Family Energy Inc.

Review: Was suppose to help bring my electric bill down an did no such thing it made my electric bill even more one morning watching the news it stated to file a claim on Revdex.com if you where a victim by this company which I was so doing a claim.Desired Settlement: I would like the money back I was over charged an I have all the original paper work I signed

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Response:

On April **, 2014, [redacted] signed contract number [redacted] with Family Energy for the supply of electricity.

On the Third Party Verification call conducted after the contract was signed, [redacted] confirmed that she had received a copy of the signed Family Energy agreement.

On December *, 2014, [redacted] contacted Family to request cancellation of contract number [redacted]. Family Energy cancelled contract number [redacted], as per the customer’s request.

Family Energy is of the opinion that S[redacted] entered into a valid, binding contract and reimbursement is not warranted at this time.

Family Energy sent the customer an email response on July **, 2015 with a copy of the contract and third party verification call.

Review: We have been repeatedly called by this company despite our insistence not to be called again. We are also on the DO NOT CALL LIST. One sales person even stated, "You"ll be called again" and hung up.Desired Settlement: This company needs to be somehow given the message that repeated calls after they have been told to stop calling. The Revdex.com should consider giving them an "unsatisfactory" rating. Also, a complaint should be filed with the NY State Attorney General.

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Family Energy has added [redacted]’s phone number to our do not call list; the

complaint has been logged in our database and communicated to our sales force

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

This company's representatives were repeatedly told when they called to take us off their list and we were not removed. Further, as noted in the complaint one representative, said when we asked to be removed that we will be called again. Based on other complaints received against this company by the Revdex.com that is there mode of operation. They will keep calling even though the number is on the do not call list and ignore requests to remove the number from their list until, it seems, that the complainant contacts the Revdex.com.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Review: A sales representative for Family Energy came to my door asking to see a copy of my utility bill. The representative was unclear about who he was. The representative explained that he was "making sure I was not being overcharged" and was holding himself out as a third party, inferring that Family Energy is a regulator of sort. This person asked to come into my house and was aggressive when I said that I didn't' understand what the particular situation was about and didn't want to show my utility bill. I did not give this person any information or access to my house. The representative never stated that Family Energy is an energy supply company and rather tried to mislead me to get me to show my utility bill.Desired Settlement: I would appreciate if the sales representatives for Family Energy would not come to my neighborhood.

Business

Response:

ID: [redacted]

I am not a customer of Family Energy, but they came to my house soliciting yesterday. They were very forceful; insisting that we let them in our house, demanding to see a copy of our current bill and then insisting we log into our account online via our cell phone when we told them we do not have a bill. Even though we told them multiple times that we were not interest they were adamant. We ended up calling the police who advised them to leave the neighborhood.

Review: I had a person come to my home to talk to me about Family Energy. I was very busy at the time and was trying to leave for an appointment but he did not want to leave and come back another time. He said that with Family Energy my bill would not change. I asked him several times about the price, stating that I am on a very limited income and my bill was only costing my about $50 a month as it was. He assured me that I would save money by signing up. Then 3 months later I get my light bill from NYSEG, and the [redacted] part is $50.41 and then there is another bill from Family Energy for $96. I went from paying about $50 month for my lights to paying 3 times as much!! I can not afford to pay more, I can barely pay my bills on what I get paid now! I called the company and at first they couldn't even find my information at all. I asked them what this bill was about and then she told me that I would get a bill like that from now on, I told them I was not aware that it would cost me more for my electric bill, seeing how the person that signed me up said it would save me money, I told them I was not going to pay 3 times more than what I was paying before this and that I wanted to cancel it, they said I could cancel it but would have to pay $75 right then and there. This company is nothing but fraudulent in there way of getting people to sign-up, and by telling people they will save money when it actually ends up costing more. I never would have signed up if I knew that I was going to get billed twice for the same thing! I was under the assumption that my bill would not be any more than it was previously, then I find out that it is twice as much and I am not happy. I make about $700 a mth and $400 of it goes to my rent, I can't afford to have Family Energy suck every penny I make out of me!!!Desired Settlement: I want my contract with Family Energy to be cancelled, I want my electricity to go back to [redacted] only. This company needs to start explaining things a whole lot better so that people can understand exactly what they are signing up for, but they just say it will save you money and insist that your bill will not change, they are just lying to the consumer to get what they want!

