BES Utilities review: mis-sold energy contract & prices 296

I should have wrote the date 24th Jume 2014 that my claim against BES Commercial Electricity will be heard at Altincham County Court. I have been that busy preparing all the paperwork I forgot we are now in 2014. I am amazed how many people have suffered at the hands of BES but God willing I will be able to get rulings that will prevent other people suffering in the same way. After reading about how little success people receive with the Ombudsman I am happy I withdrew my complaint with them and issues county court proceedings instead. (The Ombudsman can only award £5000 in Damages and my cliam is for £11, 000) Wish me luck

I also was forced to sell my business because of threats from BES to cut off my energy supplies to a cafe I had spent over £30, 000 to open. I had to sell my business at a very low price while it still had energy supplies because I refused to do business with a company that uses agents to tell lies on their behalf so that people will be conned into having energy contracts with them. Now for the good news I have issued a summons against BES for damges of £11, 000 and this case will be heard at Altrincham County Court on the 24th June 2013. I am taking on this company not just for what they did to me but from what they clearly do to lots of other people. Bes say that they are not responsible for any lies that their agents tell but I don't believe that the courts will see it that way and if I have to I will go as far as the Royal Courts of Justice to get a ruling that will stop them from doing this to other people. If enough people do as I have done I am sure it will get BES to change the way they do things.

We to have had nothing but problems with BES from the start. We were both disabled in the middle of last year me with a stroke and hubby with bowel cancer, so our unit was kept closed. BES got a warrant in September 2013 to enter the premises, however we paid what they were asking over £1400 even though not there, and have sent regular photos of the meter to confirm reading. We finally gave up last week any hope of returning, and the unit was let to somebody else. BES again sent us another letter stating that we owed over £1400 again (please for 3 months with nobody there)and advised new people were there from last week. This morning while the new people were there they turned up and took out the meter so a new business who wants to be with British Gas cannot. I have calculated how much we owe them working to the penny from the again estimated bill they sent and its only £363, a vast difference. They state that the new people have to remain with them. Have now written to the Ombudsman (again) and OFGEM. Totally agree lets start something to close these people down. We to had the inundated phone calls when we had the phone line connected, and they talk so fast, but then the recordings only show your agreement not the comments they make in between.

I too am a member of the BES "you've been scammed" gang. Trying desperately to get help. Awaiting my first Bill, but as the meter reading they supplied to the previous supplier EDF is astronomical (and they rejected the dispute from EDF) I am expecting a very large bill because I have failed to meet the minimum amount of usage. How can I meet their requirements when the meter readings were never in balance. I have asked them not to take more than £50 from my bank (as they control the direct debit) and the bank assures me that is sufficient for them to pull back any money over that balance. I am also very aware of the small print from BES relating to cancelled direct debits. Talk about "over a barrel". Anyway, my solicitor is meeting me on Monday to listed to the voice recordings. As my contract was completed in two conversations, there is a loophole. There is nothing to connect the two conversations together. Fingers crossed. JB, Huddersfield

Hi - I just wanted you all to know that I am also a sufferer.

I've found this website which collates reviews about BES Electricity. Needless to say - none are complimentary.

http://www.beselectricityreviews.com/

Please spread the word, you can also submit reviews via the website itself so that more people aren't affected by this scam.

