Six years on in UK, I haven’t figured out how the Gas & Electricity companies operate here, especially w.r.t change of suppliers.
Few years ago, I was coming out of a supermarket when a guy near the check-out whom I thought is a staff asked me whether I would like to have any discount in the Gas bill as I happen to have the loyalty card of that particular store. I was pulled into the conversation during which I divulged my name, home address etc and he explained something and gave me lot of brochures. A week later, I got 2 letters – one from my current supplier ‘A’ saying that they are terminating my gas supply from a particular date and another from a new company ‘B’ saying that they would be supplying gas from a certain date.
It was then I realised that the guy in the supermarket had tricked me in to an agreement and got me under their fold. I called up my supplier ‘A’ and told the whole story. Aghast at ‘B’, who were using ‘dirty tricks’ to lure away their customers, ‘A’ refused to terminate the gas supply. But ‘B’ argued that ‘A’ doesn’t have any rights to stop a consumer from switching suppliers and resumed the gas supply on the said date. As a result, both of them claimed that they were supplying gas to that property and started sending bills. This was more annoying than before and we decided to get rid of ‘A’ as they were not helping us in anyway. It took several phone calls & head ache over a period of three months to sort out the mess.
There have been instances when some of my friends have got bills from different suppliers with completely irrelevant set of readings. Their mistake would have been that either they would have given their details to the supplier’s salesmen who are waiting for the catch at shopping malls or they would have let their salesman to check their meter reading thinking that they are from the meter reading contractors. Worst part is that, you can’t ignore this. If you don’t call the respective suppliers to sort this out, they’d continue to send reminders to pay the bill and your credit history would be at stake.
Last night, there were two guys at my door offering gas at ‘incredibly low prices’ and I politely showed them out. It looks like, if they manage to get hold of your name & address, they would easily switch the suppliers. If you are cross with someone in UK, just call up few gas suppliers and give the victim’s details. If you want to make it more complex, give some imaginary readings as well. The suppliers will ensure that the person concerned is condemned for life.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 15th, 2006 at 12:06 pm and is filed under UK. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 15th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
I thought these sort of irritations only happen in India….
February 15th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
ipdi mottaya changing suppliers nu heading potta enna artham?
ana unga kadhai sema koothu. namba ooru thevalai. nijamaave poi
service provider mathanumna kooda rombo kastapadanum. avlo secured…
naanum innorukka idai try panni parkanum… seri unga address kudunga
February 15th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Chhakra Maama, you werent tricked, but, it was a very intelligent deal closure of the Sales guy!
Sales ROCK!
February 16th, 2006 at 6:26 am
[...] ne company has changed from telco X to telco Y without their authorisation. After reading Chakra’s personal experience on this issue, I believe this problem is rampant within Australia. [...]
February 16th, 2006 at 8:25 am
Happens with phone companies here in the US!
February 16th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Chakra,
What’s your home address.. Just in case..
February 16th, 2006 at 11:12 am
Similar thing happened for me on the phone line. A guy from Carphone Ware House spoke to me about upgrade of my mobile contract and he asked me if I need ‘Talk, Talk’ home phone service all I said was send me the brochure and I shall look in to it. But I got a letter after 3 days from BT that I am changing providers. I called up BT immediately and they said it is unlawful to do this and if I want to raise a complaint. I did and they immediately cancelled the migration. These salesmen only cause us PAIN IN THE NECK.
February 16th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
I hate when any sales person says “just give me your name and personal details, the rest we will take care(!)”. One day, in the beach someone approached and asked for name, address and phone number. I asked, “for what”, he said “we will send you free gift”. There is NO free lunch
February 16th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Ashok - Specimens like these are every where. Do read the post that Deepak has referred about.
http://wordsdownunder.wordpress.com/2006/02/16/a-current-affair/
PK - mottaya changing suppliers nu potta udane enna nenache?
)
ivangalukellam aapu vekkaradhukaaga oruthan irukaan… previous occupant of the house has left the property without paying the bills worth 150 quid.
Venkatachalam - true.. Sales ROCK.. but only in the loo.
Deepak - thanks for putting your view of this issue.
Anonymous - hmmm…
Vasanth - u know that already dude..
The OnE – the guy who do this to you would be telling in some blog that sales ROCK.
Sriram - enna daan irundaalum andha Free Gift ennanu paathirukalaam..
February 19th, 2006 at 6:05 am
In the US, we have such issues with mobile and telephone carriers… they suck. On three different occassions I have recd bills for over 1000$.. can you believe that?
In 1999, when my mom was visiting me, I recd the telephone bill from the local carrier for 1500$. Imagine my mom’s plight, when I told her the cost of her calls to India