Business

Response:

Response:

On December **, 2015, [redacted] signed contract number [redacted] with Family Energy for the supply

of electricity for a term of 3 years. On the contract signed by [redacted] it

states the following:

·

Savings are not guaranteed under either the

natural gas and/or electricity supply Agreement(s), and are dependent upon

market conditions.

·

“An

early cancellation fee of $25.00 plus applicable taxes for each year or partial

year remaining on the natural gas and/or electric supply Agreement(s) Term will

apply if the Agreement(s) is/are terminated prior to the end of the Term

selected above.

On December

**, 2015, [redacted] also confirmed enrollment into the program on a third

party verification call, without any questions or objections. [redacted] provided a positive response to question "You also have the right to rescind the

agreement if you choose within three business days after you receive a copy of

the agreement by contacting Family Energy by telephone, mail or email at the

contact information provided on the agreement. If you do not rescind an

enforceable agreement will be created, a cancellation of which would be a $25

fee, per commodity, for each year or partial year remaining on the program. Do

you understand?”

Family

Energy has cancelled contract number [redacted], as per the complaint received from the Revdex.com, however early

cancellation fees are applicable.

Family Energy sent the

customer an email response on February **, 2016 to explain this resolution and

advising the customer that if she provides documentation to support that she is

on low income, Family Energy will waive the early cancellation fees as a

customer service gesture.

Review: A representative from Family Energy came to my house on Thursday evening around 6pm. Instead of knocking on our downstairs door and waiting for a response he let himself into our private stairway and began knocking on our inside door. When we answered the door he did not even introduce himself or the company he went straight into needing our account number for National Grid so he could transfer our provider and save us money on the surcharge. He was asked multiple times what "surcharge" we would be saving money on and how exactly we would be saving the money. He said we would be charged at lower rates through their company but when we asked repeatdly what those "lower rates" were he ignored the question and kept pressuring us for our information. When we told him we did not have a bill on hand he immediately got on the phone with National Grid and handed it to us so we could retrieve his desired information. During this time he also tried to invite himself into our home multiple times as if to increase the pressure to give him what he wanted. We found his tactics to be rude, threatening, and extremely disrespectful. After we finally convinced him we were not interested in his offer he said he would be back again tomorrow to discuss it further.

True to his word he was back out our house today around 5:15pm. This time I was alone and I left like he was literally trying to intimidate me into switching to this company. I politely told him no thank you and he started with a sarcastic attitude and saying something along the lines of I hope you enjoying paying a higher surcharge on my monthly bill because I won't switch. At this time we were in front of my home and I did not respond to his rude behavior. I walked away and unlocked my door and left it slightly cracked behind me because I was only coming home to walk the dog on my lunch break; as I was walking up the stairs he grabbed the door and closed it loudly behind me. Given his previous behavior the day before and the brief encounter we just had I again feel like he was being aggressive and trying to strong arm me into changing providers.

I have dealt with other door to door sales people but his behavior and attitude were deplorable. It was as if he was trying to terrorize us in our own home. He could not answer any of our questions and failed to explain anything about what service we would be provided with if were to agree to switching. He was extremely pushy about us giving him our account number so he could start the process and seemed rather upset/annoyed when we did not agree to do it.Desired Settlement: Given that your sales representative was extremely aggressive and made us feel uncomfortable in our own home I would like to be assured that we will have no further contact with your sales representatives. We are not interested in the services your company provides and we told that to this gentleman but he refused to take no as an answer and came back the next day to try again.

