Just Energy: Why you should NOT do business with this company

By: KeyFrame5 | posted in Blog, Complaints, News | 88 Comments »
Date: January 30th, 2010

“…late today The Illinois Attorney Office (along with Citizens Utility Board (CUB), and AARP) filed a lawsuit against US Energy Savings Corporation (now operating as Just Energy) charging it with Consumer Fraud.” Read it here

Note: US Energy Savings is the same company as Just Energy. See here.

Here is another news report from CBS 2 Investigation aired on Feb 8, 2008. Watch the video below or read it here at cbs2chicago.com Attorney General Takes Action Against Gas and Electricity Provider.

In Canada, Just Energy operate as Energy Marketing Inc., Energy Savings Group, Just Energy Ontario L.P., Ontario Energy Savings Corp. (OESC), Just Energy Manitoba L.P., Alberta Energy Savings L.P., Just Energy Quebec L.P. / Juste Energie Quebec S.E.C., Just Energy (B.C.) Limited Partnership, Universal Energy Group Ltd., Universal Power, National Home Services, Newten Home Comfort. Read more at www.energysavings.com: Now operating as Just Energy

In USA, Just Energy operate as U.S. Energy Savings Corp., USESC, Energy Savings Group, Natural Gas Delivery, New York Energy Savings Corporation, Just Energy New York Corp., Illinois Energy Savings Corporation, Just Energy Illinois Corp., Just Energy Indiana Corp., Just Energy Texas L.P., Hudson Energy Services. Read more at www.justenergy.com: U.S. Energy Savings is now operating as Just Energy

