice!”
“I'm a builder who unfortunately became a customer of ecotricity because the subcontractor that connected the utility services on a three house development I built used them. I didn't expect problems as all three houses would be empty until sold, so gas and electricity bills would be negligible. How wrong can you be?
When the first house was connected big bills came in straight away. I explained that whilst the gas and electric was connected to the meters, it wasn't yet connected to the house, so no gas and electric had been used. This took some getting through but eventually bills were reduced to meter standing charges.
Next problem was when the gas was connected from the meter to the house. The second hand meter leaked. An emergency callout to the network provider got a new meter, so problem solved (you would think). Bills came in using previous meter starting point and demands for £100's made and threats of legal action. Eventually this was sorted.
Next was the year end. All previous bills removed from my online account, replaced with a year end statement showing £100's owed. Threats of court action. Eventually sorted, they'd switched back to the leaky meter readings.
Next problem at following year end. Previous invoices gone from online account, annual statement showing £100's owed. Threats of court action. Apparently when my separate gas and electricity accounts were merged into a "dual fuel" account only the payments for electric were transferred over. The gas account showed as having never been paid.
Funny how these issues always turn up at year end when the previous bills and payments are taken off the online account, isn't it?
Anyways, sorry for the long post, but there's more. Second and third houses - I tell the utility connection people that I don't want ecotricity because of all the problems, but unfortunately they're contracted to use ecotricity only (since changed. They obviously realised what they were inflicting on their customers, so sensible decision). I'm thinking "how much harm can these idiots do, both houses are sold and they'll be gone in a couple of months".
So ecotricity connect houses two and three. First invoice £10,000 plus. £5000 each for the gas. Not yet connected from meter to house, no gas used. Idiot from the collection department on the phone threatening court action. Thought it was sorted, apparently their second hand meters has been given zero initial readings instead of the readings on the meters.
Next month, bills have gone up to £15000. One of the houses has apparently used £5000 worth of electricity. Not bad seeing as the meter was not yet connected to the house. Threating phone calls, letters threatening court action. Thought sod it, the houses will be gone in a couple of months and we can sort it out then, so gave up for a bit.
Oh, forgot to mention - I set the accounts up as personal, not business to make it easier to hand over. No problem first house, second hand third the accounts were set up in the company name, despite the company not setting up the accounts. Rates were higher for companies. That was eventually sorted out.
Right, nearly there. All houses sold, final meter readings given. Accounts for the first and second houses have been partially merged, some payments made for the first house have been assigned to the third and the final gas meter reading given for the third has been ignored and a made up one given to the new owners supplier (Apparently the initial reading, not the zero one resulting in the £5000 bill, but the actual one, has a 5 where there should be a 3 and is 200 units out so someone decided to just make up some numbers and send me the bill).
Lots of threatening letters, no payment made. Threats of court action. Failure to accept that I no longer own any of the houses and the poor sod living at the first house is getting all the letters, despite on five separate occasions me giving the address to send correspondence to.
And there we have it. All I can say is I'm glad that I chose to pay by bank transfer, because these criminals would have robbed me blind if they'd had access to my bank account. I hope they haven't been sneaky and sent court proceedings to house one during the lockdown and trashed my credit rating. My position is that when they manage to send bills for what is owed I have the money waiting. In total I owe less than £200. After going so far down this road though, I'm kind of hoping this will end up in court. I think I'm owed at least £10,000s in damages. Please sue me if you are unable to calculate the bills, and I'll rain all hell down on you in my counter suit.”
“One of the worst companies I have ever dealt in terms of customer service. Would definitely not recommend. We had to chase and chase to get our first bill. But it took almost 9 months, eventually had a bill of well over £1000 to pay. Tried to get through on the phone but could never get through. Seems to be very expensive in comparison to other companies.”
“I just recieved an email that i owe £122 after i moved out 2 months and closed my account. I've been waiting on the phone for over 1 hour also. Don't choose this company. They are criminals and deserve jail time.”
“This is the worst customer service I have ever received. They are unable to do even the most simple ask. I have been overbilled, underbilled and it is always 'Human error' on their side.
DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS COMPANY!”
“I do not only not recommend EGOtricity (as it should be called) but also its owner Dale Vince is an arrogant dustbin of a Human Being.
I have investigated his company and also Forest Green Rovers, on behalf of clients and customers of my business (I am a Fraud Investigator with over 20 years experience in the field) and both are very fishy.
