Verde Energy USA Inc.

This company has repeatedly called my home despite our requests and forceful instructions to them to remove our number from their call list. They show up on our caller ID as Whitehall PA with a phone # ###-###-####. Each time I have called them and said not to call here any more, they responded with "sorry for the inconvenience" but they have not stopped calling. What else can be done? We have registered with the "do not call list" several times.

Review: We have been using Verde Energy as our electric supply company for several years. We noticed that our electric bill seemed very high lately and began reviewing Verde's rates and comparing them to the "Basic Generation Service Fee" of JCP&L. When we signed up for our service, we were told that, although Verde's rate would be variable, it would remain competitive to the "Basic Generation Service Fee". For the past year, the "Basic Generation Service Fee" has remained around the .10 per KWH, with a low of .1013 in July of 2013 and a high of .1078 in November of 2013. Currently that rate was lowered to .0997. Over the past year, our rate with Verde has fluctuated from a low of .1064 in June of 2013 to a high of .1877 for March, April and May. We were told by a Verde representative that the increase was due to increased cost, however at the same time the "Basic Generation Service Fee" was continuing to go down. When we originally signed up, we were told to look at the "Basic Generation Service Fee" as a number to compare our rate. I think the rate increase in 2014 is unjustifiable. Additionally, we did not receive notice of the increase. In reviewing Verde's website, they list their current 6 month rate as .1099, yet we have been charged well over that rate for the past 6 months.Desired Settlement: Based on the Verde's current 6 month rate, we have requested a refund for the over charges for the past 6 months for a total of $420.10. Considering that the "Basic Generation Service Fee" has been between .1048 and .0997 during this time and Verde has been charging us between .1288 and .1877, I think this refund request is more than fair.

Business

Response:

We sent the customer the following email today

Mr[redacted]

Review: I was signed up online for this service and am ** years old and didn't clearly understand what is was signing up for.

When I saw I was being billed monthly I called to cancel and they said they would reimburse all the payments

I made.

I received only $3.95 toward the last payment and called and they said they only reimburse the last month.

The customer service rep said she'd e-mail this on to the billing department and got my phone

number. I never heard anything more.Desired Settlement: to be reimbursed for the monthly payments.

Business

Response:

Left vm with customer. Cannot find any account searching under provided name, phone, address or email. Waiting for customer to call me back at my direct office number.[redacted]

Review: My electric bill dramatically increased to 157.71 last month and I paid the bill in full. I just received another bill for 114.39 due by May 20, 2014. I signed with Verde Energy USA in May 2013 and did not have issues until recently. I do not want Verde Energy USA any longer (I want to go back to [redacted]). I contacted [redacted] earlier today and was told that Verde Energy was charging double the rate [redacted] was for the identical service.I need a resolution to this matter asap.Desired Settlement: I do not want to remain a Verde Energy USA customer any longer. I want a written statement from Verde Energy stating that I am no longer their customer and a refund reflected on my account by May 20, 2014, the due date for my bill.

Business

Response:

We sent the customer the following email

Ms. Johnson,

Review: This third party energy supply company switched my electric service based on a 2 minute telephone call to my home. I never received or signed a contract agreeing to their service or rates, which apparently are variable and limitless. For the first year or so, I did not even realize my service had switched because I continued to receive my electronic bill from [redacted] and make one payment to [redacted]. However, over the past few months, I recently inquired among friends and family about the amount of their utility bills because my bills had doubled and even tripled from previous months/years. I immediately realized my bills were, in fact, hundreds of dollars higher each month for usage to those I had asked. I called [redacted] to find out why and a customer service agent identified Verde's charges as third party supplier and immediately canceled the service. I just received copies of my complete billing history from [redacted] and calculated overcharges by this company from August 2013 through January 2015, which are over $2,500 MORE than what I would have been charged by [redacted]. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, fraudulent and highly deceptive!!!! Please let me know if there is anything you can do to help me.Desired Settlement: I am willing to compromise and settle for a $1,500 cash refund.

Business

Response:

Responded by email on 2/13/15:

Dear [redacted]

This email is in response to your dispute filed with the Revdex.com. In the summer of 2012, all [redacted]) customers were switched to Verde Energy USA. This happened because [redacted] sold their customer list to Verde Energy and we began to provide you with electricity instead of [redacted]. You were notified by U.S. Mail in a letter from [redacted] explaining the change.

Your official service start date was 8/30/12, and any electricity you used after that date was purchased for you by Verde Energy USA. You will see us listed as your provider starting with your bill dated around 10/1/12.

We have been informed by your utility company that your account will no longer utilize Verde Energy USA for the supply portion of your electric service. Your service was returned to your utility on 1/30/2015.