Just Energy complaints, charges and other lawsuits from 2006 – 2010 Organizations filed lawsuits, complaints against Just Energy are The Attorney General Illinois Lisa Madigan, The Attorney General of New York Andrew Cuomo, Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Citizens Utility Board (CUB), AARP, and The Better Business Bureau. Read below for more details…
Just Energy fixed-rate electricity and gas prices WILL NOT SAVE YOU MONEY.
According to Citizens Utility Board (CUB), people who signup with Just Energy fixed-rate gas and electricity plans lost money of an average of $1275.18 (June 2010) base on 187 plans. With an average saving of $122.11 (June 2010) with 4 plans. View full analysis here: Just Energy fixed rate gas and electricity provider plans analysis by CUB
ENRON Ex-Executive Scott Gahn, now COO at Just Energy In 1997, Scott joined Enron Capital & Trade Resources where he worked in various positions leading ultimately to Managing Director of Enron Direct. Scott was appointed Chief Operating Officer in February 2009 after serving as Executive Vice President of Just Energy since May 2007. Read more at The Michigan Public Service Commission’s Electronic Docket Filings System: Biographies of Executive Officers for Just Energy Corp.
April 2006	On April 24th, 2006, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) issued a consumer alert warning the public against misleading sales tactics used by U.S. Energy Savings Corp (now operating as Just Energy) salespeople soliciting consumers door-to-door to switch gas and electricity provider. “This company (Just Energy) is engaged in the worst kind of consumer fraud, preying on people’s fears of rising natural gas bills and resorting to deception in order to boost sales.” said Citizens Utility Board’s Executive Director David Kolata. “Complainants allege they (Just Energy) were subject to misleading sales practices, such as unauthorized enrollment in the program offered, and/or misrepresentation of contract length, and/or guarantees of savings, and/or ability to cancel the contract after the initial three day period…” Read more at www.bbb.org: Customer Complaint History for Just Energy “Overall, 98 percent of Illinois consumers who have signed up with U.S. Energy Savings (Just Energy) have lost money, with an average loss of $1275.18 to date, CUB concludes.” Read more at www.citizensutilityboard.org: An Analysis of Just Energy, formerly U.S. Energy Savings Corp.’s Offers
March 2008	Citizens Utility Board (CUB), AARP Illinois, and Citizen Action Illinois file complaint against U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (Now operating as Just Energy) The complaint, filed with ICC on 3-3-08, alleges that U.S. Energy, a unit of Energy Savings Group (Just Energy), sent employees door-to-door circulating “bogus petitions” to save on gas and electricity bills. In addition, the complaint claims these U.S. Energy employees told gas customers that they worked for regulated gas and electric provider or the government. These advocacy groups requested that ICC ban U.S. Energy’s alleged tactics, eliminate illegally high “exit” fees, fine the company up to $10,000 for each violation of the Illinois alternative gas supplier law, and consider revoking the firm’s certification in the State. U.S. Energy denies the allegations. Read more at www.eia.doe.gov: Consumer Advocate Actions Against Gas and Electricity Provider.
February 2008	U.S. Energy Savings (Just Energy) is an alternative gas and electricity supplier that makes millions selling natural gas and electricity to homes and business. The 2 Investigators exposed how the company’s salespeople use apparently deceptive tactics to sign customers to five-year fixed rate gas and electricity contracts. “Through 2006 to 2007, the complaints are up 125%, that is alarming.” Said Steve Bernas from Better Business Bureau. Read more at www.cbs2chicago.com: Attorney General Takes Action Against Gas and Electricity
February 2008	Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan files suit against US. Energy Savings Corp. (now operating as Just Energy) for misleading sales tactics selling gas and electricity contracts. The lawsuit alleges that U.S. Energy’s door-to-door sales force sold its “Natural Gas Fixed Price Program” to the participants of Northern Illinois Gas Company’s (Nicor) Customer Select and Peoples Energy Choices for YouSM programs using various deceptive claims, promising people to save on gas and electricity. Specifically, U.S. Energy sales people allegedly told consumers that the fixed-rate program would offer significant savings by locking them into a consistent gas and electricity prices before rates allegedly spiked. “U.S. Energy (aka Just Energy) is purposely deceiving consumers," Attorney General Madigan said. “Many of these families signed up for this program based on the false claim that they would save on their monthly utility bills. Instead, U.S. Energy (Just Energy) locked them into a contract that actually charged them more for natural gas.” Read more at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov: Madigan files suit against U.S. Energy Savings Corp.
February 2008	Gord Potter, the Executive Vice President of Just Energy made the following statement on the CBS 2 Chicago interview. “He (Gord Potter) said they’re retraining their staff and rewriting their contract to make it clear to customers what they are signing up for and how much it will cost to cancel.” said Pam Zekman from CBS 2 Chicago. Watch it here: Confused Consumers Take Dangerous Fixed-Rate Gas and Electricity Gamble So, this would mean no more compliants for misleading door-to-door sales? Right? Keep reading…
February 2009	“Targeting older people and taking advantage of consumers with bait and switch tactics that result in higher gas bills and misrepresenting services are predatory practices that need to be stopped,” said Bob Gallo, state director for AARP Illinois. “Finding ways to get people to pay more for the utilities they already struggle to afford isn’t just bad business, it’s appalling and we urge the ICC to stand up for consumers and put an end to it.” Read more at www.syracuse.com: State clamping down on gas and electricity providers who promise savings, but don’t deliver
March 2008	“I didn’t think it were possible, but U.S. Energy’s (Just Energy) behavior has actually gotten worse,” added Lynda DeLaforgue, co-director of Citizen Action/Illinois. “U.S. Energy has misled consumers – many of them seniors and people who don’t speak English – to sell some of the worst gas deals in Illinois history.” Read more at www.news.corporate.findlaw.com: Consumer Coalition Says Enough is Enough, Files ICC Complaint Charging U.S. Energy With Deceptive Marketing Three consumer groups filed a new complaint Monday with state utility regulators against U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (Just Energy), a natural gas and electricity provider whose selling practices have been a source of controversy in the past. In their petition, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), AARP Illinois and Citizen Action/Illinois asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to order U.S. Energy (Just Energy) to stop some of its tactics, eliminate high fees the firm charges customers to get out of their contracts and fine U.S. Energy for any violations. Read more at www.chicagobusiness.com: Natural gas and electricity provider faces new complaint “What we found is 99 percent of their offers are money losers,” Kolata said. “And the average loss at this point I believe is over $700 (over $1275.18 June, 2010).” Read more at www.cbs2chicago.com: Deceptive Practices Brought To Light In Undercover Investigation
July 2008	Five months after The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan files suit against US. Energy Savings Corp. (Just Energy) for misleading sales tactics to sell gas and electricity contracts. The Attorney General of New York Andrew Cuomo made a settlement with U.S. Energy Savings (Just Energy), which sells gas and electricity to residential consumers in place of the local utility, requires the company to waive hundreds of thousands of dollars in residential consumer termination fees and pay $200,000 in costs and penalties to the state. The settlement also implements a series of comprehensive reforms in order to ensure that customers are given accurate, up-front information regarding their service agreements by the company’s sales staff. The Attorney General’s investigation also uncovered multiple untrue claims made by U.S. Energy’s (Just Energy) outsourced sales personnel, including that the company was affiliated with the local gas and electricity provider, and consumers could continue being billed at a set amount each month based on the estimated annual billing (only later to find out that they were being billed for actual or estimated usage for the billing period). Additionally, when consumers tried to cancel their Agreements, they were often unable to contact the company or were put on hold for interminable periods. After Attorney General Cuomo’s Office brought these concerns to U.S. Energy Savings (Just Energy), the company agreed to waive termination fees for over 300 consumers and allowed them to cancel their agreements. In addition to forgiving these fees and paying $100,000 in costs and $100,000 in penalties, under the Attorney General’s agreement, U.S. Energy Savings must: Provide every new customer a letter that clearly states the cancellation period and early termination fee and invites consumers to contact U.S. Energy with concerns about sales practices Verify all details and qualifiers of its Agreements with consumers either by recorded call or in writing Obtain background and/or reference checks for all potential sales contractors Review all consumer complaints and provide a response within 30 days of receipt Terminate any independent contractor who misleads consumers Waive termination fees for any consumer who cancels an agreement within 60 days of this settlement Read more at www.ag.ny.gov: Attorney General Cuomo Stops Wny Natural Gas and Electricity Provider From Deceiving Consumers By Misrepresenting Service Contracts
May 2009	Madigan Secures $1 Million In Consumer Restitution From Alternative Gas and Electricity Supplier For Deceptive Claims. Chicago – Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced an agreement with U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (Just Energy) that will allow hundreds of Illinois consumers to terminate their gas and electricity contracts and receive $1 million in restitution as a result of a lawsuit filed last year alleging that the alternative gas supplier sold fixed-rate gas and electricity contracts using misleading sales tactics that falsely promised significant consumer savings. Read more at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov: Madigan Secures $1 Million In Consumer Restitution From Alternative Gas Supplier For Deceptive Claims
July 2009	Just Energy completed the acquisition of Universal Energy Group Ltd, along with National Home Services, Universal Power and Newton Home Comfort. Read more at www.marketwire.com: Just Energy Income Fund Announces Completion of the Acquisition of Universal Energy Group Ltd. Here is the history of Universal Energy Corp. prior to the acquisition. On January 2009, the Ontario Energy Board announced that it intended to fine Universal Energy Corporation (now operating as Just Energy) $200,000CA for making “false, misleading or deceptive statements to consumers”. Read more at www.thestar.com: Electricity sellers face fines over claims Universal Energy Corp. is rated F with 247 complaints filed against the company at BBB. Read more at www.bbb.org: Universal Energy Corp. National Home Services is rated C- with 24 complaints filed against the company at BBB. Read more at www.bbb.org: National Home Services Read more at www.cbc.ca: Power of Persuasion
August 2009	Just Energy misleading sales and deceptive marketing got so bad that on August 27 2009, Just Energy’s business accreditation from BBB Texas was revoke due to violations of BBB Accreditation Standards of the following: 2A. Follow federal, state/provincial and local advertising laws. 6D. Cooperate with BBB in efforts to eliminate the underlying cause of patterns of customer complaints that are identified by BBB. 8A. Avoid involvement, by the business or its principals, in activities that reflect unfavorably on, or otherwise adversely affect the public image of BBB or its accredited businesses. Read more at www.bbb.org: Why Just Energy Texas Accreditation Revoked
August 2009	“The first month’s bill went from a normal bill of approximately $750 up to $2,300,” said Michaels. Michaels’ old bills showed she uses about 3,000 kilowatts of power per month, but the U.S. Energy Savings (Just Energy) bill showed the car repair shop used 21,000 kilowatt hours. So Michaels contacted a company service rep who said the big bill would be adjusted. And then the second bill came and again, the charge was for more than $2,000. “Somehow, they gave me a cancellation fee of my contract of $30,000,” she said. Read more at www.abclocal.go.com: Cancellation bill of $30,000?
November 2009	U.S. Energy to change name of company and uniform color scheme to stop misleading homeowners into believing company is affiliated with local regulated gas and electricity provider. New York Energy Savings Corporation, d/b/a U.S. Energy Savings now operating as Just Energy, has agreed to change both the name of the company and the color scheme of uniforms so that consumers will not think that the company is affiliated with the local regulated gas and electricity provider. The new agreement also implements a $50 cap on cancellation fees for consumers who cancel contracts after 30 days. Previously, the energy service company (ESCO) was found to be charging some consumers more than $600 in such fees. The Attorney General’s Office recently began receiving additional complaints from consumers who indicated that the name of the company and the dark blue color scheme of the representatives’ uniforms misled homeowners to think they were affiliated with the local regulated gas and electricity provider. Cuomo’s office promptly amended its 2008 agreement with the company requiring the company to stop using the name “U.S. Energy” and to change its representatives’ uniforms from dark blue to green to avoid confusion. “Representatives of this company went door to door, and were often mistaken for employees of the local utility,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Consumers ended up signing contracts under that false belief, and that’s when the complaints started. To make an informed choice for an energy provider, homeowners must have all facts. This agreement will make sure this company changes its methods so homeowners know what they are signing up for.” Read more at www.ag.ny.gov: Attorney General Cuomo Reaches Agreement With Wny Natural Gas Provider After Consumer Complaints
February 2010	Remember this statement in Feb. 2008, by Gord Potter the Executive Vice President of Just Energy. “He (Gord Potter) said they’re retraining their staff and rewriting their contract to make it clear to customers what they are signing up for and how much it will cost to cancel.” said Pam Zekman from CBS 2 Chicago. Watch this video, two years ago (2008), a CBS 2 undercover investigation documented how those salesmen from U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (Just Energy) mislead customers. Now, as CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman reports, the company has changed its name but is playing some of the same deceptive games. Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player. (take about 30 sec – 1 min to load, big file…) Read more at www.cbs2chicago.com: Alternative Gas and Electricity Provider Under Fire For Deceptive Sales Tactics
February 2010	A news article on CBS news about Just Energy salespeople charged with faking contracts, “The charges include criminal offences, such as fraudulent impersonation of a consumer, and violations of Alberta’s Fair Trading Act, including misleading a consumer. This isn’t the first time the company’s representatives have faced charges. A salesman was charged in October with two counts of making false statements to consumers, which is a violation of the Fair Trading Act.” Read more at www.cbc.ca: Gas and electricity salespeople charged with faking contracts
February 2010	Here is another news article on the Ottawa Sun. A man facing sexual assault charges in Brockville appeared in an Ottawa court Wednesday to answer to another crime police allege he committed while working as a door-to-door salesman for Just Energy. Ottawa resident Ahmed Ali Ahmed, 18, is charged with four counts of uttering a forged document in relation to a Nov. 16 incident in Ottawa while working for Just Energy, a gas and electric suppliers reseller with 39 offices in North America. Read more at www.cbc.ca: Gas and electricity salesman accused of fraud
March 2010	Renee Green’s gas bill tripled after signing up with Just Energy. “I was snowed,” she said. CUB filed an ICC complaint against Just Energy in 2008, sparked by thousands of consumer complaints accusing the company of misleading sale on their gas and electricity rates. The consumer group argued that the company should be kicked out of Illinois if it can’t improve its marketing program. An ICC judge recently recommended the state fine the company $185,000 for 16 violations of state law and make it pay for an audit of its gas and electricity sales operations. The ICC is expected to rule this spring (2010). Read more at www.citizensutilityboard.org: “Fraud!” Consumers speak out against misleading marketing at ICC
April 2010	“The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) April, 2010 fined alternative gas supplier Just Energy $90,000 for violations of the Alternative Gas Supplier Law (AGSL) and ordered an independent audit of its sales practices.”, the same law that was in place to protect consumers when Just Energy was charge for consumer fraud in 2008. Read more at www.cbs2chicago.com: Natural gas and electricity provider fined $90,000 by state regulators
April 2010	Gov. Patrick Quinn on Friday signed a law that regulates alternative natural gas and electricity suppliers’ marketing to protect consumers from misleading advertising and excessive termination fees. Mr. Kolata said one of the alternative natural gas and electricity suppliers that had been at the root of consumer complaints is U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (Just Energy), a unit of Canada-based Energy Savings Income Fund. U.S. Energy has also been named in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and in an ICC complaint initiated by CUB, Mr. Kolata said. Read more at www.citizensutilityboard.org: New law protects gas and electricity consumers
June 2010	Utica resident Victoria Weber wrote to Public Eye recently with a complaint about the service she received after switching to Ontario-based gas and electricity provider Just Energy because of a door-to-door sales pitch. The switch, she said, increased her gas and electricity bills to more than $500 per month. Read more at www.uticaod.com: Customer: Savings lacking from gas and electricity provider

Just Energy is a 3rd party gas and electricity provider. Just Energy operate both in the US and Canada (see full list of companies under Just Energy below) operate by the Executive Chair of Just Energy, Rebecca Macdonald, Ken Hartwick, the Chief Executive Officer and President of Just Energy. Also, Executive Vice President, Regulatory and Legal Affairs, Gord Potter.

