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

Hi relics,

Please contact us so we can try to resolve this for you - If you send your details to our dedicated online team: forums@besutilities.co.uk, we will respond to you ASAP.

Thank you,

BES Utilities - Official Representative

I have been offered either cheaper prices or a one year contract after writing to BES on the forums@besutilities.co.uk address. They claim, after reviewing the recordings, that I was offered a range of deals by the 'independent broker'. How they were able to review the recordings of a truly independent broker I don't know and they didn’t provide me with a range of options, they told me what npower’s deemed tariff was (which I was already on), and gave me their tariff as the cheapest. They did give me Total Gas and Power’s tariff because I asked what the next cheapest one was, and they were reticent about doing that.

This is very interesting, perhaps you could forward that piece of information to Ofgem, they are VERY interested to hear if BES are in a position to hear full recorded conversations with brokers - to date they have always denied being able to do so. If it is in writing even better!

PM me and I will give you the email address of the Ofgem contact.

Do not go near this company. . . Scam company that charges 2000 pounds for two months because of out of contract. . . Please i have suffered you do not have too. . . This company should be closed down. . . Worst company ever. . . They took 2 months to change the tennacy and did not allow me to go to other gas company and charged me 2000 pounds for two months. . . Worst company ever. . . Please stay away. . . I would not want any body to sign up to this company. . . If i had the power i would close this company down no matter what. . .

Hi nize,

We're sorry to hear you've been having some problems with your BES account. We'd like to look into this for you if you have a complaint.

Please email the details to forums@besutilities.co.uk and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Thank you,

BES Utilities - Official Representative

My Wife and I have also been mis sold by this despicable company.
She recently took over a retail shop and within the first few days was bombarded by companies stating that they could offer a better electric tariff than we were already on.
She with one specify company and got a 2 year contract which she was happy with. however a couple of days later a guy came on the phone and my wife thought it was the previous company, she called him by the name he gave a couple of days and he stated he had found a better deal, unbeknown to her it was not the same guy, it was one of BES Sales Agents. she was misold into a 5 year contract which we have now been trying to get out of.
when i asked for the recordings of course they only contained what BES class as the legal requirement and not the chit chat which my wife believed was the previous company,
I have a contract from the first company but it appears BES go in there first and swapped us over, who in their right mind would agree to sign a 5 year contract when we had just got a 2 year deal only 2 -3 days later.

I will be filing my second complaint letter to BES in the next few days with a copy of the first contract, should these people again not see sense i will of course be heading towards the ombudsman and seeking legal advise on how to proceed.

BES makes me feel physically sick that they get away with such practice.

Hi Mr L P,

We're sorry to hear you have a complaint regarding your BES contract. We acquire contracts via independent brokers and not direct sales teams.

Please send your details to forums@besutilities.co.uk so we can look into and try to resolve this for you ASAP.

Thank you,

BES Utilities - Online Team

Hi,

I have just started calls with them and they are about to sign me up... they haven't installed anything yet nor have a received any contracts... Am I at risk here or can I get out of this okay/?

Thanks...

I have a problem with BES - Commercial Electricity
I have agreed to a verbal contract which was all agreed by telephone call. I've never had a copy of it or signed for it.

When I've started with BES (from my first invoice 7th December 2013) I was billed on 20/01/2013 with an Invoice for the meter that I have since I have the restaurant. I have questioned the total amount as for me that looked very high £740.82 (which I use to pay no more than £400 monthly with EON) they said to me that when we would have a smart meter that they would provide that we didn't need to provide with meter readings anymore and that once was done I didn't have to worry anymore.

Since that first bill I've never had more issues inclusive I thought that I've made a great decision as now I was paying less than EON. The Invoices and direct debit was about £80-£100 less on a monthly basis than EON but I thought that since I’ve paid £740.82 on the first month that was too high, the account was in credit and with """savings that I should have""" that was about right. I haven't received any letters or statements to say that I was or not in credit or outstanding but I just thought That it got sorted when in 14th March 2014 the Smart meter was installed

All the Invoices I had from 20/01/2014 till 16/10/2014 were still showing the old meter number on which I have just realised yesterday. I was paying by direct debit, was never asked to provide a meter reading, and never got a statement.

