Great. Just Energy Bozos At My Door

[smoagendash.livejournal.com]

My wife got a visit from two sales reps from Just Energy, a company that locks you into long-term energy contracts.  Their spiel is that "if your National Grid bill says that you have Basic Service, your rates are about to go up, so you better sign up now, now, now!"  And then they won't leave; they'll just stay at your door until you go get your electric bill.

The Better Business Bureau says:

BBB files indicate that this business has a large volume and pattern of complaints concerning misleading sales practices. Consumer complaints allege that door to door sales persons are misleading consumers, providing false information and using high pressure sales tactics. This company has been notified of our concerns. They have failed to correct the underlying reason for the complaints. - See more at: http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/energy-service-companies/just-energy-group-in-mississauga-on-17632#reasonrating

Be warned. 

Comments

[ron_newman]

Is this the deal where you pay more, but the energy is supposed to be from "green" sources?

[dphilli1.livejournal.com]

I don't think so -- NGrid has flyers in the bills for green power.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I think perhaps you are correct. see my response to tequilamckngbrd below.

[smammy]

They apparently do both. The pitch that koshmom apparently got was for either their fixed-price or price-protected programs, where you "lock in" a fixed rate for a specific time period, hoping (I suppose) that market rates will increase during that period. They also sell carbon offsets of various sorts, for whatever that's worth. They have a Wikipedia page, which includes information on their deceptive sales tactics.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

It's more of a basic scam-- they want you to sign up as their supplier at a "fixed rate" which ends up being more than what you would have paid for otherwise. Lots of complaints online/they've been banned from a few states as well.

I was firm and polite when I told the two people at my door I had no interest. When they persisted I was less polite :)