Furthermore, they all hire sale contractors to go around door-to-door selling fixed-rate electricity and gas prices. Their sales tactics from door-to-door sales are misleading, deceptive, pushy, and just wrong. Their sales contractors did not clearly disclose the prices, terms and conditions of all products and services. They had lied and used misleading information about the amount of money the consumers will save on their gas and electricity costs or use fear tactics on raising energy cost of electricity and gas prices to trick the consumers to sign their contracts.

To get inside the consumers’ homes the sale contractors had misrepresent themselves by falsely claim they were affiliated with the consumers’ current gas and electricity supplier, or had falsely claim they were sent by the government or had falsely claim they were sent by a recognizable consumer group. The sale contractors did not disclose the large fine for their cancellation fee ($500 and more) before the consumers sign their long term fixed-rate gas and electricity contract.

The company (Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services and many other) will claim that it is not the company fault from this misleading sale tactics and will point the figure to their independent sale contractors. When the company get caught the sales men will be the scapegoat which the company can easily dispose of, then replace with another independent contractor and end up doing same thing selling their fix-rate gas and electricity contract.

I want to make it clear that I do not work or affiliate to any gas and electricity provider. I am writing this because I was one of the people that first fell for this deception, fraud, scam or which ever you like to call it. I had someone from National Home Services came knocking on my door early this year (2009) and I been mislead by the sales man when he told me he was from my current gas and electricity suppliers to come to check my water heater.

To prove my point why no one should deal with Just Energy, Universal Energy and National Home Services. I will have links to sites like The Better Business Bureau of the United States and Canada, Wiki – Wikipedia, Citizen Utility Board from Illinois USA, Illinois Attorney General, TV news broadcast from CBC, newspaper articles from TheSar.com, also countless of unhappy people that dealt with Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services, from forums like redflagdeals.com, and many other. Check it out and decide for yourself

Connecting The Dots Of Fraud And Corruptions

In this sections I will explain how these gas and electricity provider companies are related. The major players who run these companies are Rebecca Macdonald, Ken Hartwick and Gord Potter.

First, let start with Energy Savings Group aka Just Energy.

Just Energy operate in both Canada and the USA. Also known in Canada as Just Energy Ontario L.P. If you look at the The Better Business Bureau’s website you will see that Ontario Energy Savings Corp, Alberta Energy Savings L.P, and Energy Savings Group are also listed under Just Energy Ontario L.P.

Ontario Energy Savings Corp (aka Just Energy, Just Energy Ontario L.P.) was fined in 2003 for forgeries. Read more here…

Just Energy acquire Universal Energy in July 2009 along with National Home Services and Newten Home Comfort. Read more here…

In January 2009, Universal Energy (Now Just Energy) was fined $200 000 CAN. by the Ontario Energy Board for “false, misleading or deceptive statements to consumers.” Read more here… or read this…

In the USA also listed under Just Energy are US Energy Savings Corp, USESC, Energy Savings Group, and Natural Gas Delivery. Read more here…

Attorney General of Illinois Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (Now operating as “Just Energy”) Read about the lawsuit here…

Here are some quotes about Just Energy on the The Better Business Bureau’s and Illinois Attorney General’s websites.

Citizens Utility Board’s Executive Director David Kolata claimed that, “This company (Just Energy) is engaged in the worst kind of consumer fraud, preying on people’s fears of rising natural gas bills and resorting to deception in order to boost sales.” Read More…

“U.S. Energy (Just Energy) is purposely deceiving consumers,” Attorney General Madigan said. “Many of these families signed up for this program based on the false claim that they would save on their monthly utility bills. Instead, U.S. Energy (Just Energy) locked them into a contract that actually charged them more for natural gas.” Read more…

Why Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services Need To Be Avoided

Below are the same gas and electricity providers run by the same people: Rebecca Macdonald, Ken Hartwick, and Gord Potter.

According The Better Business Bureau’s website, all of these gas and electricity provider has a combine total of 960+ complaints and increasing. All of these companies are rated F by The Better Business Bureau (A+ being the highest rating and F being the lowest rating).

CANADA (click the name to go see ratings at the Better Business Bureau website)

Just Energy Ontario L.P.(122 complaints) (aka Just Energy (560 complaints))

Ontario Energy Savings Corp(Fine by Ontario Energy Board)
Alberta Energy Savings L.P
Energy Savings Group
Universal Energy Group Ltd. (1 government fine)

Universal Power(268 complaints)
National Home Services (10 complaints)
Newten Home Comfort Inc (aka Newten)

USA (click the name to go see ratings at the Better Business Bureau website)

Just Energy (560 complaints)

US Energy Savings Corp (1 million dollars lawsuit)
USESC
Energy Savings Group
Natural Gas Delivery

Also, if you live in Ontario, Canada. Watch out for Submit Energy and Direct Energy. They too use the same sleazy door-to-door sale tactics, misleading people by telling them how they can save on gas and electricity.

If you see anyone of these 3rd party gas and electricity provider show up at your door, don’t be nice to them, don’t give them anything, don’t show them your bill, don’t let them in, tell them all to take a hike and lock your doors. Treat them as you would to your spam emails, or those annoying telemarketing calls.

Again, Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services and their other companies have a whooping 960+ complaints between them according to The the Better Business Bureau.

You would think if they had 2 or 3 complaints of the same issue, they would change their way of business, but after 100 complaints, 400 complaints and now more than 960+ complaints, most of the complaints were caused by similar problems. Combine with a few lawsuits, a 1 million dollars lawsuit, government fines against Just Energy and Universal Energy. You would believe they would change their act. THEY WILL NOT STOP.

These guys are no better than ERON and Bernard Madoff. Do not invest your money with these guys and their companies. They will not stop.

More Complaints for Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services

The above sections are complaints recorded by The Better Business Bureau filed by current and past customers of Just Energy’s, Universal Energy’s and their other companies.

In this sections will showcase other complaints by people who experience the sleazy sales tactics used by these gas and electricity providers and never made it to The Better Business Bureau.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/became-summitt-energy-scam-victim-671535/4/
http://www.discovervancouver.com/forum/universal-energy-scam-t143460.html
http://cheezewhizandmustard.com/2007/06/16/universal-energy-scam-and-how-you-can-get-out-of-it/
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/universal-energy-vs-direct-energy-208028/
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/universal-energy-superior-energy-460204/
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/scam-legit-water-heater-replacement-richmond-hill-area-718724/
http://www.peoplefield.org/forums/disp_post.cfm/cc.705/clt.13/p.htm
http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthread.php?t=49008
Alberta Utility
Gas Contract

Here is an article about U.S. Energy Savings Corp. (aka Just Energy) preying on non-English speakers and seniors. Read here…

There are too many links for me to post here. You can easily Google up “Just Energy Scam”, “Universal Energy Scam” and you will find many other links and many interesting hours to read. You will find literally thousands of people complaining about these energy companies and their shaddy tactics.

How To Get Out From Energy Deals

The rule of thumb for door-to-door fixed gas and electricity prices is: do not let them in your house, do not show them your gas and electricity bills, and DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING.

If you move to a new home or condo where you need to pay gas and electricity bills. You will notice these door-to-door gas and electricity providers will come knocking under different companies, but now we know most of them are the same company trying to confuse you. They know when you move and where, they can purchase that information from any major real estate agency who are more than happy to sell that information and when there are enough new home owners in the area you will come knocking. So be prepare… Again, if you don’t understand the electricity and gas prices then don’t sign and stay with your current gas and electricity provider, which is the government plan with the electricity and gas prices going up and down.

Only let them in if you know the company or they work for your current gas and electricity provider or you called the company for repair/maintenance and you were notified earlier for the reason of their visit. Remember to ask the agent that came to your house for their name, affiliation number or any documentation.

The best way to protect yourself is to educate yourself about your gas and electricity bills. Understand about the pricing and how this all work before signing any gas and electricity contract. There is no need to sign or listen to some strangers knocking on your door.

Natural Gas Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

See the past 3 years, the current price and the 3 years forecast of Natural gas click here.

Natural Gas Prices 2000-2009

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Here’s a way to get out of your Just Energy fixed-rate gas and electricity contract without penalty.

1. Call the utility (NOT Just Energy, Universal Energy or their other companies). Have them change the name on your account, preferably to a person’s name who does NOT share your last name. A friend or family member is probably your best bet. Your reason for the change could be as simple as you’re renting your home and the new name is your tenant. Changing the name on the account usually costs $30 or so.

2. Next step, do NOT tell Just Energy, Universal Energy about this name change. Now, Just Energy, Universal has your contract locking YOUR NAME into a rate, but your name no longer appears on the utility bill. You’ve just disappeared off the face of the utility world. If you don’t exist in the utility world, Universal has no hold over you.