Yesterday I have received just another invoice from 15/10/2014 to 15/11/2014 which says
Electricity charges for period 15/10/2014 to 15/11/2014 Total charges this period £2646.08
and in smaller letters Pre-payment £6.39
credits 0.00
Outstanding charges £2, 639.69.

When I have first spoken to customer service yesterday the lady told me to take a meter reading and send photos of it only when I said that it would be impossible in a month to get this charges.

Today I have looked and the meter reading is accurate so then I said why? So I have looked all EON's bills and did a total for the year 2013 and one for BES to compare and how I was imagining there's a big difference.

After looking closely at both accounts I then realised that the last Invoice was billed with the new meter and that I have never got a bill for the new meter. Then I though since I have never got a bill for the new meter and since the readings are accurate then BES should deduct £1, 272.82 (the payments I made since the new meter reading was installed 14/03/2014 to 16/10/2014) from the only bill I got with the new meter reading of £2, 639.69 and the outstanding should be £1, 366.87

After I spoken to Lisa today from customer service and she told yes but you have a credit for the old meter from March 2014 to 16th October, I then asked her where's the credit? she says in my account so I’ve told that I haven’t received credit/ refund, / statement or credit note, I have asked that I needed to speak with someone that did the contract or someone that could help me. She told me finally the only thing she could do was to ask a senior consultant/advisor to phone me back.

Jilly as she called herself rang me at 14:47pm tel: no: [protected] firstly said I don't know why I have never got a credit note / statement and later on said it was one sent to me and will issue another one.

Jilly explained that actually they have credited to my account the money that I have paid from March till November but still outstanding £2, 639.69 ? She told for me to listen to her and when I said that I felt like I was robbed, kept saying I am trying to help you but nothing did except to say that will issue a statement with all the figures so I can understand what happened.

My issue here is ok now I see how stupid I was to change for this company what clearly is more expensive but the thing is I don't trust the company at all as How are they getting their charges? They are over charging me that's obvious.

Where are my rights? Do I need to be with them till December 2017? Jilly says that there's £8, 000 charge cancellation fee! I didn't know that!

I have not signed any contract is this actually legally? Can this company robbed you in daylight and you can't do anything about it.

Hi Maria,

Sorry to hear you're unhappy with your billing. We've checked your account and confirmed that your prices and meter readings are as agreed. As promised, we're sending you something in the post which will hopefully help you reconcile your bills and payments made.

We'll follow this up with a call in a few days to answer any remaining questions, but if you want to contact us in the meantime then please either give us a call or email our dedicated online team: forums@besutilities.co.uk.

Regards,

BES Utilities - Online Team

BES Utilities - Online Team

I would be interested to hear how you can look into this when i have already made a complaint to the BES complaints dept who basically told me, that your 3rd party people who sign up customers, only have to provide you with the recorded conversation for the actual contract, there by missing out how they got to that point.
your complaints dept were not interested and basically said they were happy.

So how are you going to deal with this, because I'm at the end of my tether and considering seeking legal advice. considering i have a letter from another company with a contract dated 3 days before yours

Hi Mr L P,

We really need direct contact from you with your account or contact details (please don't post these online), so that we can investigate and try to resolve this. We're sorry you've not been able to sort this out previously but would welcome the chance to look into this for you.

Please email us: forums@besutilities.co.uk

BES Utilities - Online Team

Help I'm also with bes I switched banks and their details didn't seem to go over to my new account now they are trying to change me double! I also recived upto 60 calls per week hard selling to me!

Hi Jardine,

This sounds about typical.

Could you give an idea as to when these high volumes of calls have been occurring? Are we talking a few months ago, or as recent as days ago?

