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Hi all
A warning to OC’s/EC’s out there.
You are probably familiar with the door knocking parasites who try to transfer you to a new energy company with a promise of big savings. They will sometimes ask to see your bill to get your customer details, and have been known to transfer customers who reject their offer in order to get the commission. They have even been known to impersonate the customer in a phone call to the energy company to give verbal consent. They target elderly customers who are more likely to be duped.
Well they seem to have found a new target. Our strata scheme recently discovered we were transferred to a new company last November without our knowledge. The receiving company, who we have never heard of, sent us a bill and warning of disconnection. Our current company confirmed they “lost the billing rights” in November, so this is legit. Presumably, an OC is an inherently easy target for this kind of scam because of the way OC’s operate.
The new company gave us the name of the “person” who authorised the transfer, needless to say we have never heard of the name. We are requesting the audio of the call and an investigation. The new company says they still want their bill to be paid before they will release us back to our old company. I have doubts that will happen — see for example:
The company which received the customer “in error” (ie, without consent) was required to waive all charges and transfer the customer back to the original company “without financial penalty”. (That is Victoria and I am in NSW, but I am sure the same would apply).
R
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Hello,
The same thing happened to me. Back from holidays, I had a letter from my supplier telling to pay 50$ for disconnection fee.
I called my supplier and had to open a new account. They did not charge for the 50$ though.
Now I am receiving two letters a week from Energy Australia. However, it is not addressed to my name. So I am just returning them.
What should I do about that? Should I contact Energy Australia?
And how is it even possible that my account was cancelled and someone opened a new one? Can I call Energy Australia tomorrow and have them opening a new account for my neighbor without any sort of verification?
RL, The NSW equivalent to EWOV is EWON at https://www.ewon.com.au/
Their brochure at
https://www.ewon.com.au/ewon/assets/File/Publications/EWON_Factsheets/Switching.pdf
says to contact EWON if:
• you are unable to find out who your retailer is
• your account has been transferred without your consent
• you are having trouble switching back to your old retailer
• you have been misled or pressured by an energy marketer
• your request to cancel a contract is not actioned.Their phone number is 1800 246 545
@carl said:
Now I am receiving two letters a week from Energy Australia. However, it is not addressed to my name. So I am just returning them.
What should I do about that? Should I contact Energy Australia?
And how is it even possible that my account was cancelled and someone opened a new one? Can I call Energy Australia tomorrow and have them opening a new account for my neighbor without any sort of verification?
Carl,
Since the name’s different, it’s possibly just a mistake where they transferred the wrong property. I’m not a lawyer, but my understanding is that they are chasing someone else for this debt, not you (although they think that this person is at your address). This may escalate from letters to debt collectors, but you should be OK by simply telling them that the person that they’re chasing doesn’t live there and that you’ve never heard of them.
It may save some hassles by ringing Energy Australia and letting them know. It will save Energy Australia the fees on debt collectors (assuming that their internal systems actually act on your call).
Since you’re not out of pocket (they refunded the $50), it’s probably not worth complaining to the ombudsman.
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