3. Get call ID. Just Energy, Universal may call your house and try to track you down and screen calls that are of the unknown name/unknown number nature. Just let the answering machine pick up if you’re not sure. In this case, you will probably want to take your names off the machine, and leave a more generic message “You’ve reached 555-9797″ instead of “You’ve reached John and Jane Doe.” Just Energy, Universal will try and find you for about 3 months, and after 6 months, they will give up and assume that you’ve moved to an area not serviced by Universal. (In their handy contracts, it states that if you move to an area serviced by them, the contract is still binding).

4. After a sufficient time has passed (maybe 1 year or more), you can go back to using your name on your utility bill, although I would not change this until at least a year has passed, if not more.

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Here is another way to get out from your gas and electricity contract. They will not tell you this over the phone, they only want more of your money. Remember that Universal Energy is the same gas and electricity provider as Just Energy, as well as many others. Here’s a quote, “If you have been convinced to buy a product or service based on a false, misleading, or deceptive sales pitch or advertisement, the Business Practices Act gives you the right to cancel the contract.”Read more…

Here’s an article about getting out of gas and electricity contract by TheStar.com Read here…

Here is what you need to know about Contracting with Natural Gas Marketers and Electricity Retailers. Read here…

Here are 2 gas companies in Ontario that have good ratings at The Better Business Bureau, UNION GAS LIMITED and Hydro One. Both companies been around for about 20 years with little complaints and does not use door to door sale (none that I know of). Compare that with Just Energy with more than 960 complaints.

I will update this post from time to time. I have read enough about these gas and electricity provider fixed-rate scam. From now on I will only focus on the solutions and I will post other articles that I find helpful and post them here. Come back often and maybe next time I’ll have something new that might help.

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Tags: consumer fraud, energy savings, gas consumers, gas contracts, misleading sales practices, misrepresentation, natural gas bills

There are 88 comments for Just Energy: Why you should NOT do business with this company

Jess says:

November 24, 2009 at 11:19 am

Unfortunately I was one of the unlucky ones that got caught up with this Just energy stuff, and would like to know how one gets out of this contract thing…

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 5 0

- KeyFrame5 says:
  
  November 24, 2009 at 11:33 am
  
  Jess, if you signed within 10-60 days. You may call them to cancel. They will give your cancellation number, write down that number and keep it with your contract.
  
  If more than 10-60 days they will want more money to cancel. If you live in Ontario or British Columbia (Canada) check out this site and read the top to bottom. It will tell you exactly what to do.
  Cancellation letter instruction
  
  Also, you might want to read this by The Star about how to exit your fixed-rate energy contract.
  Safe exit strategy from energy deal
  
  Agree or Disagree: 3 0
  
  - Simon Parry says:
    
    April 1, 2010 at 9:13 am
    
    Hello, I also have a problem with Just Energy.
    
    It all started when I realised how much more I was paying than I would have been with good old Toronto Hydro. I was even prepared to pay the penalty to get out of the remainder of my contract – by my calculations it would be worth it. However, as I was discussing this with the Just Energy Ontario people it became blindingly clear that their bill to me was based on a consumption (of electricity) that was 15% MORE than the figure supplied to me on my bill from Toronto Hydro.
    
    Just Energy supplied me with the KWh consumption figures that they were using to bill me for the last 4 months and they are consistently 15% more than the adjusted KWh data supplied to them from Toronto Hydro – who actually take the reading.
    
    When I challenged them on this – they said it was impossible because they used the figures supplied to them by Toronto Hydro. I went back to Toronto Hydro and they confirmed that the adjusted consumption figure for my account printed on their bill was the number supplied to Just Energy. Clearly someone is not telling the truth.
    
    I’ve sent Just Energy copies of my last 4 bills which clearly show Toronto Hydro’s billing data and next week I will be calling them for an explanation.
    
    On my account, the overcharge is about $30 to $40 per month but I am 2 years + into my contract and will now have to go back every month to check for discrepencies. I am asking Just Energy to supply me with the consumption data they used for billing me but even if they resist, I can still approximate it by using the rate per KWh that we agreed to in the contract.
    
    By the look of things, Just Energy owes me a lot of money and this also brings into question their credibility.
    
    I would suggest that anyone who has a contract checks to see that the data used by Just Energy for billing is the same as the consumption data supplied by the utility company doing the actual reading and supplying the numbers that actually go on your bill. It is quite possible that you will find discrepencies like the ones I have found and which have yet to be explained.
    
    The trouble is we are all so trusting – you sign a contract but who ever checks that the terms of the contract are being upheld and that there is no monkey-business going on. I wonder if this could make the contract null and void?
    
    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 8 0
- Texas Independant Contractor says:
  
  April 12, 2010 at 8:35 am
  
  I was hired on by US Energy Savings in 2009 as an Independant Contractor. I went through their 2 days of training and was sent out to sign contracts. I has no one to go door to door with me. I flew by the seat of my pants and did my best to fulfill my position. It didnt take long for me to figure out the lies and the bandaids used to cover up facts. I started to question practices and policies used by the company and that is when the Houston Hollister office cut off my commission and quit giving me the tools needed to do my job. I had cought on and was cut off. This energy provider is a scam and will promise you millions if you work hard. Hollister is one of the most crooked offices out there and the crew coordinators there are nice to your face but will stab you in the back and take your customers from you for their own personal gain. Trust your instincts. ITS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!!
  
  Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 4 0
  
  - Roxy says:
    
    May 16, 2010 at 10:15 pm
    
    i work for just energy, what they want us to say is that we offer geo power, or green energy resources for two extra cents a kwh. i just dont know if that is true. how can i find out.
    
    Agree or Disagree: 1 1
KeyFrame5 says:

November 25, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Here’s another way to get out of your contract without penalty.

1. Call the utility (NOT Just Energy, Universal Energy or their other companies). Have them change the name on your account, preferably to a person’s name who does NOT share your last name. A friend or family member is probably your best bet. Your reason for the change could be as simple as you’re renting your home and the new name is your tenant. Changing the name on the account usually costs $30 or so.

2. Next step, do NOT tell Just Energy, Universal Energy about this name change. Now, Just Energy, Universal has your contract locking YOUR NAME into a rate, but your name no longer appears on the utility bill. You’ve just disappeared off the face of the utility world. If you don’t exist in the utility world, Universal has no hold over you.

3. Get call ID. Just Energy, Universal may call your house and try to track you down and screen calls that are of the unknown name/unknown number nature. Just let the answering machine pick up if you’re not sure. In this case, you will probably want to take your names off the machine, and leave a more generic message “You’ve reached 555-9797″ instead of “You’ve reached John and Jane Doe.” Just Energy, Universal will try and find you for about 3 months, and after 6 months, they will give up and assume that you’ve moved to an area not serviced by Universal. (In their handy contracts, it states that if you move to an area serviced by them, the contract is still binding).

4. After a sufficient time has passed (maybe 1 year or more), you can go back to using your name on your utility bill, although I would not change this until at least a year has passed, if not more.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 8 4

- Vena says:
  
  March 10, 2010 at 9:48 pm
  
  Hidden due to low ratings. Click here to see this comment.
  Hey guys,
  
  what Keyframs5 says is true. But do not try avoid the companies. After 6 month they will send your account to a third party collection.
  
  This is what needs to be done. Once you changed the utility account to your friend or family’s name with the utility.. Call the utility and let them no that you are no longer responsible for the utility at this location That you are renting at the location. they will request for a copy of driver license and utitlty bill with new account holder Send them a copy of the new bill with other person name. You can block out the new account number if you wish. All they are looking for is the Address. name of account holder, and utility heading. Once you have done this they will have to waive your exit fees and cancel the account. Once this has been done. Wait about 3 month or so then you switch the utility back to your name.
  
  I have worked for these companies unfortunate we can’t give you this information over the phone without getting fired.
  
  Poorly-rated. Agree or Disagree: 0 3
  
- Chris J. says:
  
  April 27, 2010 at 1:01 pm
  
  If one was to use this exit strategy to get out of a contract, who becomes the new supplier or how does this stop JE from being the supplier or how is the contract actually broken without penalty? I was on a stupid 5 year term and am now 2 years into another 5 year term because I didn’t cancel after the automatic renewal term 2 years ago; I didn’t pay attention. I am in Ontario and my utility supplier is Union Gas. I seem to be missing something here by your suggestion of changing my name with my utility supplier of Union Gas. If I do this, I just don’t want to see some huge contract breaking penalty months (or years) down the road. Can you help me by clarifying?
  
  Agree or Disagree: 0 0
  
  - KeyFrame5 says:
    
    May 1, 2010 at 9:16 pm
    
    Just Energy is the middle man from your local utility supplier. Before you sign up with Just Energy you would be with your local utility provider paying the market price.
    
    If you change your name on your utility bill you will no longer be with Just Energy and you will end up going back to your local utility provider, in your case Union Gas and do not have to pay the fix rate price.
    
    Agree or Disagree: 0 1
  - KeyFrame5 says:
    
    May 1, 2010 at 10:01 pm
    
    You can try this.
    