Business

Response:

Response:

Family Energy contacted [redacted] on April, 2014 to

discuss the details of the complaint.

Family Energy has added [redacted]’s address to our no solicitation list; the complaint

has been logged in our database and communicated to our sales force.

Review: Door to door salesman rang the doorbell around 2pm on March **. He identified himself as working with Family Energy and said that due to deregulation "in effect for the past five years" that I am paying an additional surcharge on my bill. He asked to see my latest electric bill. I told him that I do not have a hard copy. He replied that on page 2, there would be an indication that my supplier choice had "expired" and the date. I went in the house (locking the door behind me), pulled up a copy of my electronic bill and found no such thing. He told me that his company could save me money on my electric bill as rates generally fluctuate and that I could lock in an 8 cent per kilowatt-hour price for three years with a signed contract. "All I had to do was give him my information, sign the form, and he would contact the electric company ([redacted]). I told him that I do not sign ANYTHING without first doing research. I asked him if he had a brochure - he said, "No. I only have one copy. They are expensive to print." I asked if he had a business card. Again, he said, "No."

The only thing that he did have was a small case that held numbered contracts (in triplicate) all ready to fill out. I do give him credit, though, as he was wearing an ID badge and shirt with a company logo. His car was nowhere to be seen and he claimed that he was from the Rochester area. Sure - whatever.

I asked him for a website so that I could look up the company and their product(s) and told him that he could return tomorrow. Guess what, folks, I did type in the company website and found vague language with no details about how the program works. I also [redacted] "Family Energy" and came up with tons of complaints through the Revdex.com as well as other newsworthy articles such as: "Family Energy is the second energy sales company to come under scrutiny in the past two months from the Public Service Commission." If this guy comes back, he won't get any further than he did today. Glad that I am not gullible although I do feel sorry for the kid as he is only trying to earn a living.Desired Settlement: I would prefer that this company NOT solicit door to door. A waste of time for him and for me.

Business

Response:

Response:

We are unable to identify the specific sales agent referred to in the customer’s complaint, as a contract was not signed by the customer. Nonetheless, Family Energy has added [redacted]’s address to our no solicitation list; the complaint has been logged in our database and communicated to our sales force.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: An employee from this company ([redacted],###-###-####, Rep ID [redacted]) came to my home on 8-**-2014. He claimed that he was sent to check and make sure I wasn't doubled billed like other [redacted] and [redacted] customer's had been. I told him I wasn't. He said he still needed to check my accounts. And that he was going to switch me over to their company. (Noticed I said he didn't ask me, but told me). I thought maybe this was something [redacted] was sending around, so I showed m

him my online acct. No more was said from him about 'double billing'. He just started copying down my acct numbers. Before I know it, I'm being signed up!! After he left I called the company and cancelled. Then today, I get a knock at my door and it's another Family energy employee! This company is shady, sneaky, and misrepresents in their dialog with the potential customer!Desired Settlement: And be upfront and honest with the customer.

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Family

Energy has added [redacted] address to our no solicitation list; the complaint

has been logged in our database and communicated to our sales force. Family

Energy has cancelled the contract as per the customer’s request and sent Ms.

Pounds an email response on August **, 2014.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved. AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW THROUGH, AND TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE PROFESSIONAL, UNFRONT AND HONEST IN THEIR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE POTENTIAL CUSTOMER!!

Sincerely,

A representative of Family Energy appeared at my residence telling me that she needed to see copies of my energy bills to make sure that the information they contained was correct. She did not tell me that she was trying to solicit my business. I felt that I had no option but to do as she said. When she said that she would change the information that she found and save me money on my energy use, she made it seem like I had no choice in the matter. Finally, I got suspicious and attempted to call [redacted] to find out what the real situation was.

