We were mis-sold an electricity contract to BES in October 2011 through the broker commercial energy . Due to the seriousness of this matter we have now had to close our business down and are seeking legal action against them. There are many other businesses out there that have been subjected to this and story's have been published through "this is money" the web site "money saving expert.com" & an interesting pod cast worth listening to is by BBC five live on 22nd April 2012 that connects brokers to pushing small businesses into contracts where they receive large commissions. Some brokers are not regulated so there is no protection of how they can enforce lies along with fear & abuse tactics for small businesses & they thrive on sales tactics along with reading your circumstances and taking advantage of this. There are however some very helpful brokers out there so I hope sometime soon there will be some laws enforced to separate the good ones from those that are there to damage business.
The UIA can give advice & would be interested to hear your experience ref the Ombudsman-Rod Sidden is a good contact. From what I have been reading as regard to others experience-the Ombudsman seem to beable to help in early cases with BES but for further on cases they push you to take legal action which is what I would suggest in the most affordable way you can. We are currently in the process of this now - there does seem to be very little help until new ruleings have been past & exposure of BES is more prominent to stop all this. There are other consumer forums that are full of nightmare story's about bes & some good advice is on there-"the consumer forums" being one of the best.. Push forward & dont give up-we had the same experience.
Well the email I sent to the address they gave me bounced back saying couldn't find address so I called them and then they have me another which wouldn't send so then I got them to send me an email and replied back to it and that went through. I did say I wanted to speak to someone in the complaints dept. but they said they didn't have an extension for them. I've got to wait a few days to get a reply.
Luckily eon confirmed with me that they recieved something from ER to tell them to go ahead with the change over, so hopefully that will be on my side.
Just had electricity renewals call and say that they've contacted BES and they've cancelled the application. That seemed easy lol I do appreciate your advice.
It still raises a few questions doesn't it? How can a broker cancel a contract on behalf of an energy company? Under what circumstances/beliefs do BES feel it reasonable to cancel the contract?
Also, who has been your supplier to date? Who has been billing you since the summer of 2014 to date at these alleged 'emergency rates'?
Well they told me they got in contact with BES. It's defiantly dodgy tho. Eon have been supplying me all this time since I started the business 4 years ago and there's been no so called emergency rates added to my bill but me being naive agreed to BES taking over. I just don't trust any callers now unless there well known and established. I think they prey on the weak and narrow minded who won't query them so then they get there business but I reckon when someone starts asking questions and getting into detail they just drop the case.
Hi everyone i'm free, Bes have decided to let me alone after causing so much stress, they said because of the subletting issue it was to messy to carry on fighting for Tender, i couldn't believe it, i'm just waiting for confirmation now, no celebrations until i get it in writing, i would like to thank everyone who has offered to help me, and i hope this company gets it's just deserts for all the pain and heart break they have caused so many people, the Broker that lied to me should be sacked i hope karma is watching this wicked man. i will keeping watching the fight for freedom good luck to everyone.
Yes exactly, evidence proves that is the case. One question, what was the number you called Electricity Renewals on? Was is [protected]? The reason I ask is that this is if you remember I said Electricity Renewals Ltd was in dissolution, and had been since 2013... Well their official website perversely says "© 2014 Electricity Renewals". Pretty strange for a company that submitted a notice to the London Gazette for strike-off in April of 2013?
Further investigation goes to show that the website (www.electricityrenewals.co.uk) is registered to 2 Darwin Court, despite the registered office of Electricity Renewals (Ltd) being at Unit 7 Darwin Court. Although oddly, Commercial Energy Ltd (which Mr Pilley denies any personal interest in) traded at Unit 2 at least 1 year before...
Could it be someone just next door to Commercial Power at Unit 3 (another of Mr Pilley's companies) is using the name Electricity Renewals and registered the website at just 5 doors from what used to be registered office of Electricity Renewals Ltd?
Yer that was the number I called. I reckon he owns the whole block of units for the exact reason to shut business down and open new ones when he wants. Where's best to report them?
Very possibly, but the various business he owns are not just limited to that address. There is a mail forwarding address in London also often used as a registered office.