    1. Get a copy of the contract you signed at the door (the original)
    2. A copy of the contract they mailed you (proof from their end they have your signature)
    3. Now find differences in the forms!
    
    You have a piece of paper that you signed that said X and if they changed it you can get out of the contract. Next, take the proof to your local MPP. They have the power to fight on your behalf with the proof.
    
    Read it here.
    http://sitefinitysite.com/default/personalblog/10-03-28/Beating_Summit_Energy.aspx
    
    Agree or Disagree: 1 0
Watching the detectives says:

January 2, 2010 at 10:48 pm

Andrew Steele

The Ontario Tories’ leadership race continues to get more divisive.

The latest salvo is an anonymous attack on Frank Klees from quarters unknown, under the psuedonom “Tory Detective.”

The allegation is a serious one: that Mr. Klees is on the board of a company fined $200,000 by the Ontario Energy Board for making false and misleading statements.

Mr. Klees was considered the best performer in the leadership debates, a wily blend of Brian Mulroney and Ernie Eves. He’d better keep it up. It will take every ounce of Irish Blarney and double-E slickness he can muster to explain away these claims.

The e-mail read as follows:

From: Tory Detective

To: torydetective@yahoo.ca

Sent: Sat May 30 22:24:05 2009

Subject: Frank Klees: Business Experience & Judgement? Uh oh….

Someone is walking the walk, but not talking the talk.

Frank Klees wants Ontario PC Party members to believe that he should be elected leader due to his “business experience”. But it looks like Frank’s business experience may not be quite the positive attribute he once thought it was. And judgement? Well…

Frankie sits on the Board for Universal Energy Group and is a member of the Audit Committee for the company. He even chairs the Compensation and Governance Committee.

As reported by the Toronto Star earlier this year, that same company – Universal Energy Group – was fined $200,000 by the Ontario Energy Board for making “false, misleading or deceptive statements to consumers.”

A copy of the order (which isn’t the first time) can be found here.

And another one in April (wasn’t there a Leadership going on then?).

And the people are some angry. Victims of the “Universal Energy Scam” can be found talking about their experiences.

…

But Frank doesn’t just sit on the Board. Universal Energy CEO Mark Silver, through his company, OPTUS Capital Corporation, made the single biggest donation to Frank’s campaign: a whopping $34,000 – about 20% of his entire campaign.

Frank’s campaign even reported the donation in the real-time donor disclosures to Elections Ontario.

Wow. Frank’s “business experience” seems to entail managing an energy company ripping off old ladies door-to-door. Judgement, indeed.

Hope you find this enlightening.

Agree or Disagree: 4 1

JD says:

January 7, 2010 at 10:42 pm

I took an hour of my time to call Just Energy today and have a chat with them. The lady seemed to have a lot of time on her hands cause she answered everything. I asked her the following:

Q: Will i save money with you?
A: I don’t know.

Q: How can you not know?
A: Well because i don’t know what the future rates for Enbridge are going to be.

Q: Then why should i sign up with you?
A: Well sir. When you sign our program we do not promise savings. What we do promise is that regardless of what happens to your Utility’s rate, yours will stay the same. It’s more of a peace of mind thing. Kind of like with a mortgage, you can pay the fixed rate or the variable rate. Most people go with the fixed even though its more expensive. Sometimes 2-300 dollars more but people still pay it.

Q: Well still…12 c/m3 with Enbridge and you are offering?
A: 29.9 for 5 years.

Q: WHy almost 300% higher.
A: If we give it to you at 20 for 5 years, our company and the producers of gas will go bankrupt. 29.9 is an estimate that takes into consideration the risks of the future.

Q: Ok So If i sign up, can i cancel at anytime?
A: Well you have until 30 days after your first bill to cancel at no charge, after that its $75 a year.

Q: 75 a yr!!?
A: Yeah cause we’ve already prepurchased the gas for you. Thats how we can guarantee the fixed rate. If you cancel, we’ll just end up with a bunch of gas in our storage and no one to use it.

Q: k well say i move?
A: As per the terms of the contract you have to take it with you to your new location if we service you.

Q: If i live where there’s no gas?
A: Send us proof. Lease Agreement, driver’s license, Bank Statement, Notarized letter. That will prove you aren’t responsible and then you don’t have exit fees.

Q: And if i die?
A: We waive the fees of course.

Q: So how do i sign up?
A: You can either get a contractor visit or do it on the phone. If you get visited, we need a voice recording after 10 days of you signing for the contract to take effect. If you do it on the phone, we send you a contract and you have to sign it and send it back.

Q: Ok that’s fine then.
A: So do you wish to sign up now?
Me: No thanks take care byee!

Also, a friend of mine mentioned that if you with Universal and you switch to Just Energy, you don’t pay exit fees. Also in the contract with JE, there is a blend and extend option where you can call and lower your rate if they offering their new customers a lower rate than what you signed up for. Apparently, you can even request for what they are currently offering.

That i think is all the info you need before signing up. Regardless of what the piece of shit people that visit you say, at least KNOW what you are signing up for, how long you have to get out of it and what the penalty is to.

Hope this helps.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 7 2

steph says:

January 8, 2010 at 8:52 am

heres another point of view to this whole hate on the energy marketers.

being rude to a kid coming to your door is absolutelly pathetic and will not make you a bigger man by telling a 19 year old who is essentially making a six figure income by doing door to door work to fuck off because in the end you are the pathetic one.

second … any logically thinking, semi- educated individual would read anything before they sign it, being “sucked into” a contract is just another way of saying that you signed it without reading it. this has nothing to do with the company being deceptive it just has something to do with you being stupid.

there is a CANCELLATION PERIOD given to every single customer in order to give that customer the time to go and do extra research, read through the contracts and call for any questions if required… before saying you couldnt get out of it.maybe you should have done your research when the time was right and not blame others for your stupidity. your savings with be determined by the market rate and your consumption on your gas accout. chances are that if you use the majority of your gas in the winter time you will see some LONG TERM savings throughout this agreement with this energy supplier. these agreements DO NOT guarantee savings and that is CLEARLY stated along with much other important information on a verification call that you do after singing the contract. if you answered yes to the questions on the phone call without even listening that is your problem. now even with a recorded phone call regulated by the utilities commissions , if an employee is misrepresenting, misleading or lying about the services provided by the company you can contact their employer and have them terminated…….

***Cut off my admin. Any people working for Just Energy will have to pay a $600 dollars fine (I mean discount) to post a full comment on this website. Read my terms and conditions.***

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 12 7

- KeyFrame5 says:
  
  January 26, 2010 at 4:05 am
  
  “being rude to a kid coming to your door is absolutelly pathetic and will not make you a bigger man by telling a 19 year old who is essentially making a six figure income by doing door to door work to fuck off because in the end you are the pathetic one.”
  
  First off, I never said anything about some 19 years old kid on here or wrote any F word, what the hell are you talking about? Read the dam thing first then make a comment. If any 19 year old kid make six figure income from door to door under Just Energy, when there are facts that Just Energy had been accuse with all sort of misleading sales to consumers. Then something is seriously wrong here.
  
  It is more pathetic to hire some 19 years old, probably just finishing high school with no real work experience and have them knocking on people’s door and lie. When Just Energy get caught they just say it’s not their fault. It is their “independent” energy agents (your 19 years old kid). Yup, those 19 years old are so qualified. Good job Just Energy. Now that’s pathetic.
  
  second … any logically thinking, semi- educated individual would read anything before they sign it, being “sucked into” a contract is just another way of saying that you signed it without reading it. this has nothing to do with the company being deceptive it just has something to do with you being stupid. “
  
  I never sign with Just Energy, I got someone visited me by National Home Services (one of Just Energy company). You can read about it here. http://www.keyframe5.com/national-home-services-water-heater-division/
  
  To make it short, I was never told about the contract when I sign with Natioanl home Services. The sale agent didn’t even mention the contract. You can read what happen here. http://www.keyframe5.com/national-home-services-water-heater-division/#comment-2881
  
  Of course different people will have different stories, but the fact remains that there are tens of thousands of people who complaint from Canada and in the US.
  
  All you have in defense for Just Energy is that all of these people who complained are stupid. If all of these people who complained and you label them as stupid then Just Enery is GOD at finding stupid people.
  
  there is a CANCELLATION PERIOD given to every single customer in order to give that customer the time to go and do extra research, read through the contracts and call for any questions if required… before saying you couldnt get out of it.maybe you should have done your research when the time was right and not blame others for your stupidity. your savings with be determined by the market rate and your consumption on your gas accout. chances are that if you use the majority of your gas in the winter time you will see some LONG TERM savings throughout this agreement with this energy supplier.”
  
  Just Energy cancellation period is 10 days. Not enough time for people to do their research. Also, not enough time to see how much more we are paying because we don’t get our hydro, gas bills at least 30 days or 60 days after switching over to Just Energy. Then realize we are paying much higher than before when they told us we will be saving. By that time it would be too late to cancel without paying the exiting fees.
  