This may interest a few people who read this - an article in Monday's express.

I am another one that's been scammed by BES. I was called by a so called broker and was convinced I was speaking to my normal energy supplier (British gas) but not until I received this ridiculous contract did I realise that I had been caught. I quickly done some research on BES and was horrified at what they were doing to small businesses I tried calling them on several occasions but there automated phone system kept me hanging on the line for so long that I had to hang up or I would have still been waiting now. This all happened in June 2013 and my contract with BES was due to start on the 1st of April 2014 as I was still in contract with British gas so I called British gas and told them what had happened and they were really helpful they renewed my contract with themselves to start on the 25th of March 2014 before BES could get in I then cancelled any direct debits with BES and instructed my bank not to set no direct payments to BES. Sorted or so I thought until the 1st of April came round. I received a letter from BES welcoming me to them as my new electricity provider so again I tried calling them but as expected no answer but after a few days I did receive a call from them saying that my direct debit had been cancelled and I need to reinstate it or I would be charged a higher tariff no I replied I am in contract with British gas which started on the 25th of March before your contract started so you could not have taken over my supply ok said the chap on the phone and hung up. End of the month came and I received this ridiculous bill from BES so I called British gas and they assured me My contract was with them and not BES and that I would be receiving their bill soon so I just ignored the bill from BES. End of May comes and another bill from BES and again I ignore it I do get some threating calls from BES but told them to shove it I'm with British gas. Come June I get my quarterly bill from British gas which is paid by direct debit, mean while I get another bill from BES now totalling a whopping £595 three times higher than my quarterly bill from British gas but again I ignore it. The next thing that happens is a guy calls from BES to my business address to fit a smart meter not required I told him and quickly showed him the door. Another month went by and another bill came from BES which was now almost £1000. By this time I am starting to worry a little so I call British gas again and they tell me my account with them is up to date and I had no worries. At this stage BES are calling me every day for their money but I refuse to pay them so I then receive a letter from them saying they were sending an engineer out to cut my supply off, send who you like out I said but no one touches my meter unless they are from British gas. A few day later I get a call from a guy called Robert who told me that he would be calling to my premises to disconnect my electric supply he said to check the national grid data base and I would see that my meter was registered with BES and not British gas if you don't believe me he said call British gas and ask them to check, Ok I said I will do just that and I when I called British gas and ask them to check the data base I was horrified it was true BES had some how sneaked in and taken over my supply. British gas assured me it had been taken over erroneously and they would apply to get it back. This took months and still I pay British gas for my supply and still I get bills from BES. Up to date I have not paid BES one penny and nor do I intend to I have had letters from their solicitors threating court action and I have told them to go ahead take me to court I have all the evidence I need to fight this in a court. As far as British gas goes is they have applied for three times now for the supply to handed back to them but BES has refused each time. I have now launched a complaint with the energy ombudsman and they are now looking into it for me but have told me that they cannot do anything for 8 weeks from the date the complaint was made I cannot see BES giving in but also I will not give in either so at the moment its stale mate. I will try to keep this post updated as much as I can but it is a slow progress but watch this space.

Just a quick note to anyone reading this;

If BES and/or Commercial Power have given an address of a supposed broker as Unit 8 Metropolitan Business Park in Blackpool, please step forward and drop a message over.

Thanks.

BES are the most fraudulent company around. Every single month our bills are wrong & they try to take large sums of money from our accounts. They have a £40 minimum use policy when we never use £40 per month electricity and so they charge us extra. Have to give them readings every month. The tarrifs are expensive and they started calling us at home just as we'd moved into the offices and they were telling us we didn't have a contract and that it was illegal to use the electricity.

AVOID BES AS THEY WILL SAY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU'RE IN CONTRACT AND THEN BLEED YOU DRY.

I am starting come round to the alternative conclusion that far be it from a 'bit dodgy' - this company are involved in seemingly a large scale fraud.

