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TXU Energy Retail

TXU Energy Retail review: Fraud and scam! 7

C
Author of the review
8:17 am EDT
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

TXU blatantly deceives consumers into plans and contracts that are unreasonably expensive disproportionate to consumption - meanwhile, they misrepresent their terms and conditions and make it fiscally impossible to exit the consumer relationship.

They will have their day.

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7 comments
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BNewton
Houston, US
Feb 07, 2011 11:12 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

TXU energy = bad news. My wife signed up not knowing that we had a contract. I called the next day to cancel the request before they hooked up the service, then again later in the week to make sure it was cancelled. Then I got a suspicious letter so I called again, and they said, "oh we're hooking up the service today, and I can't stop it now or you'll be without electricity." Then I called to tell them their mistake and to let my original provider take over. Then today I get a bill, and they're still apparently the ones providing my electricity. Ridiculous. Now I've spent almost an hour on the phone with them trying to straighten it out, and I've been hung up on twice. The "customer service" seems like it's in India too, which is just dandy. I hate this company. I'm on the phone waiting for the 3rd level supervisor as we speak. The last one said that since they didn't have a record of my 2nd call, it didn't happen, and apparently I'm just making it all up. Please avoid these thieves at all costs.

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EnergyKaren
, US
Jan 29, 2010 1:04 pm EST

Stream Energy is now at $.11 for average 1000 kw use with no gimmicks or hidden fees. To find out more and see the current rates or sign up for Stream go to energysaver63.igniteinc.biz. Take the introductory variable rate and you'll be notified when the rates go down in spring and you can lock in when you want to. Steam looks out for their customers.

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Ryan Hadley
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Dec 02, 2008 10:54 pm EST

All,

I am very sorry to hear about your trouble relating to your TXU experiences. Unfortunately, TXU doesn't seem to care about their customers and their issues. They were once a giant monopoly here in Texas, as was Reliant. But since deregulation, you have the power to choose your electric provider.

I work for Stream Energy via Ignite (the marketing arm), a competitor to TXU and Reliant in Texas. Unlike those two companies, Stream Energy does not advertise. They rely on word of mouth referrals from their customers to spread the word about the company. I am a Director with Stream Energy, and I'm here to offer you all a solution to your energy nightmare.

TXU charges in upwards of 13.8 cents to 16 cents for some month to month plans. The kicker is that sometimes they lock you in for a low rate, but when that rate ends, they don't tell you about it and put you on some plan for a ridiculous rate. Reliant is similar. My mother was on a low rate forever, and when she called Reliant, she found out that her contract had ended and they had rate hiked her to over 15 cents per kWh!

Let's assume you're on a Competitor's 12 month fixed rate plan. To be generous, I've calculated an annual electrical expenditure based on a 14.0 cent, 15.0 cent and 16.0 cent plan.

A Competitor
.140 (14.0 cents) x 1000 kWh = $140 x 12 months = $1, 680.00
.140 (14.0 cents) x 2000 kWh = $280 x 12 months = $3, 360.00
.140 (14.0 cents) x 3000 kWh = $420 x 12 months = $5, 040.00
.140 (14.0 cents) x 4000 kWh = $560 x 12 months = $6, 720.00

B Competitor
.150 (15.0 cents) x 1000 kWh = $150 x 12 months = $1, 800.00
.150 (15.0 cents) x 2000 kWh = $300 x 12 months = $3, 600.00
.150 (15.0 cents) x 3000 kWh = $450 x 12 months = $5, 400.00
.150 (15.0 cents) x 4000 kWh = $600 x 12 months = $7, 200.00

C Competitor
.160 (16.0 cents) x 1000 kWh = $160 x 12 months = $1, 920
.160 (16.0 cents) x 2000 kWh = $320 x 12 months = $3, 840
.160 (16.0 cents) x 3000 kWh = $480 x 12 months = $5, 760
.160 (16.0 cents) x 4000 kWh = $640 x 12 months = $7, 680

Instead of paying those rates, how would you like to pay 12.6 cents per kilowatt hour instead? Let's run the math on this and see what it comes out to be.

