Do you want to know Summit Energy fixed rate gas & electricity prices? If you go to their website at www.summittenergy.ca, you won’t find any fixed rate gas & electricity prices or rates, what’s up with that?
Don’t believe me? Check it out yourself. It has been like that since the company went online in 2007.
The point I’m trying to make on this post is that it is already hard for us to pay our bills and confusing enough to understand our gas and electricity bills. Why don’t they post their rates?
Summitt Energy at www.summittenergy.ca 2007-2008
Summitt Energy at www.summittenergy.ca 2009-2010
You would think they would have their fixed rate gas & electricity prices on their website, after all those are their main products.
You will have to call or fill out their online contact form to get their fixed rate gas and electricity prices. But how hard can it be to publish 2-4 digit numbers online? It takes less than 2 seconds just to type in a few digits and maybe less than a minute to save it online.
Different regions or provinces have different natural gas & electricity prices and they change regularly, but you can still publish those prices online and update them as little as once per month or when necessary.
Maybe it is not their best interest to publish their fixed rate gas & electricity prices on their website?
Also, these fixed rate gas and electricity suppliers like Summit Energy loves to use door-to-door sales. I haven’t seen any advertisement on TV, radio, magazines or newspaper.
Past charges against Summit Energy
On June, 17 2010, The Ontario Energy Board fine Summit Energy $495,000 for what it calls unfair practices in the sale of natural gas and electricity contracts. Read more here.
Summit Energy was fine by OEB before for $100,000 back in January 21, 2009. Read it at www.thestar.com, Unfair energy contracts and many tales of woe.
Here are Summit Energy ratings at The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
177 complaints filed against business
Rated A- (A+ being the highest rating and F the lowest rating)
70 consumer complaints regarding sales practices – Claims of alleged sales presentations made in person or by telephone that contain misrepresentations of the product or service, high pressure sales practices, failure to disclose key conditions of the offer, and verbal representations not consistent with written contractual terms or agreements.
82 consumer complaints regarding contract issues – Claim of alleged failure to honor contract or agreement, work performed without authorization, or invalid contract.
I signed a Power agreement with summit Energy on Jan 2010. The agent gave me rate 7.5 and told me the rates are going to increase to 11 within next 6 months (but it didn’t). He never mention me about Global Adjustment charge (which is 4.5) .He told me that if you sale the house, the agreement will cancelled or if you want, you can continue with us. After I moved to my new house, they sent me a letter cancelation charge for $679.64 plus tax. I called power stream, they mentioned about Global adjustment and then I asked what power rate is now? They answered that in low pick it is 5.9 and in high pick it is 10.7.
I called summit energy back and complained: why your agent did not tell about this extra charge? And when I add the rate 7.5 to global adjustment (4.5), I paid a rate around 12 since Jan 2010, which it is more than higher rate (in high pick 10.7) without having summit energy’s agreement. I told them it is not fair, your agent had to tell me the extra charges. I as a customer had to know the fact before signing your agreement
The customer service told me that you have two choice stay with us till end of 5 years or pay penalty $679.64 plus tax. She threated me, if I don’t pay, they’ll send my file to collection agency.
Please tell how I act with them. Is there any way I ride of this cancelation fee? If not, is there any way that inform people about misleading people by summit energy’s home to home sales person. Thank you
I have a same problem a saleswomen convinced my wife that the company is working to save the environment and will get better rates and signed a contract . And now we are paying $15 /month above our gas charges .The contract is for five years.