Hiko Energy

Revdex.com:
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:

1) I enrolled on 12/[redacted]/2013. In response to Revdex.com, HIKO is providing wrong enrollment period as October 2013.
2) Company sent me mail saying that they can only refund $56.76 and that is not acceptable to me. I want total difference of $89.51 as refund. They should charge as per contract (1-7% less guaranteed for first six months). It does not matter if their cost is increased. I should get what is in contract. I had enrolled only because rates were guaranteed to be less for first 6 months.
3) Hiko is making rate reduction only for final bill and not for next bill? That means, they intend to charge higher rates in next bill even after raising concern over such rates? 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

As customer stated, HIKO did attempt to contact the customer. Customer has not returned our calls. Customer may call HIKO Customer Service hotline during regular business hours and a rep will assist in resolving her dispute. HIKO would be glad to review details of the customers usage and charges with the customer directly to determine if usage amount is correct and reflects actual and not estimated usage charges or if any other issues exist. Customer did receive discount as provided in her contract.

The  business has responded.  Please see below:
In regards to the complaint filed by [redacted], please see our position below.
HIKO customer service representatives have recently made several attempts to contact this customer in regards to...

receiving an errant billing. The customer's account is currently canceled, and voice mail messages were left explaining to the customer they are not responsible for any current or past due supply charges. 
Please feel free to contact HIKO customer service for any questions or concerns at ###-###-####.

On 01/**/2013 Hiko Energy mailed out check #[redacted] for $85.95.
On 02/**/2014 mailed out check# [redacted] for $93.78, Hiko Energy voided check# [redacted]because the customer stated he never received it. A new check # [redacted] for $93.78 was issued and sent 03/**/2014.

Revdex.com:
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:

Please see attached email from the consumer.  She states that she never signed a contract.
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
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]
It may have been a variable rate but , in their words, " guaranteed to be 1-7% less than your local Utility price to compare for the first six monthly billing cycles." After the six month introductory rate plan , yo9u will be automatically rolled over into a competitive variable rate , which will be determined by HIKO energy"
Our billing was only in the 3 month so the variable rate should not be for another 3 billing cycles.  Therefore I reject their response. If you would like a copy of this letter I can fax it to you.
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
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 have spoken with someone at Hiko Energy about compensation and they would not help me in ANY WAY! All they said was that they would contact [redacted] to discontinue my service with them by sending a letter. But what about all those years that I was ripped off and mislead??? I feel some kind of refund should be given.
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
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,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
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. I am not really satisfied, however I think the partial refund given is the best I can hope for, and that is due to the Revdex.com's intervention. *
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Review: HIKO PROMISED ME MUCH LOWER RATES ON MY ELECTRICITY USAGE. INSTEAD THEY CHARGED ME DOUBLE AND TRIPLE [redacted]S RATE PER KILOWATT HOUR ALL THE TIME I USED THEM, FROM 11/**-5/[redacted]Desired Settlement: I WOULD LIKE HIKO TO REFUND THE DIFFERENCE TO ME BETWEEN WHAT THEY CHARGED ME AND WHAT [redacted] CHARGED. THIS EQUQLS APPROXIMATELY $150 DOLLARS.

Business

Response:

In regard to the complaint filed by [redacted], please see our position below.

This customer was enrolled with HIKO Energy on a variable rate plan. Although we only offer a variable rate, we have kept our rates lower than the utility’s supply rates for most of the year. Variable rates increase at any moment without notice because they are subject to market conditions, in that retail prices fall and rise due to supply and demand principles on a daily basis.

Periods of extreme weather, such as this unusually cold winter can cause substantial price fluctuations. As opposed to a fixed rate contract where the rate will remain the same for a set period of time. We feel that we have been compliant with the enrollment and at this point there is nothing further that we can offer this customer.

Business

Response:

In regard to the complaint filed by [redacted], please see our position below.

HIKO has investigated and resolved this customers complaint. The customer has agreed to a monetary settlement which was accepted as a final resolution to this complaint.

