Direct Energy Reviews

I continue to be a loyal customer. Calling them out when I see rate go up, but never did I see a message of any kind warning me of the increase, or even informing me. It was like they tried to sneak it by, if I didn't notice, more for them. This back and forth goes on for a while, my rate going up each time but now I am comparing prices just to make sure they are fair market price. This brings us to about 18 months ago when I see Direct Energy offering free power nights and weekends I thought. I talked with sales person and they never corrected me at all. I am interested in the nights and weekend plan I tell them. Oh yes and away they go informing me of all the details but the fact that it is free nights OR weekends.

Every time saying free nights AND weekends when they spoke. Is there any questions about this plan? I remember so clearly. I thought to myself yeah let's go with this one, it sounds good, I can just adjust my usage like they suggested I do and I will save a lot. I then ask, "Did you tell me what is or if there is a cancellation fee?" I can never forget the answer I was told. They said, "There is NO cancellation fee if you move." I was in thought for a moment. I repeated what was told to me in my head. That doesn't answer my question so I just asked it differently. What is the cancellation fee. They replied with the same answer then went on talking about whatever. When I found a opening, I asked, "How much does it cost if I cancel and don't move?" That worked, I was told $200 this time.

It will not matter, this plan is for 18 months and it sounds perfect for me. I agree to the free nights AND weekends plan. They set me up with the free nights AND weekends plan, every everything worked out great. Hahahahaha I got my first bill and quickly figured out there is no nights AND weekends plan, it is one OR the other. Thankfully I was signed up with the free nights. I adjusted my schedule and my habits such as washing/drying laundry, washing dishes, and anything that used a lot of power. It was not easy at first, but I got used to it. It was a good plan.

My home would use, I will directly look at the numbers on my bill. According to my bill from Direct Energy, I used never under 1000kWh and sometimes up to 2400kWh, I don't disagree with these facts at all. I am looking at bill for 03/10/2023 right now, I see 1,164kWh for Nov/Dec bill, and 2,326kWh for Jan/Feb bill. These are facts. I feel like I did very well with this plan. My bill was up to over $600 on some months but I used most of that power on the free hours of the day. I could not get the bill very much below $200. To be clear for 18 months I felt like I was winning this rate struggle with Direct Energy. I had to adjust, but my bill was $200 give or take every month, even with some months being 2,400kWh the free hours were taken off the bill. This brings us about a week ago. I was not sure what day my plan ended but I knew it was soon or just passed?

On August 22, 2023 I call to see how much I owe them, pay them, see if I am early or late to pick a new plan, and pick a new plan. My first question is how much do I owe? I want to pay all of it, start fresh. The woman tells me $274.95. Almost $300 so I think that is a month and two weeks. I asked to pay everything up to this point, she told me this, I paid it. I then went into the plans, hoping to get the same plan again. I could get the same plan again but my rate would go from .221248/kWh with free power from 9pm to 9am to the new rate for that plan for me, the 4 years of loyalty rate of .272159/kWh with free power from 9 to 9. Here I go again giving the benefit of the doubt, things go up.

I agree and everything goes smooth I think till today. It is August 30th now, I started this on the 29th. Before my long day at work I called to speak with Direct Energy about a bill I got that I thought was a welcome letter to my new plan I picked just 7 days before, but no, it was a bill for$399,46? After speaking to them I didn't feel any better about it.

They billed me invoice date of 08/23/2023 for 7/24/2023 to 08/22/2023 at my new rate as they explained to me because that time period was not in contract and would be even higher if they didn't. So basically I got a bill for 7 days for $400. I accept this new information, but I am not happy. I feel like I was lied to and I did so well with the plan they wanted their money back. I tried to see what other plans were open to me in this first call and the ONLY other one was average billing. I am sorry but this is not the end. I call again, explained what was going on and they told me to hold and they would see what was an option for me. 5 or so minutes they return with average billing. I tell them, "No thank you."

"Then ask to be clear, you said the average bill for the last 12 months would be my rate, is that the amount I paid (my bill) like I was told, or do you mean the average amount of power I used in the last 12 months?" You guessed it like I did, it would be based on the average amount of power I used in the last 12 months. This is why I am writing the review. The wording when talking to Direct Energy employees is worded to mislead you. This is a fact. How much was the cancellation fee? There is NO cancellation fee, wrong that is only if you move. Night and weekends, wrong it is night or weekends. These are only the ones I have for you. I am sure they tricked me so many times with the clever wording. I will finish this soon. But I want you to know whoever makes it this far, they don't care, and why would they? It is a company that will mislead you, fact.

They will do all they can to get as much as possible out of you. Back to the end of this. In my second call to them I explain the situation and the guy was very helpful he removed a late fee? I don't have a clue where from of $13.75 well that should fix everything. The first time he put me on hold he had nothing available to me other than what I already knew. We were saying our thank yous and goodbyes when I hear, "We appreciate your 4 years with us." My reply was, "I can't tell by the way you do your billing." Then he says, "Let me see what I can do." "What do you mean? You did that already at the first of the call?" I say. I am put on hold for this time a lot longer, I didn't time it but I would guess 10 to 12 minutes. Then sure enough he found another plan. It was a game, like buying a car at a dealership. I was told I could change my plan to a different one.

This one he offers me, but I will have to pay the $200 fee for canceling my changeable plan just minutes before. The end I called another provider but I am sure they will not be able to use my meter until I pay Direct Energy for what is actually 7 days of service, from the 22nd when I paid off my entire debt to them, to what is now yesterday the 29th, a bill of if I have not been lied to again $399.46 minus $13.75 = $385.71 plus $200 cancel fee. so 7 days = $585.71 If I had to guess that is probably everything I saved over the last 18 months, lol my advice with electric providers is find the best plan every time.

Your loyalty to them will only get deeper in your pocket. Don't stay for 4 years and leave with a almost $600 bill for 7 days. Take the promotion that you like the best, and then take the one you like the best again with no thought as to who the provider is. It does not matter, all of the power comes from Oncor for me. The provider is just a middleman trying to make as much as possible. Good luck. Enjoy the game, and listen clearly.

My deed, my note, they wanted a copy of the previous tenant's lease. They have received everything they need to remove the switch hold. If this is not illegal it should be. The news needs to know about this. The people need to know about this. This is a company that does not care. I have tenants that have nowhere to go because of direct energy. Again direct energy even emailed me and said switch hold was removed after I sent them a copy of my deed to show I own the house and I'm not the one that owed the money. Now they decide to put the switch all back on. They're totally messing up innocent people. That is not right. Today I even tried to find out what my previous tenant owed. I was just going to pay it. Then take them to court to get my money back. They wouldn't even give me that information because I'm not on the account,. So there is no way I can get my new tenants in my house. Wes **

My bills are around 225-250 a month and for the 2 free months, I was given a $102.00 credit for the power! That is for both months, not each month. SO FYI: They are using bait advertising without transparency of actual billing. Nowadays I guess false advertising, Trap Contracts, and Bait and switch deals are ethical and accepted. Less on Customer Care and Service and more on The Buyer Beware. JUST SAYIN'!

Julie B

Fast forward another month and I start getting calls from their collection agency which would hear nothing I would have to say and said my dispute was denied. If I did not pay by a set date that it would show up on my credit score. This has been extremely frustrating and I am out of pocket with no support to the matter. A person should not have accounts set up without their knowledge, concerns should be addressed. Would never recommend this company to anyone.