Anyway, you are probably best reporting them to Ofgem. Take a look on the site and you'll see an email address - now is a good time as they are under investigation. Ofgem may feel it useful to see some of the info I've listed above.
Ok will do. Thanks
Commenting on Youtube is some fun indeed but when I came across this one I was roaring. "Which word starts with F and ends in K and generates lots of heat and excitement and the answer is "Firetruck", now before I have cramps I will barge one more in. Why a person laughed three times after listening to joke? first time because everybody was laughing, second time he understood the joke and the third time because of the reason why he didn't understand it the first time. Now I am going to change the subject and switch on to BBC news to watch Asian politicians punching each other in parliament, which is no less funny. Good night you wonderful people and happy new year.
Nick9 I struggle to see why you are posting this on a thread to do with BES. You have only joined today so am wondering how you found yourself onto this page but please continue because you keep this thread going and make more people aware of BES and how they treat people.
HI Boiling Point. Can you let the forum know how far you have got with your problem with BES? Thanks
As we know BES instructed lawyers who attempt to have threads like these removed - and run after people like myself for damages under the Deformation Act.
It's brilliantly ironic that the obvious employees at BES have totally f**ked any attempt at legal action whatsoever, because as well all know to sue for damages you need to PROVE that you've taken reasonable steps to minimise them!
Unfortunately, BES trolls, you've bolloxed attempts to clear up BES terrible reputation as a bunch of liars - but also made them look even worse by showing the level of professionalism of the employees they use. Well done! Clearly Andy Pilley the fraudster will be very proud...but I imagine when Ofgem shut him down he will have significantly more money then his employees to sit on while in prison!
Mr Pilley has been invited to attend a meeting with the Chancellor at 10 downing street, (see www.fleetwoodtownfc.com) I suspect the chancellor is not aware of the Ofgem investigation, and possible legal action against Mr Pilley
Local entrepreneur and also Chairman of Fleetwood Town Football Club, Andy Pilley, is thrilled to have been invited to a reception at 11 Downing Street, hosted by the Chancellor, George Osborne.
The Chancellor is leading a government programme to create a new ‘Northern economic powerhouse’ and next week’s event has been organised as an opportunity for business leaders to share their views and insight with MPs and government officials.
As well as operating as the Chairman of Fleetwood Town Football Club, Andy Pilley owns several businesses in the North-West region, including BES Utilities, a leading commercial energy and telecom supplier.
This invitation from the Chancellor is especially timely, given BES Utilities’ recent announcement that they intend to be the first supplier to cut electricity prices by 7% in April this year, resulting in significant savings for its small business customers. This decision was announced just days after Mr Osborne’s comments in the media regarding the need for energy customers to benefit from the recent drop in the price of oil.
Speaking today, Andy Pilley said:
“This invitation from the Chancellor is a fantastic opportunity for me to share my views on how the Government can achieve its goal of bringing more powers and economic security to the North-West, and I’m honoured to be able to represent the local community at this event.
“I’ve been involved in local business for many years and can’t wait to bring the benefit of my experience to the table, including views from a range of industries - energy, tourism and professional football.”
“This is also a chance for me to reiterate the need for more energy suppliers to follow the lead announced by BES Utilities last week, reducing prices for customers when they need it most. This week I have written to the Chancellor and other leading politicians to offer my support for price cuts and also my advice on how BES has achieved this as a smaller, independent supplier, when many of the ‘big 6’ companies are reluctant to do so.”
So why is it other smaller energy companies have reduced there tariffs with IMMEDIATE effect ?
Thank you for informing us of this wilkz. I am sure that many people will want to see this. We are definitely interested and will be taking this forward.
For anyone who would like to raise any concerns or questions with George Osborne ahead of next weeks meeting the contact details according to Google for e-mail is public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk or via phone at [protected] or via writing to The Correspondence & Enquiry Unit, HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.
Shelly8748 thats great, i've been given private.office@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk this goes through to George Osbornes personal secretary
Do you guys realise how closely Ofgem monitor this website?
They KNOW this trolling is by BES employees - and the more you post/visit the website the higher the Google ranking!
Tell me, how big is the job centre in Blackpool? Big enough to fit the BES office in?