Ecotricity is ripping its customers off, and for too long it has hidden behind its 'Green' image in order to con the public - i.e. the philosophy is if it looks Green it must be good. Not always so as Ecotricity has shares in 5G companies which mine Lithium for Mobile Phone batteries!
Also, as it has tied up the accounts of Forest Green Rovers in its accounts under a Section 400, it is difficult to ascertain how much money Ecotricity is putting into the club (or washing from other Green schemes as Extinction Rebellion's Andrew Medhurst has allegedly put ER funds into the club which have not been declared to HMRC and therefore this could mean that the club is trading illegally.
I have also contacted the FA as to this matter, and so far have not received a response but they have acknowledged receipt of my email to them.
A Green Scam and Sham!”
“It needs to be nominated the worst company ever! Please avoid this company! You will be shocked when you will see your first bill! There’s no professionalism, only promises, costumer service is very poor.”
“Account closed due to low meter readings (isn’t the point of a green company to have low energy use) had made payments and placed readings then get two huge bill that contradict each other. Have been in hold for over two hours no answer! No reply to email. I guess they don’t want my money. It’s a real shame rspb are linked to this disgraceful firm. Avoid avoid avoid!!!!!!”
“Absolutely appalling company, I have had constant issues whilst dealing with them. They have at times made me think I am going crazy with the amounts they are claiming I owe, reading these reviews have solidified that they were ripping me off.”
“We are customers since February 2017 and were very happy. We moved in a new house one year ago and then were billed on estimated meter reading. In September, we entered on the app the REAL meter reading, to clarify our consumption.
Then... we received bills with "£0" every month. We thought that it was maybe because our initial estimated meter readings were too high... 6 months later, we received an invoice of £750.97 with the explanation: "your meter readings were locked by our system as they were lower than the estimated meter readings that had been billed to earlier. We know this isn’t ideal". But no commercial compensation as we wanted.
On the phone: "we are happy when our customers realise this before us" and "sorry, we have a lot of manual stuff in our processes..."
Conclusion:
- we chose them as we absolutely wanted to have a green supplier
- we are astonished and disgusted by the way our account has been managed.
- we'd like to stay but we feel abused. We quit for another provider.
Thanks for the poor service, Ecotricity! :-(”
“Rip off double charged, no apologies still disputing. Account was closed and settled 11 months ago and they decided to charge me again. This company should be close down...”
“Won’t give unit prices over the phone. My prepay meter is using around £50 per week. On my previous supplier I was paying £25. When I rang customer services I was abruptly told if I wasn’t happy to leave to a cheaper supplier. I’m currently waiting for my switch back to utility”
“Ecotricity pollutes Stroud by inflicting a giant eyesore of a banner on its office edifice. The banner represents a foreign power which no longer has any purpose as Britain is leaving the democracy hating EU. Boycott Ecotricity.”
“Absolutely shocking company. I've had a bill for £450 and then £200 after I've moved out of the property because the staff are completely incompetent. I'd stay away from this company and I'd never recommend them to any one.”
“Disgusted with this company, Joined because of a offer of £50 lush vouchers and the factit was "Green" energy, well never got the vouchers and we use a token meter and I have gone from using £20 each week to £27!! I literally put the £20 electric in and rather than give me the full £20 credit it drops down to £13!!! And don't even think of usuing the emergency which is only an allowance of £5, Its inexplicabe how they are taking so much.
This week I had used £2.17 of the emergency ( despite putting on £30 last week) I just purchased £25 on the card put it in expecting it to drop down to £22 instead it drops down to £18!!! Its a complete rip off, do NOT switch or TRUST.”
“I am a victim of Ecotricity's rip-off pricing, constant lying, and unprofessionalism. If you just joined, don't get comfy. You will suddenly have your bill go up astronomically and be trapped in a debt spiral in the middle of winter. Someone needs to protect other unsuspecting, well-intentioned people trying to go green who are being abused for it. #EcotricityRipOff”
“Absolutely do NOT use this company!!!
Prepayment key as single mum on low income... Scottish power was 30 pw now it's 75.00 yes 75.00 pw with ecotricity! I've just immediately gone back to Scottish power! I've just been given a 20.00 credit payment as I've no money left! App my meter wire ( without an engineer looking at it ) is the fault?? But yet nothing's been touched or changed in 2 weeks since switching?? Absolutely shocking! I never leave reviews but this is shocking and 2 weeks before Xmas:(”