Review: A [redacted] female came to my private residence at 3:25 p.m. on 7/**/15,wearing a Family Energy navy Blue shirt and showed Family Energy identification that was worn around her neck . She falsely stated that I am a customer of Family Energy and that she needed to see both my electric and gas bills because their customer contracts were expiring and she wanted to make sure that if my contracts with their company had expired that she signed me back up again. When I told her that I was never a customer of her company and that I wanted her to leave she refused to do so. When I asked her to leave again,she started quoting some official sounding numbers and stated that she would have to put me down as a refusal.To be honest I felt threatened and could only imagine that if they are doing this to me that they are doing the same to the many elderly residents that live within this neighborhood ! The last time I checked strong arm business practices were illegal. I did contact the company to explain to them that I never want another representative of this company at my home again for any reason but ended up hanging up the phone out of frustration.Desired Settlement: I do not want any contact from this company or anyone contracted through this company for any reason ever again !!

Business

Response:

ID: [redacted]

Review: I am writing in regards to this company's predatory business tactics. I live near Syracuse and was visited by one of their salesmen [redacted] in January of this year. He made the service sound like it was a win win situation and we were under the impression that any difference in utility bill would be repaid at the end of each year of the contract we agreed to enter into. In October my wife decided to check and see if we had been saving any money at all, and as it turned out, we were being charged 37.00 more than [redacted] would have charged us had we stayed with them as an energy provider. This last period it was a 70.00 difference. Although we cancelled in October, they were still listed as our provider until now. We have called them and they said we would have to wait until the end of the three year period before we would be refunded anything, and that all we would get back would be 25.00. RIDICULOUS. I have reported them to the [redacted]. I want action. Thank you for your time.Desired Settlement: 75.00 for the difference (which will not cover all of it) between what they charged me and what I would have been charged from [redacted].

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Response:

[redacted]’s contract

number [redacted] has been

cancelled as per his request on October **, 2014. The customer’s local utility had set the

effective drop date for the natural gas and electricity program as December *,

2014.

[redacted]’s contract is not be eligible for the cash

back feature; In order to be eligible for the cash back feature, the customer

must complete the entire initial term of the agreement without interruption as

outlined in the customer’s contract and Terms and Conditions.

Family Energy has sent [redacted] an email

response on December 30, 2014.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

They rip people off with their slick fast talking salemen. I canceled my contract because we were LOSING money, and they expect you to stay with the program for a whole year and then only get 25.00 back even though you potentially can lose hundreds? This reeks of scam, and it's unfortunate that I got scammed, but I am a veteran and dserve better than that. So, no, I do NOT accept their explanation, I will only accept a refund of the difference that I mentioned in the original complaint ($75.00). Like I said before , they have been reported to NY State.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Response:

Family Energy accepts the additional information that [redacted] has provided.

On January **, 2014, [redacted] signed and confirmed contract number [redacted] with Family Energy for the supply of Natural Gas and Electricity.

[redacted]’s contract is not be eligible for the cash back feature; In order to be eligible for the cash back feature, the customer must complete the entire initial term of the agreement without interruption as outlined in the customer’s contract and Terms and Conditions.

[redacted]’s contract number [redacted] has been cancelled as per his request on October **, 2014.

Family Energy contacted the customer on January **, 2015 to explain the resolution.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

I will never accept a response from them.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Review: I want to cancel my service with them. Customer service keeps telling me about their great options but I keep demanding them to cancel and they will not do it.Desired Settlement: I want to cancel my service with them.

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Complaint Involves:

Customer Services IssuesCustomer’s Statement of the Problem:

I want to cancel my service with them. Customer service keeps telling me about their great options but I keep demanding them to cancel and they will not do it.

Desired Settlement: I want to cancel my service with them.

Response:

On August **, 2015, Family Energy cancelled contract number [redacted], as per the customer’s request, without any cost or penalty. Family Energy sent the customer a letter confirming cancellation via mail.