Mr Pilley, if you're reading this, I hope you've not booked your train tickets to London? It would appear your appointment has been canceled...
(I should add my comments above related the enormous amount of spam added to this website, which the good people that are the Administrators have now removed)
Thank you Neil for getting the posts removed. We also reported them as spam.
Neil-uk, you have 34 posts on this website, all of which are on this thread and all of which can be perceived as abusive and negative towards BES. What have they done to you in order for you to become unnaturally obsessed and continually attempt to damage their reputation online? From what i've read, I don't see anything...
- Benji
Hiya Benji2015. Being as I see that you only became a member of Complaints Board today and have only made this one post perhaps some questions should be directed at you rather than Neil-uk.
Could you explain why you have joined Complaints Board today (the clue for most people joining is in the name 'Complaints Board' but you don't seem to have made a complaint).
Could you explain what your involvement with BES is please as it seems strange to me that you join Complaints Board today and then make the post that you have. It almost feels as tho you have been directed to this site specifically to question people who have posted about BES.
Also you say that Neil-uk is continually attempting to damage BES's reputation online. Have you not done even a cursory check on the internet to see the standing that BES have on this and other forums among numerous other websites. In the interests of fairness perhaps you could post some links to websites that are positive about BES?
I await your replies with interest
Hi Shelly, its clear for all to see that you and in particular Neil UK are no more than internet trolls with a BES obsession.
It doesn't matter why I joined the forum its not relevant to you/
Why are you constantly defending Neil UK ?
Word is that you and Neil UK are utility brokers through a company called the UIA.
Making a nice few quid by slating BES everyday eh, show them the posts on the forum and move them to a different supplier.
Quids in !
How many user names have you got ? Neil UK has at least 8.
I brace myself for the immanent response from Neil the Troll !
No doubt after he's consumed a few bottles of wine .
Hi Shelly, its clear for all to see that you and in particular Neil UK are internet trolls with an healthy obsession for abusing BES.
How many different user names are you posting as? Neil UK has at least 8 !
Word has it that you and Neil are active utility brokers operating through the UIA (brokers).
Show potential customers bad posts re BES and then move them elsewhere,
Quids in eh?
I brace myself for the immanent response from Neil the troll, no doubt after he has consumed a few bottles of wine ;)
I still see that you haven't answered any of my questions? I can assure you that I am not an Internet troll or broker and neither do I operate as anything other than a disgruntled consumer. I am at a loss why you are paying such a keen interest in Neil especially as you only signed up to the complaints board yesterday? You seem to be trying to discredit Neil for helping others, why? For someone who doesn't have a complaint about BES I struggle to see why you're on here at all. Perhaps if you answer the questions I asked you in my previous post all would become apparent. I still await your answers with interest.
Actually not, I just dislike dishonest companies, I believe in a fair playing field ... I've only posted as Neil-UK, so your claim I have done otherwise is unfounded and false. Abuse would be if I said something false (like you have above about me), everything I've ever said about BES has been true and I can prove it as such. Get a dictionary.
What word is this? So what if I'm a utility broker? Small businesses deserve an honest, transparent and professional service which is the polar opposite of what BES give.
So who are you really Benji? You're not that in the BES marketing department that tried to get an internet blog shut down by lying to the webmaster are you? Sounds to me like you're just another scared kit that works in the BES office having preempted your inevitable unemployment...
Hiya Benji2015...let's get a few things straight. Firstly I am not and never have been an internet troll and secondly I have one user name that I post under (this one).
I note that you failed to answer ANY of the questions that I asked of you in my earlier post. Why is that?
Also, if according to you 'word has it that me and Neil are active energy brokers operating through the UIA' perhaps you could give me the names and addresses of the people who are alleging this. I am sure I can find a firm of solicitors in the Blackpool area who would be happy to issue a letter to the offenders threatening them with action under the defamation laws.
I can assure you that I am not and never have been an energy broker. Indeed, I knew nothing about energy brokers until I was lied to and conned by one earlier in 2014.
So, again perhaps you can answer the questions that I asked in my earlier post as the unhealthy obsession seems to be coming from your direction.
Hi all,
Just read this whole thread with interest after joining BES in December then being bombarded with brokers and suppliers calls trying to sell me their products.
