Universal Gas and Electric SCAM

**frequency** · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2008, 07:34 PM

Universal Gas and Electric SCAM RIPOFF

Well, I just had a rep from the Universal Gas and Electric company claiming that I could save money on my local gas bill by enrolling in a program that freezes the current cost of gas for you, for 5 years. This implies that your rate will remain the same while the rest of the year others, as normal, will fluctuate up and down. They tell you that you will save $$$ as others will complain of sky-rocketing energy costs.

Well I thanked him for his informative suggestion and he left me with his affiliate/rep number (for commission I'm assuming) and I hopped back to my desk to research the company (and gas trends for that matter).

Turns out it's a complete scam. Here's an excerpt from a Ripoff Report: #228260 on ripoffreport.com

Quote:

A representative from this company came into our business with information on how to keep our energy and gas bills at a low cost. The representative told me that they would protect us against Consumers Energy raises our bills (rates). He showed me a chart on the increasing rates from Consumers. I was very skeptical and he assured me many times that our bills would not increase and that they were only protecting us from future increases. He seemed very friendly but turned out to be deceiving. Three months later I received our Consumers Bill will an extra lines item for $350 saying Universal Supplier Charge. I immediately called Universal Gas and Electric and explain to them that our bill was $350 extra and the rep told me otherwise. He did nothing for me and kept stating that I signed an abiding contract and if I wanted to terminate the contract it would be approxiamently $1700 for early termination. I asked to speak with upper management and he said that he was the only person who could help me ( or not help me). Therefore we are stuck with higher gas and energy bills then what we started off with - significantly higher!

The company does not back up their employees and will tell you that the only thing they can go off of is the contract. Also the representative never left me with a copy of the contract but was willing to send me one. Very horrible and expensive experience.

Lindsay
Saginaw, Michigan
U.S.A.

A $350 service charge on every bill!? Hardly a service. This is a HUGE SCAM. Obviously I'm not going to be signing-up for the service. Pass this info along if you live in the United States, especially the Midwest. I'm not sure how national the company is, but we're in Michigan and this review was for the Southfield branch. That's the head office for the United States. They also have a larger office in Canada. More info:

Michigan Office

30555 Southfield Road
Suite 440
Southfield, MI 48076
USA
Phone: 1-248-594-2345
Toll Free Phone: 1-877-863-2444
Fax: 1-248-594-2332
Toll Free Fax: 1-866-393-6835

Customer Service

Please call: 1-248-594-2345 or
1-877-863-2444
E-mail: customerservice@universalgasandelectric.com

Branch Offices
29777 Telegraph Road
Suite 1151
Southfield, MI 48034

Universal Gas & Electric's Customer Service Hours

Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Head Office

25 Sheppard Avenue West
Suite 1605
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M2N 6S6
Tel: 416-673-1162
Fax: 416-673-1701

Universal Gas and Electric of Michigan = RIPOFF SCAM

Source: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...Off0228260.htm

Axelian · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 02:26 AM

I have worked for them before. For about 1 month. Made 2 sales. I was basically selling a load of crap. This one dumb lady told me "hook me up, i need to save some money" so I signed her up lol

For every sale that a rep makes its $13. So basically if you hit up 1 sale each hour its a $13/hr job. Just depends on how good of a salesman you are.

**delmages** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 02:48 AM

How absolutely ridiculous. Just another way for shady businesses to capitalize on gas, oil and electricity commodities in an economy headed for an imminent recession.

**Essential Clix** · #4 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 08:30 AM

This sounds almost illegal. Do they send you any paperwork to read/sign? Or do they just sign you up online? You'd think they'd be required to inform you of any hidden fees like that over the phone, if no paper contract has to be signed.

**TwistedNature** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 07:27 PM

thats fucking ridiculous!

**BuzzKill** · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 07:36 PM

Taking money from people who don't have it should be punishable by death. I am constantly having to diffuse some offer my 70 year old Mother has gotten before she gets ripped off. Thanks for posting this, I could easily see her falling for it.