Review: The family energy salesman have been to my residence twice they are aggressive and uncompliant. You literally have to shut the door while they are still talking. They made me feel uncomfortable and woke me during a day off to try and scam me again. They do not clearly outlined what they are selling and they demand to see your utility bill over and over again like its their right to see it and hold it. I'm a 6'5" broker and if I feel uncomfortable with these people then I stress to think about how an elderly person or undereducated person would deal with their jargon. They are misleading and their sales practices are unethical.Desired Settlement: I think they need to clearly outline who they are and what they do. And ask for the bill and if the customer is comfortable with them taking a look. They need to be honest. This is a manipulative business and they need to be corrected.

Business

Response:

Review: Family energy came to my door a couple months ago, right around when many college students in my neighborhood started to move in. I had just moved into an apartment where it was the first time that the utility was in my name. The man who came told me he was with the energy supplier that works with RG&E (making me think that he was some type of official representative). He told me there was a problem with my bill, and that there was a charge on it (the merchant function charge) that would go away if I signed his contract and thus would save me money. Thinking that he was with the utility and this was a normal part of getting the utility setup in my name, he worked me into signing the contract, although it all seemed more sketchy to me as the transaction continued on. The first bill I received after signing didn't seem out of sorts, about the same as I'd been paying before. The second bill was significantly higher, so that's when I began to do an investigation as to why my bill was so high. That's when I found out that the contract I had signed a couple months prior was costing me far more than it was saving me. The man took advantage of my limited knowledge of paying for utilities, and led me to believe I was signing a contract that would simply make the merchant transaction charges go away, and thus save me money. He failed to tell me that my energy rate would be significantly higher than it currently was (it was 0.03913216 per kwh at the time and now it is 0.0997 per kwh). The way in which I was convinced to sign the contract constitutes fraud, and so I should be able to exit the contract with no penalties. I spoke to a man on the phone explaining my situation. He was very rude and did not seem to understand that the practices of his business are illegal and morally wrong.Desired Settlement: Cancellation of contract with no cancellation fees, since I believe this company scammed (committed fraud) against me.

Business

Response:

ID: [redacted]

Review: Some point in October 2015 (I don't remember the exact date) a person from this company showed up at my door. I repeatedly told them that I was not interested in whatever they were telling me. Finally, after about a half hour of this I let the guy see my electric bill so that he would leave me alone. Within minutes he had done all of this stuff and basically pressured me into signing this contract. By the time he left I had absolutely NO idea what had just happened. The November electric bill came and was almost TRIPLE what it normally is. Obviously, my wife freaks out. Come to find out their supply rates are astronomical. I did not even understand what had happened and now we have this bill we can't pay. TWO months of the bill because before we could get it settled and straightened out we had been billed for December as well. THEN...we get a notice in the mail from this company saying we owe them $80.00 for breaking the contract!!!!! After all of my investigation into the matter, the supplier is NOT even on the approves supplier list for my electric company!!!! This company seriously needs to re-evaluate how they do business and sales. Pushing people into a decision is WRONG. Not allowing people to say no 1 time is WRONG. I feel as though the harassment that I received from the company and the forcible manor in which they got my business should be enough to close them down. Especially after reading other similar complaints!Desired Settlement: I would like to have the $80.00 broken contract fee waived. I would also like a refund of the 2 months of supply charges using average supply rate for that time period and the area.

Business

Response:

On October **, 2015, [redacted] (spouse

of Account Holder) signed contract number [redacted] with Family Energy for the supply

of natural gas and electricity for a term of 3 years.