Review: I visited the website [redacted] to find out information regarding electric suppliers. Because we are a family on a tight budget, I obviously went with the lowest rate advertised. That rate was 7.59¢ per kWh advertised by HIKO Energy. I attempted to sign up for their services. I never received any type of response or confirmation that this had been done. Weeks went by and I heard nothing from this company. To the best of my knowledge, my sign up with them was not complete. That was not the case. I just received my electric bill. HIKO Energy was my provider and they charged me 23.9¢ per kWH! That is more than 3 times the amount they advertised. They charged me an outrageous amount without my knowledge or consent. Obviously they are guilty of false advertising. They stole from me! It is disgusting that they take advantage of consumers like this. We are active duty military stationed in ** and had never heard of this choosing your supplier nonsense. Obviously we wanted the absolute lowest rate since electric bills are literally half, down south.Desired Settlement: I want a full refund of all amounts charged by them and I want to terminate business with them immediately! $360.17 in addition to any amounts charged by them prior to resolution of this complaint.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by Hiko Energy LLC regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because: They acknowledge that their rates are incorrect on the energizect website. However, they have made no efforts to correct them. They are utilizing this inaccuracy to their advantage and thus creating a bait and switch scam.

HIKO allows customers to sign up for their program, but never notify the consumer as to what their actual rates are. Then they claim the bad winter forced the rates to go up. However, they completely fail to inform customers what they will be charged. How is that legal? Are they not under a legal obligation to inform customers of the rates they will be charged?

I never received any communication from HIKO, whatsoever. They never told me that they were going to charge me .21 per kwh. If they had fulfilled this obligation, I would obviously never have signed up with them. I did not agree to paying .21 per kwh. They charged me this rate without my knowledge or consent.

Is HIKO just hoping that consumers will never speak up and complain about the rates and just pay them? Totally unaccpetable! Once again, they charged me this rate without my knowledge or consent. I am completely unsatisfied with their response and demand that I be refunded my money or be given a full credit for the amount they illegally charged me.

?Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We received the rebuttal from this customer. We had explain that the website energizect.com is not own or maintained by HIKO. The Disclaimer clearly states may not represent a complete and/or accurate listing of all offers in the Connecticut marketplace. As with any contract, you should call individual suppliers to confirm offers, terms, and conditions before enrolling. The customer voluntarily choose to enroll the account disregarding the disclaimer.

Unfortunately, a variable rate which fluctuates daily based on the movement of the wholesale energy market. The rate can increase at any moment without notice. We feel that we have been compliant and at this point there is nothing further that we can offer this customer.

Business

Response:

The customer voluntarily choose to enroll the account disregarding the disclaimer.

Unfortunately, a variable rate fluctuates daily based on the movement of the wholesale energy market. The rate can increase at any moment without notice. We feel that we have been compliant and at this point there is nothing further that we can offer this customer.

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:

Based on the content of their response, they are saying that they can charge customers whatever they want. Additionally, they are saying that they don't even have to let the customers know what they are being charged. That is absurd.

I am not satisfied with their response. They failed to inform me of what the rate was. They charged an astronomically high rate without my knowledge or consent. I want my money back now!

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

Sincerely,

<

Review: A HIKO energy representative knocked on my door as I was returning from work, gave me false information and pushed me with false rate quotes to sign up for HIKO service. My bill DOUBLED, rather than going down, and the only number that the company provides has an answering machine as the only response. I have no way to cancel my service!Desired Settlement: I would like to be reimbursed for the additional amount incurred due to HIKO's rates-- 29.9663 cents per kWh-- compared with ConEd's rates--15.5 cents per kWh. I would like my relationship with HIKO to be terminated immediately so I can return to ConEd for my energy supply.

Review: Oct 2013 , a sales representative came ringing my apartment door bell on a weekend, telling me they were from HIKO ENERGY. The rep said 'my current energy supplier PSEG is over charging me and that PSEG is using a third party out of state supplier hence the reason my billing charges are high'. In turn, I told the rep that I have never had any problems with PSEG.

The HIKO Energy rep goes on to say that 'HIKO will guarantee my monthly bill be lower than PSEG'. I was doubtful but he was very persistant. He even asked to see my PSEG bill to highlight to me where I am being overcharged. He said try out HIKO Energy for a few months to see the difference in how low the payments would be. Please note that, not one month was a lower charge. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and I know what my typical bill will be based on usuage between winter months and summer months.

In the end, because I was promised lower rates I decided to switch from PSEG to HIKO Energy. I began to get suspicious in the 1st billing because I know I was not consuming as much electricity the bill was displaying to result in total charges by HIKO. I began to look up previous billing statements from PSEG to see the pattern of my usuage.