We have already processed a refund check for $80.94. We also lowered your rate to the .1149 rate for your final bill with us. We are processing another refund for your 10/30/2014-12/1/2014 billing cycle: $67.49.

You should receive that check in the mail within 10-15 business days.

Customer Support | Verde Energy USA

Review: I have been using Verde Energy as my provider for a few months. I noticed my electric bill higher than normal and found that Verde had increased the rate to 13.5 cents per kilowatt vs 9.5 cents my electric company normally charges. I called Verde to cancel the service, and discuss the ethics of luring customers with great rates that drastically go up after they sign up. A few weeks later I received my new bill in the mail, the highest bill I have ever received, I found that Verde is now charging me 18.13 cents a kilowatt, an outrageously high number that almost seems like a last ditch effort to squeeze whatever profit out of me they can before canceling my service. It feels like retaliation for canceling, I have used multiple providers over various properties that I own, and have never had one have a rate that is DOUBLE what the electric company would charge.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund for the Verde portion of the bill, and to make sure they actually canceled the service.

Business

Response:

This account was enrolled in a monthly variable rate offer which can change with market conditions. The account left service with Verde at the end of the last billing cycle which was on 2/14/14. Verde does not have any cancellation fees of any type.

As a goodwill gesture we will issue a billing refund check of $65.86 which takes the last bill (862 KWH of usage) down to a rate of $0.1049/KWH.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]1

I am rejecting this response because:

Review: Dear Sir/Madam,Here is the rate list of my recent bill from VERDE ENERGY USA(via PECO delivery). 12/17/2013 $0.1099/KWH, 01/21/2014 $0.1149/KWH, 02/19/2014 $0.1499/KWH. They increased 36% in two months without any notice or my agreement.Desired Settlement: Refund the extra charge for the last two months. which is $3.68 for January and $32.68 for February. The total is $36.36.

Business

Response:

As a goodwill gesture we will issue the customer a billing refund check of $36.36 as they requested. The customer was on a variable rate offer which fluctuates with market conditions.

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.

Sincerely,

Jianping Kong

Review: I switched over to verde electric because I was told that my electric supply charges would be cheaper then [redacted] electric. This winter my bills were skyrocketing. I called verde about this no resolution. I called [redacted] electric and they informed my that I was on a variable rate with verde and that verde rates were almost double that of [redacted] electric. I called back verde and confronted them with this issue and I was told I should have received a letter informing me that I was switched to a variable rate, but that the letters were never mailed out. I never agreed to be on a variable rate for electric charges and I want my bill adjusted to lowest rate for the entire time I was on variable rate not just one month. This is unfair and unethical business practices.Desired Settlement: I want my bill adjusted for the entire time I was on this variable to lowest energy charges at time and my money refunded.

Business

Response:

We sent the customer the following email today:

[redacted],

Review: Verde has sent a partial refund for overcharging in the months of February, March and April after my initial complaint to the Revdex.com. I am filing another complaint because I believe Verde still owes us more of a refund. The following was sent to Verde in response to the partial refund. Dear [redacted].,I received the checks. I realize that we were on a variable rate plan but when I signed up it was with the understanding that we were supposed to save money over [redacted]'s rate. In looking back over the last year I haven't been saving over [redacted]. In February, March and April Verde's rate was almost double [redacted]'s rate. I do not think requesting the difference for those three months is asking too much. I talked to [redacted] and got their rate for each of the three months. Attached is a word document with the breakdown. [redacted] seems to think you owe us money also since they offered to suspend these charges to give us a chance to recover this money. Bottom line is Verde grossly overcharged us $383.43. Verde has given us two checks totaling $233.34. That leaves $150.09 that Verde still needs to return to us. I spoke with [redacted]. in customer service today but she said all she could do was send my request on. Just want to make sure we are heard. The public Utilities commission has told us that they are monitoring this type of overcharging. Looking forward to having the rest of my money returned to me.Sincerely,[redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like Verde to send an additional check for $150.09. As I stated to Verde's representative Verde solicited our business by stating that we would save over [redacted]. I don't believe that asking them to at least match for those three months is unreasonable. Especially since going back they have been consistently higher than [redacted] for about a year. This is false advertising.

Business

Response:

We sent the customer the following email today

[redacted],

I believe we have been more than fair

in providing you with over $230 of billing adjustment checks which you

have cashed. For reference I have attached the cover letter and TOS

for your enrollment which clearly states that your rate can fluctuate

with market conditions (your copy had your initial rate of $0.0854/KWH

on your actual TOS). We are not able to make any more adjustments at

this point.

