My Contact Energy gripe
February4
I pay my electricity bill by direct debit in order to get the prompt payment discount. For some totally unknown reason the payment didn’t go through on January 24. Instead of emailing me (and Contact has my email address, which it uses regularly for notification of statements), the company waited eight days before mailing me – and that letter arrived 11 days after the payment was due. In this day and age there is no excuse for not informing a client immediately by automated phone message, text or email instead of waiting until the customer loses their discount. I feel that the extra $30 or so I’ve been charged is a rip-off due solely to Contact’s poor customer service and lack of moving with the times.
Couldn’t agree more. I feel so strongly about the way communication is mishandled by these huge corporations, who have far too many excuses and are way too eager to take the money and run.
Word of mouth is very efficient and a great way to get our own back at these companies – so avoid these guys like the plague!
I agree and it’s why I switched to powershop a year ago. No more complex invoices, I can see exactly what I pay for my power per Kw/h. I even bought some special on the 6th which saved me more. Have a look they are great plenty of communication with the customer etc. I am biased because they are so good i am now selling the product ( just started)
I should add that my email to Contact wasn’t ignored. They’ve given me the discount. I’ve gone back to Contact and suggested they implement the system whereby clients are emailed or texted or both if their payments fail. That way people like me who always pay on time, will be alerted to sort out the payment.
We used to have to go through this BS with power companies as well, and like Pete we switched to Powershop and it seems good so far.