I stayed with this HIKO energy from NOV 2013 -MARCH 2014 (too long). My last bill I received is over inflated as with all the other billing charges from HIKO.Desired Settlement: It would be nice to get a billing adjustment (credit the over charges back to my account) but if not, I will like people to know this company is deceitful and misrepresents themselves.

I work whole day and barely put the lights on at night other than the TV so I know what I am consuming by the month. In MARCH 2014, I finally said enough is enough and I called PSEG to be my supplier again.

Review: Hiko electric is now billing more than double [redacted] price. I called and cancelled the service and was hung up on after waiting 49 minutes to talk to a rep to give them the act# to cancel. I have know tried to email them again as well as call. The call was disconnected before they got the act # to cancel.My phone calls to the company are now being rejected. At least I got a reply from that email message although it was days later. They are saying that I can not stop there service until the end of the billing cycle as they need a meter reading. [redacted] is willing to give them a sooner meter read, but that does not seem to be good enough for Hiko to end the service. When I asked to speak with the [redacted] is when I was hung up on. I have worked for companies that not only match the price of a competitor, but give a 10% additional refund as well. The service was sold to as me being a discount price, but clearly is not when [redacted] is billing at 6.15 per KWH and Hiko is billing at 15 per KWH. I do not consider more that twice the price a savings and not being able to cancel the service the same day requested. Very poor customer service to not be able to get them on the phone for 3 days, then being hung up on denied cancellation the same day and no offer to match the competitor. Seems like Hiko could benefit from the competitors policies to be able to attempt to save customers.Desired Settlement: I would like a price adjustment on the previous bill/bills that were over [redacted] price as they were the prior provider I left to save on the monthly bill. I would like all previous and future bills compensated 8.85 credit to me per KHW. I do not wish to have their service as of Feb. **, 2014 and again to be credited a refund. I do not mind if the credit is put towards my [redacted] bill as the have been the one that manage the bill and I am returning to them as the supplier of the electricity.

Business

Response:

Our call volume has drastically increased recently, but to ensure that customers are able to reach us, we have doubled our Customer Service staff this week.

Regarding our offers and rates, HIKO does try to stay as competitive as possible. The rate that we offer is a variable rate. Unfortunately, because of the extreme weather and other determining factors, the cost of electricity and natural gas skyrocketed this winter. Because we only offer variable rates, our rates went up to reflect our cost.

Customers in the area are offered one free month of energy supply, after being with HIKO for 12 consecutive months. Customers that stay with HIKO for one year, also see a savings up to 7% over the course of one year. We will do a one-time courtesy rate adjustment and will be sending a refund check. The customer will receive an email of the details of the adjustment.

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]I received a message from the company today.... I will accept the offer, However the address the refund is being issued to listed in the email is not correct... Every thing is correct except I live in [redacted] not NJ. I believe sending a refund to the wrong state will not correct the problem in a timely fashion. This leads further frustration to customer service. Then indicated they doubled the customer service attendants yet I was only able to leave a message as no one was available to take my call. They certainly have no problem billing the correct address. Below is the email I received

[redacted]

[redacted]

[redacted]

[redacted]

[redacted]

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We responded to the customer's new concern the same day. details of the electronic email conversation below.

Review: Hiko Energy tripled their rate from 0.0967 to 0.2890 without notifying me. I received a PECO bill in which Hiko charges are $744.46 (for one month). I called Hiko numerous times, they don't answer calls, they say to leave a message which I did. They have not responded. I also emailed the company - no response. I feel this charge is extremely excessive.Desired Settlement: I would like the bill adjusted to the rate I have been paying, not the tripled amount.

Thank you

Business

Response:

Our call volume has drastically increased recently, but to ensure that customers are able to reach us, we have doubled our Customer Service staff this week.

The customer enrolled on a variable rate plan with savings up to 10% over the course of one year and one free month of energy supply after 12 months of services. The rate that we offer is a variable rate. Unfortunately, due to the big increase in the cost of the energy, our rate has gone up. Although we can't guarantee savings every month, it is always our intention to do so. On a variable rate there will be times we can be higher or equal to the utility company’s rate. The variable rate is determined by HIKO Energy, based on numerous key factors, including current market conditions and climate. The account started service 03/**/2013 and cancelled 03/**/2014. We reached out to customer by email with our final 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:

[Your Answer Here]

Hiko refuses to adjust the tripled rate. Not acceptable. I have filed complaints with the PUC and Attorney Generals office also. I also attempted to negotiate a reasonable offer of $300.