Regards,

Review: On March 5, 2013 Verde Energy enrolled me in their service as our energy supplier even though I never enrolled with this company. Since then, we have noticed that our electric bills have more than doubled. They are charging twice the rate of [redacted] is charging about 9 cents per KWH and Verde is charging more than 18 cents. I called Verde and they admitted that I did not directly enroll with their company, but they claim they sent me information to opt out of their service. They have me in a variable plan and I have to wait up to two months to get out of their service. How can they get away with enrolling me against my will or knowledge and then charging me double the going rate for electric? We were not sure why our electric bill was going up. When we called [redacted], they said it was because we have Verde as our supplier.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of the difference between the [redacted] supply rate and the Verde rate for all of the months that they have charged me for their service. I did not enroll in Verde Energy and I do not want them as my supplier. I also believe they should be investigated and fined for their unethical business practices. They advertise as a low cost power provider and they are anything but. I see based on this site, that many customers have complained about their practices.

Business

Response:

We sent the following email to the customer

Hi [redacted]

Review: Verde Energy purchased an Energy company and /or supplier that I had contracted with[redacted]). After doing so they changed my billing from a fixed program to a variable program and doubled my rates from .087 to .159 per KWH. I have made several attempts via phone, email, etc to contact them. - Their billing dept doesn't take calls, and if they respond via email you can not communicate back to ask or request further information. - The "customer service" people don't have any information, can't give phone numbers, names, escalation opportunities, etc. to help resolve issues. - They owe me a minimum $2100.00 in refunds due to these issues and they will not respond. - I have talked to two Customer Service supervisors - Lisa and Nicky for help and "the best they can do is" tell me that a [redacted]rom billing will be in touch??? Which of course doesn't happen. - The has been going on for weeks now, from the end of April and no one seems to want to help in anyway.Desired Settlement: I have documented over charges of over $4084.44 from 5/24/13 to 4/23/14 and I would like them fully refunded at a minimum.

Business

Response:

We sent the following email to the customer today

Mr. Mcelaney,

Review: Verde Energy after already slowly increasing their rate above competitive rates jumped from 11.4 cents in January to 14.9 cents in February and then to 15.9 in March and April. When we went with them two years ago they assured us that they would be competitive. I think this is a crime. Cable and cell phone companies have to inform you of rate increases why not Verde Energy?Desired Settlement: I have requested Verde immediately lower my rate to a competitive rate and recalculate the last three months at that rate and reimburse us for the overage. That was a week ago and I have not heard from them.

Business

Response:

We sent the customer the following email:

Mr. Hegman,

Review: 6 months ago I received a phone call from Verde Energy Usa .[redacted] told them to call me that I would benefit from them my rate would be .06 fixed rate so I agreed thought it was safe. Then every month after that my bill kept getting higher so I called said it was because I used more than usual that month. Stated out first couple months was 6.9% then Feb. was 10.9% then march was 11.9% then April was 15.9%. I kept calling to cancel said rates were good I would get credit never got credit never canceled just kept billing me my bills were running 180 or more a month never had a bill higher than 112 before this.. I can't afford to pay my electric bill it is out of control. I finally got them to cancel it in April never told the electric comp till 20th of April billed me another 98.50.I feel they owe me for the last 6 months due to false advertisement..

Said would request a refund for me through billing department would here in 5 days my email,have never got a email from anyone yet.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund from Verde Energy for the last 6 months of service.

Business

Response:

Replied directly to customer via email dated 4/28/15:Dear [redacted],

Review: I switched to Verde 2 years ago. They gave a fixed rate lower than [redacted]. They they converted me to a variable rate without telling me. They said the promotion was only 6 months. So Ok I asked to swith to a fixed rate. They did that. They did not tell me it was only for 6 months. Now I see thay they have had me on a variable rate for 5 months. This has cost on average $50 more than [redacted] rates. Now they say that they have no obligation of informing anyone in ** of rate increases. It takes at least 2 months to change providers. This practice is bait and switch.Desired Settlement: Adjust my last 5 months and next 2 months bills to the flat rate.

Business

Response:

replied via email 2/19/15:Dear [redacted],

Review: I never signed up for VERDE EVER and they are on my bill collecting more money then my Power company which is [redacted]. Im in Jeopardy of losing my power to my home all because VERDE is taking the money I mail to [redacted] I Never ever heard of Verde.Desired Settlement: I would like all the money I paid them to go to [redacted] and I want them off my Bill forever. I never hired them or agreed to have them never heard of them and as we speak im consulting an attorney because there practices are highly illegal.