oh i wish i had read these comments from all of you fine people before i had that phone call ( or should i say those hundreds of phone calls) when i took over my restaurant business.
I am now(Nov 13 2013) nearly completely rid of these unscrupulous b*******.
It sounds like we were all scammed in about the same way. I really pity every one of you, but all i can say is please don, t give up. Together we can fight them.
It cost me £650.00 to buy myself out of my contract in September 2013 but B.E.S still have me in a contract as they sent the final bill to the restaurant address even though i told them three times that i had closed the business down for the winter and moved to Italy for six months.
I took my complaint with B.E.S to the Ombudsman who in my case were quite helpful but we still had a kind of split decision. They ordered that B.E.S reduce my contract by one year, pay me £60 in compensation and send me a letter of apology (if you get one you will notice it's not so much of an apology as a rubbing you nose in it) but thats about as much as i would expect from them.
So here i am, having sent two emails to both their Customer services (ha ha ha ha ha) department and also forwarded a copy to their account department and after a week and a half, still haven't heard back.
No surprise there though. I, ve read that some of you have thought about changing the trading status of your business or signing it over to a partner. Dont try this, it wont work. B.E.S will ask you for many pieces of evidence but by law they only require the change of tenancy paperwork complete with signatures. Shop around if you like, but it will cost you a couple of thousand pounds in solicitors fees.
Unfortunately it appears the only way to get out of your "contract" is to buy yourself out.
I am now out of my contract with B.E.S and i am going to make it my mission to warn as many people as possible about companies such as B.E.S and i urge you all to do the same.We all have small businesses i guess and there is a lot we can do to protect new businesses from the nightmares that we have been through. If you see a new business opening in you street or town introduce yourself to the owner and enlighten them to the fact that they will receive as many phone calls that you and i were subject to. Pre warned is pre armed.
After i have written on as many of these blogs as i can find regarding B.E.S i will be writing emails to all of the national newspapers, who i know at least one of them has covered stories about B.E.S in the past, to tell them about my experience. If we all do the same we may just get somewhere.
I will also be writing to the Minister of Energy and Environment ( The Right Honorable Michael Fallows).
I have already had a brief conversation with his secretary who told me this is something he could look in to. Again i suggest we all do the same.
Another thing that may be worth considering is to start a petition to get the law changed to stop companies like B.E.S acting the way that they do. Anyone can launch a petition and if you get enough signatures you can pass it on to the Government. Try "The Sum Of Us" web page for launching your petition and get every one you know to sign it. We have the most powerful tool at our fingertips to challenge these companies. Use social media to warn as many people as you possibly can.
I wish you all good luck for the future. Be strong, don, t get angry, get focused and lets beat them. TOGETHER!

We have just had to walk away from our business through BES Electricity we have invested £60, 000. We never agreed to anything and we are in the process of going through the Energy Ombudsman. They have removed the Electricity Metre so we cannot trade, we went to court and because they say we owe them money they got a Warrant! We have a family no income and this company is still able to con people on a daily basis. This has put immense strain on our family and something needs to be done! We are at the end of our tether. We have already paid them £2700 they wanted to fit a Smart Metre don't ever let them as they can remotely disconnect your Electricity or Gas Metre. We are unable to get another electricity supplier through this company. Don't know what to do.

I have similar problems with BES I cant get out of contract with them even though I have never agreed to be in contract with them I inherited it with the premises have been trying to get rid of bes since November 2012 with no luck have tried every route to get help consumer focus trading standards the ombudsman ofgem. no luck they have agreed to release the contract to the shop if I paid off the balance which was way over the top but I paid it received an email from them to say I was now free to leave to go to another supplier when opus energy applied to them they objected once again how can this company keep getting away with there actions which im sure are illegal they are the most vile rude company I have ever had to deal with customer service is just a joke they wind you up as much as they can which I think they get a kick out of it. has anyone been able to get away from this tin pot company if so please let me know I have even tried changing the tenancy into my daughters name but still they have objected to he transfer at this rate im going to have to find new premises just to get rid of them any advice greatly appreciated.

I have been mis sold an electricity contract with BES. I have decided to to complain to the Ombudsman and hope they will be able to help me. I am getting charged for Climate change Levy at 0.0524p per unit and standing charge of £1.00 per day. Both these items are not stated in the contract. We initially received a bill £4, 500 from 20/5/2013 - 15/6/2013. Logic says it is impossible. We rang them to complain and got a very rude response. When we took over the premises we ensured we had taken photographs of the meter readings. The most upsetting aspect of this is how we were mis sold the contract.

I have also been mis sold an electricity contract with BES, I don't even have a lease or keys for the property, they say I cannot cancel the contract even though I don't yet have a lease, it terrible they are allowed to cold call constantly, I have complained to the ombudsman and am awaiting a reply. BES are coming to install a smart meter at the premises but as I said I have to keys or lease to even let them in. Has anyone been able to cancel a contract and if so how did they do it?

onjance i hawe the samme problem with them i m never gonna give up i just push to give same problem axwell

BES

We are closing our business just to get BES off our backs, its been a complete nightmare since they approached us in April, regarding our energy, the Ombudsman has just ruled in their favour. Who do you turn to?