[goldimouse]

Scenario:

We have been with the same electricity provider for coming up to six years. A while ago one of those door-to-door guys came around and offered what we thought was a better deal, so we signed up. There was a ten-day cooling off period. During the cooling-off period, we realised that their deal was only good for the first twelve months, and our original provider was actually going to continue to be better for us.

So, we backed out. We rang, cancelled with them and went back to our original provider. At the time we cancelled, they said everything was fine.

Three months later we received the first bill

We called and said "We cancelled our contract (is that what it is?) with you, and you still sent us a bill."

They said "Oh! Sorry. Yes, it says here you cancelled. OK, you're all fixed up now, you won't receive any more bills." So we received an amended bill for $0.

Then, three months later, we received another bill.

We called, said "We cancelled, and you still sent us a bill... this is the second time it's happened." They apologised again and once again sent an amended bill for $0.

Three months later it happened again, and we got cross with them on the phone. They looked into it further and said that there was some sort of glitch in the system that was causing the problem. They said they had fixed it.

It is now a few months on, and we've just received the first bill again. OMG. They won't stop. We've called them over and over to fix it and each time they say that they have, they haven't. On top of the errant bills, we're receiving promotional material and promotional phone calls that we have also tried to get them to quit.

I'm fed up completely. Who do I complain to, and how? I've never had this kind of problem before.

[katpaws]

Consumer Affairs? Ombudsman?

Talk to someone in management or authority at the company - their complaints department for example. You may want to contact them in writing if it continues. But contact Consumer Affairs for advice. I think there are a lot of issues with the people who do the door to door stuff.

[mummacat]

Depending on your state there is an Ombudsman that you can call.

Here is a link to the relevant states.

http://www.aer.gov.au/node/1292

[JaneDoe2010]

The Electricity and Water Ombudsman (says my DH the electrician). He also says keep copies of everything.

This post has been edited by JaneDoe2010: 15/11/2012, 05:06 PM

[goldimouse]

Thanks guys. And thanks also to electrician husbands

I will pass it on to DH, as he is the one who has dealt with them all the way.

[elmo_mum]

you r now on their mailing list - enjoy reading their ads!!!!

[TheGreenSheep]

Definitely the Ombudsman. Good luck with hopefully getting it sorted.

[~maryanne~]

Is your old company still billing you as well?

[Drowningnotwavin...]

Complain to the company first. The ombudsman is for why you can't get a result from the company.

Are you still paying with your first company?

[~maryanne~]

Complain to the company first. The ombudsman is for why you can't get a result from the company.

Are you still paying with your first company?

It sounds lke she has complained to the company plenty of times but they need some motivation to fix the problem - like a complaint being made with the ombudsman.