Business

Response:

The customer also contacted the [redacted]. We have provided the [redacted] with a verification of her enrollment. The account was in service with Verde from 5/9/14 to 10/8/14

Obviously, the kw rate charges fluctuated throughout our service period. Customer service cannot explain why we never got notices about that now or when we signed up for this service. Their own Terms of Conditions starts with #1. Price: Effective rate will not be higher than the comparable rate from your local utility.
What actually happens, If you don't call to lock in the fixed rate, you go immediately to an outrageous rate. No one ever informed us about having to call nor do they send notification by mail. My 86 year old mother went from .1049 to as high as .1877 per kw hour without any warning. I called Customer Service, not only can they not handle billing issues, they cannot transfer you to Billing or even give you a number to call. You have to wait for Billing to call you back when they get around to it. This is advertised as a "Low Cost Power" service, they even use that as their web site address. This is no more than a typical bait and switch scam

this company is charging double then when you call them they lower your rate. who has time for this? I will stick with my previous company [redacted] at least I know that my rate will be the same and I will not being getting over $200 electric bills...........

Review: This complaint is being filed by me on behalf of my 87 year old mother who has dementia. Her electricity supplier was switched in Feb. of 2013 without her permission or knowledge. A phone call to Verde Energy revealed that they called her on 12 Feb 2013 and received her permission to switch her supplier. My mother, [redacted] who lives alone in [redacted], has an unlisted phone number and is on the Federal No Call List. She does not understand the concept of electricity generation, distribution,etc. and does not have access to the information that Verde claims she gave them such as "customer name key" and "account number", which appear on her bill.I do all of her bills and keep her records. She never sees them. In the last 6 months her bills have been increasing from $282 to over $700 per month which prompted me to call CL&P. They pointed out that Verde Energy keeps increasing their rates which alerted me that my mother had been "slammed" Phone calls to Verde Customer Service are referred to "Corporate" saying that they will call in 3-4 days. They never call.Desired Settlement: I am hoping for a complete refund from Verde for unethical, and I beleive, illegal practices. I am hoping that they will be investigated and prosecuted if wrong doing can be proved.

Business

Response:

Our customer support staff has dealt with [redacted] Tomlin in regards to this account. We provided the enrollment verification for the account, issued a $108.45 billing adjustment refund check, and dropped the account per the customer's request. After additional correspondence we offered to provide another $100 billing adjustment check but have not heard from [redacted] is this is acceptable to resolve the inquiry. This offer remains open

Consumer

Response:

Review: 10066545

I am rejecting this response because: Verde Energy should have never called my mother to solicit business as she is on the Federal No Call List. I know this because I put her phone number on the list. I listened to the "Robo Call" that was made to her phone. My mom is 87 years old and has dementia and has no idea of what was happening nor does she even remember receiving the call. This is the reason I put her UNLISTED phone number on the no call list; to prevent these predators from taking advantage of her. Obviously, Verde Energy thinks they can make this go away by attempting to pacify us with a small refund. If they had no guilt they never would have made this offer. I expect a full refund from Verde Energy going back to March of 2013. If this does not happen I will take legal action with the Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection for Verde's ignoring the "No Call Law" and I will report this to the local TV troubleshooters to expose Verde's illegal & unethecal practices.

Sincerely,

Robert Tomlin

Business

Response:

On May 27 we provided Jeff Tomlin with a copy of the enrollment verification and also issued a $108.45 billing adjustment check on 5/21/14. All phone leads are scrubbed every 30 days against the Federal DNC registry so if the phone number in question was on the DNC list at that time it should have been blocked unless there was some type of processing issue. The customer should be in receipt of our check at this time and we think this was a reasonable resolution.

Review: I have been noticing that Verde Energy is charging me 225.90 on my electric bill. I have not heard of this company nor have I signed up with them.

I have contacted them as well as my boyfriend to dispute this matter and they just keep giving us a run around and I feel that if we didn't sign up for something then we shouldnt be charged like they are doing to us.Desired Settlement: I would like to have this 225.90 taken off of our Electric Bill, for the fact that I didn't sign up with this company. Also they stated that my boyfriend [redacted] Walford susposely called them to sign up which he did not do. This would be a good settlement if they would take this money off of our electric bill.

Business

Response:

Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2013/07/01) */

The [redacted] account was enrolled by the customer on 4/29/12 at 2:40PM and they provided an email address of [redacted]@yahoo.com. The customer also completed a recorded enrollment verification which can be provided via email if they would like. The customer received Verde's electric supply rate of $0.0750/KWH from 5/24/12 to 2/22/13 which replaced the normal supply rate charged by their local utility Penelec.

Review: In March, we received a resolution through a conplaint filed that we were to receive a refund check within 15 days for $592.82. We received the letter in writing from Verde Energy.

As of Today, 6/4/2015 - nothing has been received or done about their resolution that was posted on the Revdex.com.Desired Settlement: Refund and results. This company has a reputation for not completing agreements made and noted on Revdex.com

Business

Response:

Customer contacted Verde via email and was dealt with directly on June 4, 2015:(Thu, 4 Jun at 9:36 AM)