(cue another letter from the BES lawyers demanding this comment removed).

I have evidence that BES /Commercial Power have issued false addresses regarding brokers, which they know is false as Commercial Energy used to trade next door to the address they gave!

I have evidence that BES have been asking customers who cancelled direct debits for their account number and sort code as a form of 'security question'!

I have further evidence that contrary to Pilley's denial of control of Commercial Energy - and his claims he doesn't are false to say the least.

This starting to look more like a fraud case - AVOID this company at all costs, what I have said above is merely the tip of the iceberg.

I am afraid that I concur with the concept that there is a fraud going on here. I have been threatened by lawyers working for BES my crime merely has been cancelling a direct debit when BES removed over £1200 from a bill that should have been £300 and refused to give any evidence of a mathematical process to how they came to such a figure. This business is receiving ten to fifteen calls per day from BES it has now arisen to a situation where our customers are complaining they cannot get through to us because the line is so frequently engaged.

When we moved into our new offices we were receiving a very high number of calls from 'government energy registrations' claiming to be an official body, the calls were pushy and I would go as far as to say aggressive to a point. We at first told them to go away however they persisted and in the end dare I say bullied my business partner into handing over bank details and meter registration numbers with the claim if we did not we were using the electrical supply 'illegally' and therefore breaking the law. The first we knew that we had enrolled into any contract was when a 'welcome pack' arrived from BES. We have tirelessly tried to trace who this was that called us to no avail, they have literally vanished off the face of the earth with no trace whatsoever, when asked the question how we became embroiled in such a contract BES refused to comment claiming we needed to speak to the broker irrespective of the fact we were not aware we had spoken with any brokers! The straight forward question of who this broker we needed to speak with is was asked to BES who said they 'didn't know' and could offer no further assistance.

We feel so stupid and really should of had an energy supplier ready before we moved in but it was the last thing on our minds! My business partner was told if we wanted to cancel our contract it would cost £4, 000 in cancelation fees. It was explained to the BES employee that we would take to this website to air our situation if they did not help us and were told that we were liars trying to smear the excellent reputation of BES and to 'watch our backs' if we did post any complaint on the internet. This all appeared very comical until the letter we got from the lawyers on Monday!

We are victims of this company! I am scared by this outfit and wish not to reveal so many details for fear of preprocussions on our business. I was conned by uk energy into believing it was against the law to use energy that was not on their database after literally hundreds of calls to my mobile. Next thing I know we get a invoice for GBP1900 for 3 weeks of electricity use from a company called bes! Bes say I can no get of the contract as it is legally binding and to speak to uk energy. They say they cannot give me details of uk energy but I have to speak to commercial power. I speak with them and they give me the address of unit 8 metropolitan estate in blackpool. I do a little investigation and the occupiers at that address are estate agents not an energy company! Please can someone provide me contact details of uk energy I need this urgently? Bes are ruining my business with these outstandingly high invoices and threatening to cut my supply off but we are a frozen food business!

For the interested people reading this thread, you may want to know that i've just switched to BES commercial gas from my current supplier and have actually saved quite a LOT of money, not to mention the quick registration process - no complaints from me!

Hiya Cameron1812
I am so pleased to hear that you have switched happily to BES and saved money in the process. However, I am confused why someone who is happy with a company should be researching them on Complaints Board. Would you care to elaborate please?

The pressing question I have is that BES have always claimed they have no sales department. So Cameron1812, please could you advise how you managed to find the registration so "quick" with BES when theoretically they would have nobody in any such department to register you?

The only department they do claim have is a renewals department, but (as per a letter from the BES legal assistant) because they are renewals only they only deal with existing supplies NOT new supplies like the one you allege and appear to intimate BES have registered you for... Cameron1812 are you sure your facts are correct?

Cameron1812,

I have a letter from the legal assistant from BES (and numerous other sources) stating that BES have no sales teams and rely on work from solely brokers for their sales. What they do have is a renewals team - but they would only deal with you if BES were your current supplier, which you've in no uncertain terms, explained they were not.