  “these agreements DO NOT guarantee savings and that is CLEARLY stated along with much other important information on a verification call that you do after singing the contract. if you answered yes to the questions on the phone call without even listening that is your problem. now even with a recorded phone call regulated by the utilities commissions , if an employee is misrepresenting, misleading or lying about the services provided by the company you can contact their employer and have them terminated….”
  
  Apparently, most of your 19 years old “independent” energy agents didn’t get the memo about “these agreements DO NOT guarantee savings”….
  
  Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 11 2
  
steph says:

January 8, 2010 at 8:56 am

Hidden due to low ratings. Click here to see this comment.
ps ALLEGED complaints come from 80 year old schizophrenic customers that sign things they should not/… a legitemate complaint is one that is investigated by both utilities commission and company and approved as a complaint!

Poorly-rated. Agree or Disagree: 1 8

- KeyFrame5 says:
  
  January 8, 2010 at 9:35 am
  
  That’s correct, those are senior citizens. Somebody’s grand fathers and grand mothers. They are people, they could be my grandparents.
  
  Just because they are old doesn’t make them less of a human being. They too need honesty and respect.
  
  And also non speaking English people, single parents and other vulnerable people need that same respect and honesty as well.
  
  If your company Just Energy have no respect for a 80 years old person which could have be anyone grandparents or parents. What make you think I have that same sort of respect for an scum bag company like Just Energy??!!!
  
  Also, if you READ my post you will find that there are information about thousands of legitimate complaints file by real people, old, young and in between.
  
  It doesn’t t mater if your 18 or 81 years year old, if you’re going to come in my property and lied in my face and tried to steal money. You will hear some F words, not because I want to be a bigger man, whatever that mean.
  
  Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 7 0
  
Jenny says:

January 27, 2010 at 12:06 pm

if i did sign something, can i still get out of this contract?

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

- KeyFrame5 says:
  
  January 27, 2010 at 12:26 pm
  
  You have 10 days to back out of the contract after you sign it.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 2 0
  
  - Rick Gordon says:
    
    February 26, 2010 at 9:53 am
    
    What if a contract was signed by someone who lives in the house but name isn’t on the just emergy gas or hydro bill?
    
    Any comments?
    
    Rick
    
    Agree or Disagree: 0 0
  - KeyFrame5 says:
    
    February 26, 2010 at 12:12 pm
    
    You have the right to cancel. Since the person who signed is not the homeowner or doesn’t pay the energy bill.
    
    If you decide to cancel, call them up and tell them you want to cancel without having to pay for the existing fee because the person who signed the contract was not the home owner.
    
    They will try to get you to stay so be prepared to fight and if that doesn’t work out. You can complain to http://www.oeb.gov.on.ca/OEB/Consumers
    
    Or
    
    Read here:
    http://uegscam.webs.com/getout.htm
    
    Agree or Disagree: 1 0
nora says:

February 2, 2010 at 3:17 pm

Rebecca Macdonald is a BITCH!!!!! Rebecca Macdonald is the BIGGEST hypocrite I have come across in my lifetime! She suckers in customers to sign in at a premium, including seniors! In addition, having personally delt with her, she is the most egotistical fool I have ever come across. She sits on her throne, and continues to watch people get SCREWED. As for her speaking engagements at various campuses talking abou ther story? What story? She married a man who thought of a way to con people, he kicked the bucket, and she got all the royalities. She is NOT a woman’s advocate, she is the opposite! She treats her employees like crap. She is crap, she talks it, smells of it, and sleeps in it.

Agree or Disagree: 4 2

Rosaline Horowitz says:

February 4, 2010 at 4:31 pm

Two men who identified themselves at Just Energy representatives rang my doorbell at 4:00 P.M. today. When I answered the lead man asked me to get my National Grid bill for him. When I asked why, he said that they were just verifying that their logo was on the bill to ensure that I was getting all the discounts I was entitled to. I was very skeptical and asked why I was notified of their visit via email. The man said that it would be impossible to contact thousands of customers by e-mail, and besides, he continued, not every one had a computer. He flashed his id at me, but I never really saw his name. I told him that I don’t have a paper copy and he then suggested/insisted that I go my computer and print off a copy and bring it out to them. I flat out refused and he aggressively challenged me and asked me why I wouldn’t do as he asked. He assured me that many of my neighbors had already done as he asked and once he checked my bill he’d place a green decal on my mailbox so I wouldn’t be bothered anymore. I continued to say no and eventually they left. It was a very unpleasant exchange. I should have told them that they were trespassing and then called the police. After they left I spoke to a representative at National Grid and she assured me that I did the right thing and encouraged me to make a formal complaint with the NYS Attorney General’s Office. She had heard of many such aggressive attempts from other consumers.

In fact there whole ploy was extremely deceitful. I did contact the OAG and filled out a form with this information.

We should be able to protect ourselves from this kind of bullying and harassment.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 11 3

Mark says:

February 7, 2010 at 3:28 pm

Hi,

Both my parents don’t speak English. My dad just barely. I have 2 contracts in my hands. One from Active Energy at 35.9 for 5 years signed 11/30/2009 and one from Ontario Energy Savings for 45.7 for 5 years 8/27/2008.

Both were signed by my parents but I can tell you they had no idea what they were signing…they probably even showed the gas bill to the sales rep as they have no clue what the sales rep wanted. I don’t know if they got the phone call to confirm but if they did they probably said something like “I no speak English, ok.” So what I’m getting at is that they signed and probably said ok to the phone call.

Currently, the name on our Union Gas bill is Just Energy. I am assuming my parents signed yet another contract when a door-to-door person came around…

What are my options? I read the name change thing above but I have the same last name as my parents so I guess that won’t work.

We are currently getting charged 39.0. I will call Just Energy on Monday and get them to send over the signed contract. It’s probably too late to opt out from Just Energy but even if we do, we have 2 more signed contracts…

This is a huge headache for me. I don’t know which contract is in force here..? I need to get my parents out of these contracts someway. Can anyone advise me on what to do next?

Oh, I’m their son.

Thanks

Agree or Disagree: 3 1

- maria says:
  
  April 27, 2010 at 7:38 pm
  
  well, unfortunately these people do whatever to get contracts and therefore get paid, what i suggested is call the companies (not the utilities) and probably they would ask for an authorization from your parents. You can cancel the contracts anytime but you will have to pay a fee for breaking the contract but if your parents are elderly then the exit fee will be waived. They have to be 65 years old.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 0 0
  
Mark says:

February 8, 2010 at 4:04 pm

Hi,

I just want to point out that the Active Energy contract has my mom’s signature on it but my dad’s name. Also, the contract has no signing date entered. It just says MM/DD/YY and my mom said she didn’t sign anything on 11/30/09 but she did give the guy our energy bill and he took it and never returned it!!!

Arghhh…..

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

James Stewart says:

February 8, 2010 at 9:41 pm

Hi, I called Just Energy and received a cancellation number along with the name of the person who answered my call. Should i use this number to follow up on anything or am I free from this scam?

Agree or Disagree: 3 1

Bobbi says:

February 11, 2010 at 7:43 pm

Well I was one who signed on for Just Energy. I canceled with them last month as i never received any bill for 2 months. Well I just go the Bill. over $700 .. For 2 months.. I only pay 200 a month with easymax… .. Now im wondering do i pay it or let tell them to shove it.

Agree or Disagree: 2 0

Mark says:

February 14, 2010 at 10:22 pm

Hi,

I have some good news. My parents signed with Just Energy 6 years ago. Last year, our contract ended and the guy came around. I was home at this point (now I remember) and I told him we weren’t signing anything and to get lost. This defaulted us to sign with Just Energy for 1 year as I told him we were not going to sign for 5 years.

A few days ago we received a renewal form from Just Energy. This time, however, I will be sending in the cancellation form. They want to charge us $0.299 for 5 years or $0.31 for 1 year!! Right now we’re paying $0.399!!!! What a bunch of fucking crooks!!! The market price is around $0.12.

Don’t sign anything from any of these fucking bastards!

Agree or Disagree: 4 1

princeton grant says:

February 15, 2010 at 7:37 pm

dont work for just energy they dont submit a background check and u cant even get direct deposit and u have to do ur own taxes THEY R SCAMMED ARTISTS DONT GO WITH THEM FOR A ELECTRICITY PROVIDER. Think about it they dont advertise on tv all u do is when u call them they set u up for a interview and u go to the interview they hire u on the spot when i was sitting in training when he was talking he sounded like he was trying to turn us into scammers me and my wife walked out and he asked are we leaving and i said yes you sound like a scam artist and he didnt say hope this nothing this company needs to get sued for all the wrong doing they are doing to these people i really hope this company goes out of business. Why would they have a 5 year contract for you to sign and they dont explain the whole contract about the company. DONT GO WITH THEM FOR A ELECTRICITY PROVIDER DONT WORK FOR THEM THEY ARE SCAMMED ARTIST.