Stream Energy Fixed Rate plan @ 12.6 cents (12 months)
.126 (12.6 cents) x 1000 kWh = $126 x 12 months = $1, 512.00
.126 (12.6 cents) x 2000 kWh = $252 x 12 months = $3, 024.00
.126 (12.6 cents) x 3000 kWh = $378 x 12 months = $4, 536.00
.126 (12.6 cents) x 4000 kWh = $504 x 12 months = $6, 048.00

As you can see, the saving are huge in comparison. You should not be forced to pay a higher rate for your electricity to fund your electric company's advertising costs.

If you are interested in saving money with Stream Energy, please visit the following website to Enroll for Service with Stream Energy. Http://hadley.igniteinc.biz/

My name is Ryan Hadley, and when you sign up for service, I will be personally responsible for monitoring your service plan. If your rate is about to expire, I have tools that let me know when it will expire, and when that time comes, you will be made aware of the new rate after your 12 month fixed rate is completed. It is my honor to service and support you.

If you have any questions or comments, please, do not hesitate to call me or email me regarding your electric service. I am here to help!

Kindest Personal Regards,

Ryan Hadley
972.979.3531
http://hadley.igniteinc.biz/
electric.guy.ignite@gmail.com

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Richard Shindler
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Jul 15, 2008 9:29 am EDT

Well, add one more to the deceived. The same thing was presented to me on the FlexProtect+ program. Better rates, additional benefits, a free companion travel voucher for signing. None of which have happened. In addition, when I called customer service they promptly transferred me to the Rewards desk and they had no clue what I was talking about.
Really made me feel like the victim of a "Bait & Switch".

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merrick roche
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Jul 09, 2008 2:48 pm EDT

I was on flexprotect and was called several times in the evening to change to new plan. Mind you, this was an unsolicited call I received. I was assured that if I didn't like i could always switch back to the same flex protect plan at no charge. this was january 2008 that i switched and shortly thereafter received a letter from david hennekes, vp, consumer markets, txu energy welcoming me to the new plan. I called back in may to change back and was told it should be reflected in my nesxt months statement that i woul go back on my original plan. Nothing ever changed. I called yesterday July 8, 2008 and after speaking to four different people was told that flexprotect was no longer offered. the sales representative, named Twon, was especially rude and condescending. I sent anemail to mr. hennekes explaining my predicament. Honestly, I feel like i've been deceived and am currently been given the runaround. They lied twice to me. If this can't be resolved, then txu could be facing legal issues over this deception. The phone records could be subpoenaed as evidence if need be . Just a thought.

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Kellyb
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Jul 09, 2008 1:24 pm EDT

Similar thing happened to me. We were on the FlexProtect plan as well when in Oct 07 TXU starts calling 4 to 5 times a week wanting us to change to another plan "they wanted to save us money". What a load of BS! If you're on the Flex Protect plan they cannnot raise your rate to over 15 cents per kwh for three yrs but it can be lowered.
I wasn't aware of the details of the plan until I researched later but obviously they wanted everyone off that plan and once they get you to switch, they don't offer that anymore and you can't switch back. To sum it up, they put us on the Marketedge plan and within 6 months we went from paying 11 cents per kwh to 19 cents per kwh. TXU is underhanded and deceitful and now when they call me with their BS, they can't wait to get off the phone! They will lose my business as soon as I find another company that seems stable and reputable.

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Susan Schrade
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Jun 11, 2008 3:13 pm EDT

A while back TXU called me trying to sell me a different plan. I knew I was paying at that time more than most people. But I told them no. So they put their high pressure sales person on the line. She convinced me that switching was no risk because I can always switch back. Now I'm trying to switch back. I was on the "Flex Protect" plan at the time. They are telling me that they no longer have that plan. I think I was scammed. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I think we have a class action suit coming up.