“ Signed up with them - rates increased from what I was paying utility.....called to cancel and got big run around.......had to call three times to get it done...NEVER AGAIN ! ! ”
“ I had to go to another provider (there are many other better options)since Spark has unreasonable surcharges for new customers. All I was doing was changing the name on the account. I lived in the house for 3 years, but still had to set it up as a new service under my name so they wanted to slap on the $8.99 monthly service fee if I don't use 1000kwh per month. Then when I tried to get their customer service to help change the cancellation request my wife sent in, I was told to 'hope' that the electricity is not turned off because the request takes 3 days to process. They didn't really even try to help, they just told me that things coundn't be done. This is what happens when a company is making too much money to care. ”
“ We originally had a contract with the infamous Abacus. Abacus was so badly managed that they thankfully folded, selling our contract to Spark.Spark IS better than Abacus, I'll give it that. However, we're obviously being overcharged - 10.1c/kwh isn't terrible, until our 630sqft apartment somehow started using up over 900kwh per month - implying an average power draw of over a kilowatt! Including while we're sleeping, and AT WORK. Of course, conveniently for Spark, this sudden spike in energy usage began exactly when they started billing us.Now we're trying to switch providers, and they're being very reluctant about giving up our deposit. My wife paid the deposit originally to Abacus almost two years ago, and Spark acknowledges that it was transferred to them with our contract. However, they have no record of it - WE HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT WE PAID A DEPOSIT BEFORE THEY WILL RETURN IT. Maybe they should hire an accountant to keep track of that. Or maybe buy a copy of Excel. ”
“ My account with Spark Energy was set up wrong from the beginning. Throughout the 4 weeks it took to get it straight, I received a bill showing a past due amount and a late fee that I disputed. Before I could get the corrected bill, I started getting harrassing phone calls both on my home phone and on my cell phone - 8 to 10 per day - regarding the past due amount. Explaining the circumstances of the account to the callers did no good. Even with the account paid in full, I still received hourly phone calls for two days after the payment was made. I have two other Spark accounts that I will now cancel. This was the worst experience I have had in years with an electrical provider. ”
“ Wow how quickly we forget. Well I was one of the Spark Energy good customers a couple a years ago that was dropped and assigned to the Provider of Last Resort without notice when they went "bankrupt" just in the Houston market. Now that the rates are low they are back but what happens when the rates go back up will they drop their customers again? ”
“ They signed my dad up to their service without content of any kind! Apparently, a letter was sent by ComED to opt out but no letter was received. How is this even legal??? ”
“
Entering into a transaction with Spark Energy Gas and Electricity is akin to willingly stepping into a trap. My experience with this business is nothing short of a nightmare, marred by deceitful practices, exorbitant charges, and a complete lack of ethics. Spark Energy Gas and Electricity displayed a faade of professionalism and trustworthiness. However, this veneer quickly dissolved. The initial quote provided was deceptively low, designed to lure unsuspecting clients into their grasp. I was subjected to a barrage of inflated charges, conveniently omitted from the initial agreement.
Spark Energy Gas and Electricity operated with the sole intention of exploiting their clients for financial gain. Attempts to dispute these unjust charges were met with hostility and evasion, further highlighting their lack of integrity. It is apparent that Spark Energy Gas and Electricity prioritized profit over client satisfaction, neglecting their fiduciary duty with reckless abandon.
In addition to their deceptive practices, Spark Energy Gas and Electricity exhibited a blatant disregard for ethical boundaries, demonstrating a callous indifference towards the well-being of their clients. Their business model is predicated on preying upon the vulnerable and unsuspecting, profiting at the expense of those who place their trust in them.
In conclusion, I caution anyone considering engaging with Spark Energy Gas and Electricity to proceed with extreme caution. Their unscrupulous practices and exploitative behavior render them unworthy of trust or patronage.
It is my fervent hope that this review serves as a warning to others, preventing them from falling victim to the deceitful machinations of Spark Energy Gas and Electricity. ”
“ This is a scam company that is connected with several other companies. Major Energy, Verde Energy, etc.. look on Better Business Bureau. They will tell you they have great deals but will not accept you as a new customer if you once enrolled in service under a different name and then place you on a variable rate charging you $100s more and then trying to make you pay $1,500 to get out of a variable rate contract. ”
“ I was had one of the Spark (as I call them now) crooks come to my door and deseave me by telling me my bill would be cheaper because I was being overcharged as a house instead of a condo and every since I have been being ripped off. I canceled this deceptive charge with Spark energy three months ago. I was told last month it would not be on my bill anymore after last month because it takes two billing cycles to come of. I WANT THIS OFF MY BILL NOW! I want a complaint filed against the man who came to my door and lied to me. I have been lied to and I want my money back. This is ridiculous. ”
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Spark Energy is absolutely the worst company I have encountered. I was better off staying with Nicor Gas and paying the rate that they had instead of signing up with Spark Energy. I signed up with Spark Energy on April 2023 for a 6-month plan at .54 cents per therm. However, I received a call from Spark Energy asking if I wanted to renew my contract. At this point, I said no because Nicor had a lower rate of .37 cents per therm. The man on the other end of the line said, "Oh no worries, our rate is at .38 cents per therm, and it would be locked for another six months". I said, "Oh, okay then, let's go ahead and renew it." I left it like that and did not cancel. I was under the impression that I was all set. However, when I received my December bill, I realized my bill was very high. Higher than any other year in winter.