Agree or Disagree: 2 1

Mark says:

February 23, 2010 at 5:00 pm

Great page. Keep it posted, it’s near the top on Google. Just had a visit from a sales guy from Just Energy, that’s how I got here.

He does his pitch, trying to scare me about the new smart meters coming and just wants to make sure I’m getting the best rate. So he says… “I’ll just wait here till you get your latest bill and I can verify your all setup”. No, not right now it’s not a good time I’m trying to get dinner started and it’s just not a good time. “Well, it’ll only take a second, I’ll just wait here till you get it”. NO, it’s not really a good time. “We sent you a letter stating I would be by to check this out for you so we really should get this done now, I’ll just wait while you get it, okay?”. No thanks, have a nice day. “You’re going to pay a lot when the smart meters come in, you’re okay with that?”. Yes, I guess I am. Have a nice day. “I don’t think you understand, I only need to see your bill to make sure you’re setup for the new smart meter. I’ll just wait till you get your bill.” as he keeps going to down to his clipboard pretending to look over a work order or something.

These people are incredible. Do they work on commission or by the house or what? I can easily see how a senior would get duped into providing the current bill and getting switched over to their ‘fixed’ rate. It’s fixed all right.

I think I’ll start a ‘Just Petro’ company and scare people into buying their auto gas from me at $2.20 a liter, ($8.80 a gallon) for 5 years. They’re safe though if gas ever goes over that price. Well not really, in the unlikely event it ever went over I’d just claim bankruptcy. Win/win for me. Gotta love the open market on utilities.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 6 1

- Sharon says:
  
  March 16, 2010 at 12:39 pm
  
  Actually they get paid $50 for every house they sign up.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 2 3
  
- Rick says:
  
  June 29, 2010 at 10:16 am
  
  “I’ll just wait till you get your bill.” as he keeps going to down to his clipboard pretending to look over a work order or something.”
  
  Same exact thing happened to me yesterday. I knew it was a scam when I answered the door, and the guy wouldn’t even look me in the eye… just kept looking up and down his clipboard. He asked to see my bill 5 times.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 0 0
  
  - Nathan Bullock says:
    
    July 17, 2010 at 2:20 pm
    
    The Just Energy sales people are trained not to look customers in the eye, but rather to keep looking at their clipboards. This is part of their sales pitch. They are also very confident of their ability to sell the “sizzle, rather than the steak”meaning that they enjoy the thrill of the door to door sale. It is also interesting to note that three of the top executives of Just Energy, Scot Gahn, Debbie Merrull and James Lewis are former Enron executives.
    
    Agree or Disagree: 0 0
  - KeyFrame5 says:
    
    July 17, 2010 at 6:37 pm
    
    That’s interesting but some how I’m not surprise. You have any proof of these were Enron ex executives? Scot Gahn, Debbie Merrull and James Lewis
    
    Agree or Disagree: 0 0
Finaly free! says:

February 28, 2010 at 8:30 am

Some friends of mine got help and good advise about dealing with the aftermath of getting scammed by a gas and electricity company. I think the site is http://www.dbrparalegal.com
Hope it helps!

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

DONT DOIT says:

March 2, 2010 at 10:41 am

just wanted to say thanks for this website as i just spoke to just energy. good looking bitch trying to get me to sign something but wouldnt let me read it LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
again thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree or Disagree: 2 1

DONT DOIT says:

March 2, 2010 at 10:43 am

why doesnt somebody stop these pricks??

Agree or Disagree: 3 3

kixx says:

March 2, 2010 at 11:43 pm

If Just Energy is a scam, the federal gov’t, FBI, CIA and other abbreviations already prosecuted the company officials. But it is not, ask the ~1 million customer base.

Not that 25 unhappy comments from less than 25 people can close a good company. Next time a just energy sales agent knocks at your door, list down the ID, take photos and file a suit…

Hot debate. What do you think? Agree or Disagree: 6 5

- KeyFrame5 says:
  
  March 3, 2010 at 6:53 am
  
  Here’s what I wrote above “sales men will be the scapegoat which the company can easily dispose of…”
  
  The sale person get fire and Just Energy hire another salesperson and tell them to do the same thing.
  
  If you dont like what you see here then all you have to do is tell all of your sale personnel to do the following below. Once they all follow the steps below. I’ll delete this page.
  
  Specifically, the new law:
  
  1. Requires all sales solicitations to clearly disclose the prices, terms and conditions of all products and services;
  
  2. Prohibits suppliers from misrepresenting their affiliation with a gas utility, governmental body or consumer group;
  
  3. Provides consumers with a right to cancel within 30-60 days after the gas utility notifies them of the switch and 30-60 days after the date of the first bill if they find that the service is not as promised;
  
  4. Limits early termination fees to $50 and requires any agreement containing an early termination clause to disclose the total cancellation fee.
  
  Where are you getting 25 unhappy customers? Just because there are 25 comments on my page, doesn’t mean there are 25 unhappy people about Just Energy. Look at BBB’s website alone, there are more than 900 complaints, probably over 1000 by now. Also, 2,000 complaints from the Citizen’s Utility Board. And thousands more piss off people complaining on other forums.
  
  Also, ERON and Bernard Madoff didn’t get arrested over night. It took years until they got busted.
  
  David Kolata said it best, “This Company (Just Energy) is engaged in the worst kind of consumer fraud, preying on people’s fears of rising natural gas bills and resorting to deception in order to boost sales.”
  
  Agree or Disagree: 5 2
  
  - Just Green says:
    
    June 21, 2010 at 9:10 pm
    
    People People People. Do not mistake American Company Just Energy Energy Saving with Canadian Supplier Just Energy. Two completely different company with different goals. Any doubt about go their website justenergy.com. We r proud to be Canadian. Just Energy is the official sponsor of Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays and Marlie. So people get ur facts right.
    
    Agree or Disagree: 0 2
  - KeyFrame5 says:
    
    June 21, 2010 at 10:57 pm
    
    You’re an idiot kid. You don’t even know your own company.
    
    Just Energy is US Energy Savings Corp., plus other names.
    http://www.justenergy.com/splash2.html
    
    Look at that link, it even stated that on JustEnergy.com!
    
    The reason they changed all their companies name to Just Energy was because it confused people and now I know it even fooled you (their own sale contractor). Also because they been sue by so many different organizations, like the Attorney of Illinois, The Attorney of New York and many others. The name “Energy Savings” imply savings, but you not save on gas and electricity cost when you sign up with Just Energy.
    
    The Attorney of New York forced them to change their name:
    http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2009/nov/nov10a_09.html
    
    Just Energy operates in both the US and Canada. They also have many other different names, they all own by the same people. You can have 10000 different business names if you want and they all can be own or operate by the same people.
    
    I deleted your other comment because it is a waste of people time to read your garbage. But I answer this: the market price for natural gas was $0.12, that was earlier this year, not today! Read the freaking post and date.
    
    “Just Energy is the official sponsor of Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays and Marlie”
    SO what? A lot of companies sponsor them, but that doesnt give them the right go around tricking people to sign up for something they dont need or want.
    
    “So people get ur facts right.”
    Maybe you need to read what I have on this page. I know you have a very short attention span. I can’t make this up even if I wanted to.
    
    Agree or Disagree: 1 0
Just Energy Hater says:

March 6, 2010 at 12:14 pm

I JUST came from a Just Energy job hiring/mass interview session and let me tell you — they are a bunch of scam artists all the way down to the means by which they recruit their ‘employees’. When the receptionist left me a message she was very careful to be deceitful and make it sound like she represented FIRST Energy, a legitimate gas and electricity provider here in Ohio. There were numerous other people who showed up for what they thought was an opportunity to work with First Energy when in reality it was that garbage Just Energy; purposefully playing off that fact that their company name sounds so similar to a legit company with the intention of luring people in.

Agree or Disagree: 4 2

- KeyFrame5 says:
  
  March 7, 2010 at 3:04 pm
  
  With unemployment in double digits in many parts of the US, this is a perfect time for a scum alternative gas and electricity provider like Just Energy preying on low wage workers who are desperate for work.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 3 3
  
Paul says:

March 10, 2010 at 8:25 am

I have been sent a renewal form with copy of my previous contract with Just Energy. It states that if I do not reply, they will automatically renew my contract for 1 year at 0.33 cents/m3. At the end of this letter is a section for cancellation which I am supposed to sign and return to them if I don’t want them to renew. I will send this to them but was thinking that it should be sent registered otherwise they can claim to not having received my cancellation and renew for 1 year.

One question.. how can they be allowed to automatically renew for this period if they do not receive an official cancellation? Was this in my original contract with them perhaps? Anyone know?