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

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

On March **, 2014 we had informed the customer about the free month of supply service and per his request we emailed the Terms and Conditions of the offer. He was informed that a bill copy must be mailed to us but if he faxed a copy we will be able to expedite the process. On March **, 2014 the customer requested a direct bill credit to be applied on his PECO Bill instead of the check refund. Unfortunately because PECO has total control over the billing process Hiko Energy cannot process this request. To this date we have not received the bill copy from the customer.

In order to come to a resolution we will process the free month supply offer without the bill copy. We will be sending $744.46 refund check and the customer should receive it between 1 to 3 weeks.

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: I am using HIKO Energy as my energy supplier. They have never answered the phone, even though I have called countless times, left a voice mail, and emailed them. My energy bill has been consistent (based on seasonality) for three years. This February, I received a statement that was $72 higher than it should've been based on my usage, and this was purely due to HIKO spiking their charges. I am unable to see anything itemized and they are not giving me any explanation about this.Desired Settlement: I believe I am owed $72 for overcharges.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted]regarding Hiko Energy LLC has been resolved.

(By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.)

Sincerely,

Review: The problem I have is threefold. It involves sales, billing and rates, and customer service.

On August [redacted]2013, sales representative A.B. #[redacted], came to our door, asked if we had an energy bill from PSE&G, and told us he needed to see it. It was assumed that he was with PSE&G so we got the bill for him. He took the bill, circled next to charges where it has a PoD ID, telling us PSE&G has been sending our energy from Texas and that we can have this corrected, switching our source to New Jersey. He proceeded to tell us that it would indeed save us a great deal of money, and that he had even seen some of my neighbors with bills in just the double digits overall! I was then told about the Guarantee Savings and Free Month Promotion, about how I would be guaranteed to save on my bill. Also at this point he revealed he was from Hiko, after I had already allowed him to view my bill. When we agreed to switch he got on the phone for a while, then he went on hold where he told me he would put me on speaker, telling me to just say yes to everything.

My rate on my February bill for electric jumped from .108 per kwh to .2990 per kwh without warning. For 3 out of the 4 months HIKO has been on my bill, I paid more than the PSE&G rate I was promised I would pay less than. For what PSE&G would have charged me $98.07, HIKO made me pay $264.32, and my electric usage remained constant from December to February. This is a breach in the promise HIKO made me. As per my TPS electric generation and natural gas supply agreement and authorization, HIKO states under the HIKO Energy Guaranteed Savings And Free Month Promotion, "HIKO will be 1-7% lower than than the utility's price for the first six months of service. AFTERWARDS, it will be rolled onto a competitive, monthly variable rate." This is part of a signed agreement I have with HIKO, and is repeated on the welcome letter signed by the Director of Operations. The letter also clarifies that the utility price mentioned in the statement is the comparable price stated in my utility bill. Furthermore, in a response to a complaint dated 11/**/2013 on the Revdex.com website, HIKO, stated "Regarding a refund, HIKO offers customers in the PSE&G area guaranteed savings. HIKO’s supply charges are lower than PSE&G’s price to compare." Again, this has turned out to not be true, I have been lied to, HIKO has not adhered to their agreement and statements.

Finally, I tried to get in touch with HIKO, beginning February [redacted]by phone, leaving messages each day. I sent an email on the [redacted], after a week of fruitless calling. I called up PSE&G after that to see if they could do anything, but all they could do was advise me to switch back, and because I thought HIKO would not contact me I cancelled my service with HIKO via PSE&G, wherein my electric will no longer be supplied by HIKO on 3/**/2014 and gas no longer supplied 4/**/2014. On Feb **, 9:50A.M. I received an email from HIKO telling me they would call me shortly. They finally called me March **, two weeks after initial attempt at contact, at a time I was with a client, so I asked them to call me at a better time. They called me the next day; I told ext #**I have some questions about my rate. She first told me she saw I had cancelled my service. Then, ext#**, told me I would be wasting my time!! pursuing this any further with them, and I need to call PSE&G to "expedite" the process so I don't have to pay HIKO rates for the two months HIKO still appears on my bill. When I called up PSE&G, they had no idea what she was talking about. As of now I have an unfairly priced bill for February and stuck with HIKO's jacked up rates for the next two billsDesired Settlement: First, I should be refunded what I was unfairly charged in February, the difference between the comparable price and what I was charged. Second, for the next two billing cycles, HIKO should charge me at the rates agreed to in the TPS agreement, stated in the HIKO Energy Guaranteed Savings promotion, which is also on the welcome letter,as in Not More than the Comparable Price. Third, no cancellation fees be charged to me. There are many HIKO customers who have similar complaints; HIKO should send a letter to their customers explaining why this happened, how it can be justified, and where inquiries on the situation can be made.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted]regarding Hiko Energy LLC has been resolved.