Theoretically therefore, you could not have signed up directly with BES - I am at a loss as to how you can purport that BES have a "quick registration process" if they have no sales department? Quite honestly, given my personal experiences and the common feelings about trying to get hold of BES on the phone, I am surprised you bothered to age it takes to get through to someone on the phone.

I think anyone is to believe your claim to be true about this company you need to elaborate on the manner in which you entered the contract...? As well as how and why in your brand new low-cost gas "no complaints from me" business you have found yourself page 8 on a website researching legitimate complaints...?

Sorry it's me again, I feel compelled to write further regarding BES as it would seem after they have now resorted to issuing a number of obvious falsehoods, lies and absurd comments in attempt to discredit my legitimacy as someone who holds serious concerns about this company. They have done so by contacting website owners and knowingly making these particularly stupid remarks;

1) The false allegation I have created forums and websites with the intention to "get full control over Google" with statements alleged to be defamatory (yawn).

2) The false statement that the "ONLY thing" that arrives when BES is 'Googled' is forums and websites alleged to be my creation... The first hit is their company website(s); the Ofgem investigation; and then after that the many media stories about them - so BES' claim is clearly false; I have no idea how to even make a website!

3) BES purport that my correct and truthful comment about the depression and suicidal thoughts induced by their lawyer's threats are "disgusting, ridiculous" and that I "cannot infer" their letter had these consequences. However they know my comments to be accurate, truthful and correct by virtue of provable correspondence - why would they knowingly make a false statement such as this?!

4) BES claim that I have "made them look like liars" because I suggested it to be fair comment they have probably misled and omitted information to instruct solicitors... In issuing their complaint they have in fact 'snipped' out my explanation as to why my opinion is an entirely reasonable conclusion to arrive at.

You may wonder what compels me to make this complaint public - well the answer is simple; public interest: If when they have no financial gain to make, BES are prepared to knowingly make these sorts of absurd remarks and pass them off as fact - I think it raises a a real question as to what they are prepared to do in circumstances where there is financial gain to be made?

Think of a number, double it and then add 52. Halve that number and subtract your original number. Your answer is 26. Mind=blown. You're welcome.

I can't imagine the businesses that feel BES have ripped them off feeling very merry nor having much love and understanding towards their current energy supplier at the moment. In fact I'd go as far to say as that they are probably rather worried of the size of the bill due to arrive in the post in January, which is traditionally a quiet time of year for most businesses...

Stevens-iz-shakin, Cameron812, etc - enjoy the BES office party...depending on the results of the Ofgem investigation, it could be your last...

Thankyou for the support and also the inbox messages. I spoke with guy who is rather expert at grabbing this company by the balls and appears to have an uncanny knack of flawing within their ridiculous terms, he should be a lawyer! After he became involved I was released from my contract as a "gesture of good will and not to be confused with any admission of wrongdoing" of course! Our business has been saved thanks to the Bes vigilante, came a great present just before Christmas! Beers on me!

Hi, i have also been duped by BES, i have only been in business for 6 weeks, i was contacted by someone saying that i was not registered with a utilities company, and it is illegal what i am doing, i was then given a list of utilities to choose from, they said BES was the cheapest, as i am a small bakery one man band, i agreed to go with them, but i am subletting the shop and found out that we do have a contract with Scotish power, and that the contract isn't even in my name, because i am subletting the person who holds the lease still has her name on the Scotish power contract, but Bes say i have agreed to a 5 year contract, Scotish power said they wont allow them to do it, so i am going to the citizens advice on Monday i am worried sick.

I'd ignore BES. At the time the transfer request comes through Scottish Power should reject it. So you should be fine.

There have been a few cases (sorry, my New Year's Resolution to be Politically Correct), I mean ALLEGATIONS that they have ALLEGEDLY falsely issued Tenancy Change notifications, which is a small thing to watch.

