Posted May 2nd, 2012.
As appeared on Cheapest Electricity
A class action complaint against Energy Plus has been filed in New Jersey by Sanford Wittels & Heisler for deceiving thousands of New Jersey energy customers with an illegal “bait-and-switch scheme.”
Accusations state the company made promises to customers they can save a significant amount by switching energy companies to Energy Plus, but did not deliver on those promises. In fact, reports state some customers paid as much as two or three times more than they paid before switching. Mr. Wittles said he fully suspects the acts were just done in his state of New Jersey but the other states the company services, such as Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Yue Yu, a New Jersey resident said she was one customer to fall victim to Energy Plus. She said she signed up with the energy provider in September and between the months of November and April, she was overcharged by more than $200.
Jeremy Heisler who’s helping lead the council agrees and says, “The company misleads customers to believe that by switching to Energy Plus they will save money compared to receiving energy services from their local public utilities,” he said. “The company also represents that its rates are tied to market factors and are competitive, when in fact, they are not. It’s a classic consumer fraud and scam.”
According to press a press release on marketwatch.com, “The complaint asks for a class action declaration, an award of compensatory damages to Ms. Yue and class members; treble damages, as allowable under state law; an order enjoining Energy Plus from continuing to implement its deceptive, illegal and unlawful trade practices and schemes; pre and post-judgment interest on damages awarded.”