(By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.)

Sincerely,

Review: Hiko LLC rep informed me that signing up with them for Electric Billing would save me 50% on my electric bill when in fact there was an 150% increase in billing vs NYSEG billing rates , additional charges over 4 months are in excess of $350.00 including charges billed after cancelation on 9/**/2013Desired Settlement: Kiko LLC should refund overages charged by them

Business

Response:

Dear Mid -Hudson

Dispute Services,

We received a reminder

to respond to this complaint; however I already filed a resolution online on 10/**/2013. See enclosed.

Customer was sent a refund of $224.92 on 10/**/2013.

This customer's account has been cancelled without penalty.

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: Hiko Energy is a scammer, First the false advertising, they print that they will give between 1%-7% discount and that no true, in my first two they charge more than 200%, I use to paid around $85 for electrical provider now the first month it was $150 and the second month $240 and if I had stayed with my original provider then I would have had paid $170 only. I signed with a different provider, but this agent (HIKO) came two days later and told me that provider if didn't have to work in this area and I have to sign with them. It was a mistake and their supervisor had to fix that problem. I was calling customer service, first week no luck only answer machine, a week later, they changed their answer system and start anwering the calls, but still with no results, you cannot talk with billing department to fix those problems. they offer me only 1 time credit but the rate is variable, so they can charge you whatever they want (overcharge me). I talked with differents Representative but will fixed, they will call you back, will escalate the problem to the right department or supervisor but at the end no results. I still have to wait for other 3 more bills .Desired Settlement: They have to honor their promise and the papers I signed where it said 6 months of lower rates than the Basic Provider. Adjust my bills and give a credit.

Review: Hiko Energy sends representives out misleadining customer to believe they will be saving money on their energy cost which is false you pay double sometimes triple on your utilty bill. they state you will be charged a delivery fee but do not disclose you will pay just as much for delivery as you pay for the gas. They state your bill will be much lower SCAM and are ripping people off. my bill is outrageous. my gas bill alone is almost $900 a month I have been trying to cancel their services since January and kept getting a voicemail stating leave a message and someone will contact me within 24 hrs never received a call back finally spoke to someone today 04/**/2014 and nothing was resolved.Desired Settlement: whatever laws apply to them for false advertisment they be penalized to the fullest extent and business should be shut down

Business

Response:

The customer file this same complaint through NJ Board of Public Utilities and our response 04/**/2014 was the following :

NJ BPU Complaint #: [redacted].....Customer enrolled on a monthly variable rate in November 2013. Although she was on a variable rate, we kept our rates lower than the utility’s supply rates for most of the year. During the winter, however, the cost of energy skyrocketed, causing our rates to increase as well. As stated in our Terms and Conditions, our variable rate is based on the market, cost, supply and demand, and other determining factors.

A HIKO Energy customer service representative contacted this customer on April **, 2014 to discuss and explain the terms and conditions she agreed to. During the conversation she was informed that this account was already cancelled without penalties or fees and will be returning to [redacted] for the supply portion of their utilities on 04/**/14.

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]

Hiko failed to inform me that I would be getting billed by both their company and [redacted] and the representive did not contact me I finally spoke to a customer service representive after I don't know how may attempts to get a human person on the phone I constantly got a voicemail for this business and after speaking to their representive nothing was resolved and she couldn't explain why I was being charged by both companies . I had to contact [redacted] to have them cancel services with Hiko because I couldn't get a person on the phone. Again they are misleading and are ripping people off. Only an it would sign up to be billed by 2 different companies paying almost $800 a month for gas they tell you they will lower your Gas bill but fail to tell you. you will be charged a equal amount of money for delivery of the gas services. This company need to be investagted and charged with fraud.

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

Sincerely,