Shelly I disagree with your comments as people join this (like me) to ask questions and find out more information. Are you claiming you can only join if you need to moan?
Are you supplied by BES, I've seen a representative is on this forum helping people resolve their issues so hasn't yours been fixed now? I have my smart meter being fitted next week which I think will be fantastic for me.
Ps. Benji has a point most people commenting on here only post about BES and seem to have a hidden agenda. Trolls might be a fitting description for some of you ; )
Hiya Angie1976.
I am sure that people join consumer forums such as this for a whole variety of reasons but I am sure that most people join because they have a complaint or a concern about a company. If you have joined to ask questions and find out information (as you say you have) then I will be interested to see what questions you ask and what information you feel you need. I am sure that there are people on here who would be more than happy to offer you advice and assistance, myself included.
However, as with Benji2015, I find it very strange that you join this forum within the last couple of days and the only post you make is in regards to BES. Perhaps you can explain the reason behind this when such a simple question seems to be beyond Benji. I am also surprised that you can get BES to supply your gas and electricity being as your profile says you are from the USA (but perhaps that is a typo on your part).
The reason that people are only commenting on BES on this thread is that the thread is about BES! If I wanted to post about E-on, NPower etc then I would be posting on a different thread. You say that you have read the entire thread (which started back in 2012) so I wonder what views you have formed of BES when reading some of the postings? I hope you will be very happy with BES as your supplier and that you enjoy your new smart meter but as you will have read from some of the posts that is not everyone's experience.
It's clear to see that when somebody joins this thread without the intention of saying something negative re BES, Shelly and Neil-UK are very quick in asking questions about that user and perform some sort of online interrogation on them. You are the BULLIES OF THE THREAD! Leave the new users alone and let them express their opinions!
But now that people are starting to ask questions about you two, you get very defensive and we learn that one of you may be a secret utility broker trying the sway potential BES customers (funny how you didn't find it worthwhile to mention this as you continue to post about BES) and the other an obsessive old disgruntled customer that has had their issue resolved but continues to embarrass themselves posting online about an issue that doesn't concern them anymore. It's almost turning into a pantomime!
And before you ask; no, i won't comply to your online gestapo-like interrogation questions so it doesn't matter who I am or why I'm posting - none of your business! I'll be too busy microwaving some popcorn to enjoy whilst I sit back and await your petty onslaught.
Morning All,
As expected the trolls have been busy over the weekend.
Hilarious that NeilUK finally comes out and admits he is a utility broker, its been pretty obvious for a while really hasnt it.
Shame on you Neil it seems to me that you have been caught out profiteering by trolling on the internet.
Why have you only come clean now Neil, you would have looked a bit silly at the beginning eh, rather pretend that your a customer?
It was obvious throughout, why else would someone post hundreds of times on so many forums in such a short space of time.
If it wasn't for Neil and the deranged Shelly and the UIA this thread wouldn't even exist ;)
Hiya Benji...I am surprised that you feel the need to make personal insults to me but I think that says far more about you than me. I wonder why you feel the need to launch a personal attack on me when I have never said anything personal about you.
When you can answer the questions I put to you in my previous post Benji then I will enter into a reasoned discussion and debate with you. Until then I am not going to get involved in any further responses to you or your newly enrolled friends. although I will be happy to help and support anyone who has a genuine concern which is the whole point of consumer forums such as this.
Benji, I was winding you up. My words were: "So what if I'm a utility broker?"... Not that I actually am. Have a word with Patrick Newell your in-house incompetent solicitor, or your boss Pilley who threatened to sue me, or the law firm they instructed to threaten me... They will confirm I am anything but in the energy industry.
I don't look silly at all - you in fact look rather stupid for believing me... Somewhere on the dark depths of the BES CRM I am there, quite obviously as I am someone they attempted to scam. Certainly NOT a customer, with your office phoning me 55 times a day I smelt a big rat...
Benji, what do you have against the UIA? They are the industry organisation that regulate energy brokers who are members... Which oddly none of Pilley's best mates company's are members of... I'm sure they UIA would welcome Pilley's mates as members if they were prepared to follow their codes of honesty and ethics...