Have you had the contract paperwork come through? As you were (ALLEGEDLY) lied to it will void any form of contract anyway :) Any ideas who contacted you?

Hi Cake-Mamas

We're sorry to hear you're having a problem and if you would please send your complaint details to our dedicated online team, we will look into this and get back to you ASAP - Please email us: forums@besutilities.co.uk

We hope to hear from you soon so we can get this resolved ASAP.

BES Utilities - Online Team

Hi, I've read through this whole thread and have had the same thing happen to me (ringing to say I'm on emergency rates ect..). I stupidly agreed and am due to switch on 31st January. If I send a proof of business ownership that I will change into my brothers name (who works with me) will it void my contract? Thanks

I wouldn't even bother doing that, too much hassle; invariably they will ignore such letters or request they are signed off by a solicitor etc (which is bollocks).

Email the Forums address above and they will drop you out of the contract. If they don't pop a message back and I shall explain the flaw they have in their terms which voids any implied contract.

Was it BES that told you that alleged you were on these so called emergency rates or a third party? I ask as logic would dictate if it was an emergency as the caller claimed, why would they transfer you in 24 days time and not immediately?

It was a third party that got in contact and they actually spoke to me and got me into the verbal contract In June/July time. Wasn't till after I'd signed up and they said that my live date wasn't till January then I thought it seemed dodgy. What do you mean by emailing the forums address? (Not really clued up with this stuff) and who would drop me out of the contract?
Thanks for your help.

What?! That is insane! So this third party (whoever it may be), despite notifying you of these alleged emergency rates would happily see you pay those emergency rates (usually massively higher) for 5/6 months and then see your account switched to BES? This is utterly absurd! The general sales patter regarding 'emergency rates' usually refers to a deemed contract, which means you can switch any time you wish...

BES Utilities gave you an address to email (forums@besutilities.co.uk), so it may be worth emailing that - I'd be very specific about asking WHO the third party was, and also precisely WHAT their contact details are. My experience has been with BES that when these simple questions are asked, they are usually replied to with a fictitious or un-tracable name of a 'third party' - and either refusal claiming "we have no contact details for that broker" or an entirely false address. Make sure you get that 'third party' info, as I'm sure you will appreciate if they refuse to provide it something is pretty suspect!

Well I've just spoken to my current supplier and they've recieved a letter from 'electricity renewals' stating that BES will be taking over. So I'm writing a complaint email to electricity renewals saying that I was mis sold, see where that gets me. Thanks for your help, much appreciated. I'll keep you posted

Are you sure it was from Electricity Renewals? The good news is they can be traced. The bad news is;

Companies House shows Electricity Renewals Ltd is owned by Andy Pilley, Mr Pilley also happens to be the owner of BES, so rather far from a 'third party'. However, Electricity Renewals Ltd is listed as a company in dissolution - and in fact was in 2013, long before they contacted you.

As I understand it, it is illegal to trade under a company's name once it is in liquidation/dissolution... So presumably Mr Pilley's company is trading illegally, or someone else is using his company's name and then signing unwitting customers into contracts with Mr Pilley's own company - which do you think is more plausible of the two?

Interesting stuff, I've sent an email to the complaints department of electricity renewals. Eon never mentioned it being a ltd company. Hopefully they will cancel the contract with the knowledge of me being mis-sold if not then i reckon I'll have to go down the route of tenancy change, which I could easily do but would rather not.

I very much doubt you will have any response from them. I'd be tempted to email BES as well since they are the only ones that can release you from the contract - typically as far as the brokers are concerned they've earned their money, been paid their commission and don't really care from there on.

As a point of interest, like the majority other brokers that like to deal with BES, Electricity Renewals' website contains nothing apart from an email address and a phone number (and you're lucky they have that)... Which to my mind makes them nearly untraceable in the event of circumstances such as this were you want to make an official complaint, particularly as BES claim "we don't hold contact details for brokers".