Usacomplaints.com » Miscellaneous » Complaint / Review: Spark Energy, L.P - Teaser rate then double to tripple bill. #631505

Complaint / Review
Spark Energy, L.P
Teaser rate then double to tripple bill

My consern is with the business practices of Spark Energy, Houston TX who is a supplier through Nipsco's alternate gas supplier program.

Specifically, Spark Energy's business practice is to quote new customers a competitive rate which is portrayed as a typical monthly rate, then charge double to three times Nipsco's rates after 2 months.

My eperience is summarized in the following narative:

Spark Energy telephone canvases a market offering 8% savings over Nipsco's price month to month on a variable rate. They say "Try it for 6 months and we'll show you how much you can save. What they do not say is that is a teaser rate for 2 months then, in my case, the rates went to 218%, 247% and 271% of Nipsco's rates in the last 3 months respectively.

When confronted after the 6 month period, they mention a 2 month "Guaranteed Discount Rate" then the rate goes to a rate competitive with Nipsco. When asked if 218%, 247% and 271% are competitive, they say those are their competitive rates.

When I called back the next day pretending to be a new customer asking for rates to compare, they quoted me the December and November rates both at 35.3 cents per therm and were pushing to sign me up. Nipsco's Nov. Rate was. 39 and Dec. Rate. 45 so anyone looking to compare would think it was a good deal. Next, I confronted them that I am a current customer who was charged. 92cents/therm by Spark Energy verses Nipsco's. 45cents for December. Only then did they say 35.3 cents was a 2 month "Guaranteed Discount Rate." I asked the current variable non-GDR which was quoted @81.4 cents/therm (180% of Nipsco's rate of. 45).

I have cancelled them as a supplier. Their only recourse for me was to sign up again at a fixed rate (which was higher than Nipsco's current fixed rate).



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