Review: Salesman came to the door, offered the product and switched our services to theirs without verbal consent or a signed agreement.Desired Settlement: This company is to never transfer services without contractual agreements

Business

Response:

ID: [redacted]

Review: A few weeks ago I was at home when I got a knock on my door I opened it and ther was a tall man standing ther claiming to be from con Edison I noticed a pin on him that said not from the utility when I called him out on it he started getting very rude and nasty and presided in calling me names and left and said take it deep I was very offended and do not think it was very professionalDesired Settlement: I do not want you guys around my area any more please leave us alone

Business

Response:

Daytime Phone: ###-###-####

E-mail: [redacted]

Complaint Involves:

Selling Practices

Customer’s Statement of the Problem:

A few weeks ago I was at home when I got a knock on my door I opened it and there was a tall man standing their claiming to be from con Edison I noticed a pin on him that said not from the utility when I called him out on it he started getting very rude and nasty and presided in calling me names and left and said take it deep I was very offended and do not think it was very professional

Desired Settlement:

I do not want you guys around my area any more please leave us alone

Response:

We are unable to identify the specific sales agent referred to in the customer’s complaint, as a contract was not signed and a specific visit date was not provided by the customer. Nonetheless, Family Energy has added [redacted] address to our no solicitation list; the complaint has been logged in our database and communicated to our sales force.

Review: This company keeps calling my house even though I have no business with them.Desired Settlement: I wish that this company would no longer call me and if I did have any business with them prior to cancel it.

Business

Response:

ID: [redacted]

Contract Number: n/a

Customer Information: [redacted]

Daytime Phone: ###-###-####

E-mail: [redacted]

Complaint Involves:

Advertising Issues

Customer’s Statement of the Problem:

This company keeps calling my house even though I have no business with them.

Desired Settlement:

I wish that this company would no longer call me and if I did have any business with them prior to cancel it.

Response:

Family Energy has placed the consumer’s telephone number on our internal Do Not Call list.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: Met over 5 extremely aggressive advertising agents. They treated me like an it and tried hard to tell me things I already knew. When asked to [redacted] off, they said they would continue to harass me until I comply with their requests. Already reported to local police.Desired Settlement: I need a formal apology and no further contact.

Business

Response:

ID: [redacted]

Review: I fell for there pitch when they said I was signing up for 1 year I just called its 3 and they have a fixed rate of .0859 but [redacted] has a rate of .0799 ii calculated the difference and family energy is charging me 15 dollars more a month which is not a saving they promised me an energy savings. they showed up at my door on 3 separate occasions and they were very pushy almost refusing to leave unless I signed up I finally did. so today I called to cancel once again rude and very pushy stating they will give me a rate closer to that of [redacted] and I wasn't going for it again she didn't want to cancel me so I asked for a supervisor and was told one was not available I argued 30 min after being on hold for 40 to speak to her to finally have it removed. make a long story short I was lied to and harassed at my door multiple times. promises of guaranteed energy savings was not the case a 1 year contract not the case it was 3 and a very hard time cancelling im very upset.Desired Settlement: if nyesgs rate is .0799% and theres is .0859% that is not the guaranteed savings I was promised it is an upcharge of my bill for 8 months now till I caught on noticing my bills were more this year than last they should refund the difference seeing as I was guaranteed a savings in there words.

Business

Response:

[redacted]

Response:

On August *, 2014, [redacted]r signed and confirmed contract number [redacted] with Family Energy for the supply of Electricity at a fixed rate of 8.59 cents per kWh for a term of 3 years.

Family Energy does not guarantee savings, as outlined in the customer’s contract and Terms and Conditions.

Family Energy cancelled the customer’s contract without penalty on March *, 2015 as per the customer’s request.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]

the people that harassed me at my door guaranteed savings

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

On August *, 2014, [redacted]r signed and confirmed contract number [redacted] with Family Energy for the supply of Electricity at a fixed rate of 8.59 cents per kWh for a term of 3 years.

Family Energy does not guarantee savings, as outlined in the customer’s contract and Terms and Conditions.

Family Energy cancelled the customer’s contract without penalty on March *, 2015 as per the customer’s request.

Family Energy sent the customer an email response on March **, 2015 with a copy of the contract and terms and conditions attached.