Thanks

Agree or Disagree: 1 1

- Vena says:
  
  March 10, 2010 at 9:58 pm
  
  Just energy unfortunately can do this. as wrong as it sounds they can. It is in the contract you signed with them. which is why we should never sign something from a door to door sales man.
  
  As for you renewal I would also call to confirm with them that you do not wish to renew. Cause even though you have done your part to have sent by express mail, they can still say they didn’t get it.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 2 2
  
  - Rick says:
    
    June 29, 2010 at 10:23 am
    
    “which is why we should never sign something from a door to door sales man.”
    
    That’s my policy. The only thing I ever buy from door to door sales is Girl Scout Cookies.
    
    Agree or Disagree: 2 0
Mark says:

March 10, 2010 at 9:22 pm

@Paul:

I sent them the cancellation form in the mail, scanned the cancellation form into a PDF and emailed it to them and also faxed over the cancellation form. So I sent it through 3 different mediums. You can tell that I really don’t want to deal with this crap ever again.

On the renewal they send, it states in paragraph 4 on the front page that “If you prefer that this one year option is not applied to your account, simply contact us within 35 days of receiving your first natural has bill after June 1, 2010, and we will cancel your Agreement.”

I’m not too sure if they’re asking me to send in yet another cancellation request but to stick the knife to these aholes, I will do the same thing after we receive the bill after June 1, 2010; send them a cancellation request through mail, email and fax. However, I will also call them to be sure.

Agree or Disagree: 3 3

Noah J Revoy says:

March 11, 2010 at 8:12 am

If you have been scammed or defrauded by an “alternative” gas and electricity provider you can try to deal with the problem yourself, but you could end up losing more money each month on bloated utility bills than if you just paid a professional to help you. Also, it may not be worth wasting your time when you can get help quite easily.

My father is a Paralegal. He is so successful and helps so many people that the gas and electricity providers just give up when he phones, they know its no use fighting. Also he can get the collections agencies that the gas and electricity provider has hired to leave you alone.

Dont forget it IS possible to sue the utility company and get back some of the money you lost, and possibly even recover your legal bills. Its done all of the time.

Check out this site for instructions www(dot)dbrparalegal(dot)com

Hot debate. What do you think? Agree or Disagree: 7 4

You will not win! says:

March 21, 2010 at 3:44 pm

Just Energy fraudulently signed a contract for my grandfather…. There is no excuse for this company.

They have done this before, but under a different name (U.S. Energy). What I cannot understand is how the company is allowed to practice in OUR country and steal from us. Everything they do is illegal. I’m sorry for the people that knowingly signed contracts, but for the people who didn’t, you should be angry. I am going to try everything I can do to stop their practices in illinois.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 6 1

Fred Leis says:

March 28, 2010 at 2:39 pm

Just Energy…

I signed up with this outfit 4 years ago when I was told I would be able to count on firm gas costs rather than pay Enbridge gas rates.I actually signed up with another company name but I suppose they sold out to Just Energy and it’s probably in small print on the contract.

The point is, I paid for gas about 3 times the base rate and when I sold the house I was under the impression I was rid of them.

Not so. There is a year to go and if I do not switch to the new home in another town there is a cancellation charge of $184.00 they told me.

Finally, three months to go, they send me a renewal-form for 1 or 5 years at somewhat reduced rates.
Bad deal, I ended up paying through the nose for years.

Agree or Disagree: 2 0

- Fred Leis says:
  
  April 1, 2010 at 1:50 pm
  
  I have canceled the renewal contract…If, for whatever reason the cancellation is not accepted I will do all I can to commence or support efforts to expose these characters.
  
  Gas supply contracts may have their purpose if indeed they end up in cost savings and make the existing utility companies aware that there is a competitor.
  But when I’m contracted to pay 36cents per cupicmeter and the Utility company is in the range of 12 or maximum 24 cents, this variance is horrendous and you may end up paying thousands of dollars bonus over a 5 year contract.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 2 1
  
Camille says:

April 4, 2010 at 8:33 am

I was just hit by a J.E. salesman yesterday. I live in a large mobile home park – an upscale one, but mostly filled with elderly and young families. Prime pickings for a scammer. Salesman flashed a picture ID at me and acted as if he was checking to make sure I was still on the “Price Protection Program” and I would be able to tell by looking at my electric bill for the icon. Well, I wasn’t about to let him look at my bill, and there wasn’t any icon on it, and when he asked if I had a few moments, I said no, but I would take any paperwork he might have. He happily left me a brochure with his name on it and went on his way… to every house up the street. And today I started my research and found this site. I’ve emailed the park management – with over 350 homes here, everyone looking to save money, and this sales technique is using “Green Energy” to help the environment as well. Here in NY State, there is a grace period to break a contract for door to door sales, but it is only a few days. Thank you so much for putting together this site to warn those of us who took paper first, to research later!

Agree or Disagree: 2 1

David (not my real name) the Just Energy Guy says:

April 15, 2010 at 10:45 pm

I just started working for Just Energy a few days ago as an Independent Contractor. From the first day, I started questioning to myself concerns regarding the sales tactics used by the more experienced sales people. I see these salesmen telling customers that they are gonna receive electricity for 12 cents per KWH with 100% Green Energy. What they are not telling people is that the 100% Green Energy option is an additional 2 cents per KWH…totaling 14 cents per KWH. These customers are being told that JE owns the wind turbines in the area, and we’re just checking to see if they are using green energy, and to show us their electric bill so we can verify it. That’s when the real scams take place. They rush the customers through the contract and just tell them to “initial, sign, and sign.” By the time the customer realizes they are paying more, it’s too late because they are locked in for 5 years. Most people don’t know how to get out of the contracts, so they just suffer. Today was the final straw. I already told my friend that I’m gonna go in tomorrow before our sales meeting and quit. All of the tactics mentioned in the previous posts come down from the top. The company is training the Independent Contractors on how to pressure the customers…then they blame the contractors when legal problems arise. I can no longer be a part of this unethical company.

Agree or Disagree: 3 1

- Just Energy Suck says:
  
  April 17, 2010 at 7:54 pm
  
  What office are you out of? Watch a Jeff C. Hes crooked as a snake and Scott P. is no better> They will both steal your clients right out from under you for their own benefit.
  
  Agree or Disagree: 1 0
  
kelly says:

April 19, 2010 at 11:38 am

I just canceled my account within the 3 day period required by NY state law and they gave me pretty much no problem. They of course asked why and asked if I wanted a 3 year contract instead. The guy barely spoke English but I made sure to repeatedly tell him I am canceling now and confirmed that I owe no money. He said they don’t have confirmation numbers to give me but said they give their name and employee ID #, which I got. I also faxed in the cancellation form that was on the back of the contract. I am so scared though that they will not actually cancel since I have read stories like that. I have a fax confirmation showing that I sent it though. Hopefully I never have to deal with them again!!! What a joke!!! I actually called the sales person who came to my house and he tried for 10 minutes to explain why I should not cancel but in the end said that I should have no problem canceling and if I do to call him back. Again, the guy was a kid, 19 years old and has no clue what type of company he works for.

Agree or Disagree: 2 3

Just Energy Not illegal, but definitely immoral says:

April 26, 2010 at 10:08 am

These folks changed their name recently, but their scam is still the same. They come to the door, ask to see your natural gas bill, and tell you you’re “eligible for rate protection”. They make it sound like they’re trying to help you, but actually they’re a company that locks in your natural gas price at an inflated level for a long period.

True, if natural gas prices skyrocket in the next couple years, this could save you money. But you’re basically gambling on the future of a market that Just Energy understands better than you do. They inflate the price to make sure they make money off you (NICOR, the default supplier, just passes on its wholesale gas price with no markup). If you sign a contract with Just Energy, you will definitely be paying much more for gas in the coming months (maybe 20-30% more!) in the hope that a year or so down the road that price will look like a bargain.

I slammed the door when they came to my house, but they talked my elderly mother into signing a 5-year contract. Now she’s stuck paying more than TWICE the rate she would be paying if she had stayed with NICOR. In the 2 years she has had this contract, she’s paid hundreds of dollars more in gas bills than she would have under NICOR.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 4 0

“Just Energy” – the alternative to legislative solutions?

[...] me when two representatives for “Just Energy” stopped by my house this weekend. “Just Energy” is a firm which sells electricity through the Ontario power grid to consumers who choose to [...]

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

Buyer Beware – “Just Energy” – Door to Door Solicitations | Fox Valley and Chicagoland Real Estate

[...] http://www.keyframe5.com/just-energy-why-you-should-not-do-business-with-this-company/ [...]

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Categories

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

Just Energy: Why you should NOT do business with this company

Just Energy complaints, charges and other lawsuitsfrom 2006 – 2010

Connecting The Dots Of Fraud And Corruptions

Why Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services Need To Be Avoided

More Complaints for Just Energy, Universal Energy, National Home Services

How To Get Out From Energy Deals

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Just Energy complaints, charges and other lawsuits
from 2006 – 2010