Angie1976
Not everybody is a disgruntled customer of BES and sounds as though your quite happy with them since joining them in December, there fitting the free of charge smart meter for you, only thing thats bothering me is that your in the United States and this is a Commercial Supplier in the UK Only ...
Just found this on another site :
Commercial Reduction Services/auto-renewal
Hello,
first timer here.
I'm getting repeated calls from a company called 'Commercial Reduction Services'.
Their story is that the govenment has recently passed a law that allows utility companies to auto-renew contracts
and put the prices up at the same time.
They wanted me to sign an electronic document (an LOA) which would get me out of this.
I delete these when they send them.
Having been fast-talked by a utility broker when I set up my business
I've learnt the hard way not to agree to anything offered by door-to-door or telephone sales people,
and the (brief) research I've done talks about power companies dropping auto-renewal last year,
and my contract still has 18 months to go anyway.
ALL LIES OWNER OF THIS COMPANY IS Daz Martindale who works for Andy Pilley out of Darwin Court Bispham where Commercial Power, Commercial Energy, Choice Utilities, Energy uk Electricity renewals etc all trade from. Andy Pilley has units 2 through to unit 7 DO NOT SIGN ANY FORM ELECTRONIC LOA'S EVER
I've posted two comments on here yesterday but they are not here
Hi Angie1976
Member since Jan 17, 2015
United States
I'm glad your happy with your supplier BES, Are you on the right site as it states your in United States and as far as im aware Andy Pilley(owner of BES) doesnt have a licensee to supply overseas this is a UK commercial energy supplier ?
To
Ben Jones – CEO, BES Utilities
Firstly after reading through this forum there are a lot of unhappy customers.
I would like to give you this opportunity to be Honest and Transparent about BES.
For instance if a customer calls in with a query to how he/she is in a 5 yr contract with yourselves when the sales agent said it would be a 2 yr fixed rate agreement and they believe they have been mis sold, I believe you listen to the verbal recording and tell the customer that is what they agreed too and the contract will stand . If the customer asks for which broker sent this contract to them you (BES) say you dont hold that information, if customer isnt happy and requests to speak to a manager I believe theres around a 48 hour wait for a manager call back. Customer Services Advisor can email there manager and ask him/her to send an email to Compliance at Bispham for them to listen to the front end of the recording if it is the case that the email comes back stating that the sales agent did say a 2yr fixed rate agreement and not the 5 yr then at this point shouldnt the customer be released from the contract due to being mis-sold the contract or at least be honest with the customer and say that you have listened to the up front recording and that your sorry this has happened, instead you (BES) say that u have had a word with the manager and as a goodwill gesture as you (the customer) have no prove that this was said between customer and the sales agent you (BES) are willing to say reduce the term of the contract or knock say a penny of the unit rate to try and smooth customer over.
From an article by Helen Loveless Daily Mail
quoting:
Controversial businessman Andrew Pilley, the man behind energy supplier BES and energy broker Commercial Power, which have been the subject of many complaints, last month set up an 'aggregator' forum for brokers who do substantial amounts of business with suppliers.
According to Pilley, many of Ofgem's proposals - such as making a declaration of commission mandatory and requiring all calls to be recorded - would be unworkable.
He claimed it would cost too much to record and retain all telephone calls and said the proposals would also raise data protection issues.
Pilley added: 'Our industry is encouraging self-regulation and as one of leading aggregators, the only solution is for us to work together and strive towards best practice.'
Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-1724101/Ofgem-crackdown-small-firm-energy-touts.html#ixzz3PMGBiEgl
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
So why is it that you already have all the calls recorded and it is workable for you(BES) but not the customer ?
I appreciate that the independent brokers that submit business through Commercial Power for BES if a complaint comes in with regards to one of those brokers BES gives out the business name and address, but what about the contracts that come over from Bispham Lee Goulding/Qualters business Commercial Energy and half a dozen other names they use why isnt there details given out ? and why is all of the call recorded, obviously not for training only thing i can think off is that the sales agent would probably get a roasting and possible claw back of commission !
Barney12345, take a breath and chill out! You've posted 4 times regarding the fact a user has just not bothered to change their location on their profile. This is practically getting embarrassing now for you... wow.