I started to analyze the bill. That's when I realized that Spark Energy doesn't break down its fees or charges. They only list a commodity charge with no rates. I've had other energy companies, and all have listed their fees and rates.
At this point, I could not see what fee Spark Energy charged me. I compared my December bill from 2022, and I used more energy that month at .67 cents per therm, and my bill was nowhere close to my December bill with Spark Energy.
I called Spark Energy to ask them what was happening and discovered that Spark Energy never renewed my contract at .38 cents per therm. Because it wasn't renewed, according to them, it fell into a variable rate at 1.34 per therm!!
When I heard this, I asked to speak to a supervisor, and that was no help because there was no record of my call back in October. I checked my phone to see if I had their phone number (877-547-7275) registered in my calls, and I couldn't find anything. Without that proof, I couldn't prove that I spoke to someone. I asked the supervisor if there were another phone number they would use, and the supervisor said no. I went through all my cell phone statements to look for the phone number with no luck.
I was so angry with them because the variable rate was ridiculously high. Higher than Nicor's rate!!
Spark Energy was charging me three times more than Nicor's rate!!!
The whole point of receiving these services is to get a better or similar rate than what Nicor Gas has to help save you money.
The supervisor asked me if I wanted to renew my contract and told me it would take 1 to 2 billing cycles before the .38 cent rate would take effect. I was furious, so I told them I wanted to cancel with Spark Energy and no longer wanted to deal with them. They also said it would take 1 to 2 billing cycles even if I canceled.
This feels like a trap or scam!!
A few days later, someone from Spark Energy called me and asked me if I wanted to renew my contract with Spark Energy. I looked at the phone number, and it was 773 phone number. I asked her why she called me from a local number instead of the 877 number. She couldn't answer my question and was thrown off by my question. I explained to her what had happened. She said if I had to discuss anything with them, I had to call the 877 number.
This made me even more upset because the person who called me from Spark Energy back in October was probably from some random 773 phone number, which is why I couldn't find it in my previous calls.
I went back to look at the contract, and nowhere does it specify that it will fall into a variable rate if you do not renew your contract. It does state it for a variable plan however, it doesn't state that for a fixed rate. It has no warning that once your fixed rate contract is over and you do not renew it, it will fall into a variable rate. It states that if you choose a fixed-price plan, it will automatically renew into a new fixed price upon completion of the initial term, not a variable rate.
I have copied and pasted the paragraph I am referring to in the contract of Contract Renewals here:
Contract Renewal:
If you choose a fixed price plan, then this Agreement will automatically renew to a new fixed price and term upon completion of the initial term, and the price may be higher or lower than the natural gas utility's rate during any given term. If you choose a variable rate plan, then this Agreement will continue on a month-to-month basis until either you or Spark Energy cancel this Agreement.
In two months, I have paid over $1000 for gas!!! Beware of this company!! ”
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Wait to the highest months to triple your bill and tell you it takes 2 months to switch over or sign a new contract. Locking you it at even a high rate.
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! ”
“ I have been a Spark energy client since they opened their doors with multiple home until last month! My contract ended and I recieved no notification from a spark Representative! My electric bill more than tripled in one month! They are unscrupulous! Now they want to rape me for another 530.00 for what they say is 14 days of service before my switch over went active! ”
“
the title says it all. customer for 13 years and paid average 30 cent per
when I called customer service they said yes you are not on a competitive plan and said they had no idea how to help me. average summer bill was 500 for a 2000 sq ft home with new ac unit on 78. total rip off and audacious. companies like this are the reason deregulation should not be choice. 13 years of overpaying by 90% for electric ”
“ Spake energy have been taking money from my account without my knowledge. Requested to cancel the service and still sending bills for close to $500 every Month. Will see them in court. ”
“ Just terrible. Installed my meter on September 16th (today is October 2nd) and still not connected to my account. After 6 calls and 4 hours of lies and buck passing, it's still not connected and the tariff they have provided comes out at TWICE the cost of other companies. Website wont allow me to register and gives an "oops, something went wrong" on which ever day I try. This is truly a criminal scam and fortunately I have recorded ALL of my calls and their lies. Finally, I asked to be switched to a billing account and was told the 'collections' department would be in touch"...surprise..nothing. They never call back and always need chasing and it only ever results in empty promises. The worst energy company ever.!!! Im on hold again as we speak. I wouldn't even give them 1 Star if there was an option! ”
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Chaos.
Seriously advise against.
12/14 & 17 mins waiting to speak to somebody.
A case of L hand never knowing what the R hand is doing. ”
“ Good rates for a few years,now after checking WOW time to launch them!! ”
“ This people lie sign with them and ur bills will be higher then ever.They claim to lower ur bill but its a lie u pay double of what u where paying ”
“ My 80 year old Mother either did not reply to a renewal notice or did not receive one. The fixed rate expired 03/07/19. Spark Energy raised her fixed rate from 9 cents a kwh to 18 cents a kwh. Now that the weather is hot we realized the doubling of her supply rate. I can see that their fiduciary is to themselves and that their ethics are in the gutter. Un Justified Rip Off ”
“
Tried to pay a friends late bills because he has been in out of the hospital for the last several months. He was late on multiple bills. I was willing to pay all late fees and the reconnect fee. But they had done a "move out" on him and would not allow me to pay the back bills to get his electricity turned back on. He is currently in the hospital and they will not release him without having electricity due to his condition. The collection rep was professional and apologetic but refused to escalate to a manager to see if we could get it resolved.
Their motto "Empower What Matters" must be talking about their rules, not their corporate or community values. ”
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