Does anyone use them? How do you find it? IS it a good service or do you regret your contract? THey keep coming to our door, I'm not sure what to do, they're very high pressure, for that reason alone I don't want to sign up, but I don't want to not take advantage of something that could be good. I'd love to hear your experiences.
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door-to-door salespeople or telephone solicitors. Everyone's gotta make a living and some are very cordial and polite. However, the Direct Energy folks come across as particularly pushy.
that I never buy anything from solicitors who come door-to-door, as a matter of principle. I tell the telemarketers the same thing (if I ever answer the phone when one of them comes on!). I hate high pressure salesmanship. I will do my own research and make my own decision, is what I tell them. As regards gas, we have stayed with Enbridge and seem to be getting a good rate. I think it all kind of "comes out in the wash" and over time, there are really not taht many bargains out there, on gas or anything else!
Hey there Karenm. I've been wondering the same thing. I can't see anything really wrong with it, but I don't like their pushy attitudes. One was downright rude, saying I was foolish if I didn't sign up on the spot (needless to say, I didn't). If you hear any more opinions on this, let me know.
They came to my door all the time for up to a year. They want you to sign on the spot and area sneaky, but they work on commission so that explains that. It's not a bad thing to do though, it's just a personal choice. I didn't sign up.
These carriers get their gas from Trans Canada Pipeline I think, and they buy it cheap and upcharge to make profit. Enbridge only makes profit on their delivery charge, not on the gas they supply us. I know this because my cousin is a BIG-WIG at Enbridge.
They're not scammers but they behave like them and their pushiness REALLY got to me. That alone made me so angry that I didn't want anything to do with them.
I have signed up with another carrier previously. The idea is to lock in your gas rate so that you don't get hit with increases. But just like mortgage rates, if gas rates go down, you don't get the lower rate, and it cost big bucks to get out of your contract.
My suggestion is as with anything do your research, look at the history of gas prices and do your own assessment on if you think prices will go up, down or stay stable. I also suggest:
- a 3-yr contract is more than enough as you never know what will happen in 3 yrs.
- not having a contract is not necessarily a bad thing as those canvassers make you think. Being highly regulated, Enbridge has been very good in recent years in terms of rates and have even given credit to customers.
- suggest not locking into a contract in the 1st year of your first and/or new home. Take a year to get to know your gas usage and billing from Enbridge then you have more information to make an educated decision. This is why these guys always target new homes...get them while they're confused!!
Direct Energy is agressive but that's because there is a lot of competition. Check out the other carriers. This is a highly regulated industry and other carriers are just as reliable.
Try http://energyshop.com/ is a good resource and they claim to be impartial.
These are just my thoughts based on my own experiences.