Back in September, 2007 a salesman arrived at my door at about 7:45pm. He told me as a service to consumers, he was ready to sign me up to switch my natural gas supply service to his company (Universal Gas & Electric). He told me that the cost of natural gas was going to "sky-rocket" to more than 250% of what it is now per CCF. He said that this company would guarantee that its rates would remain at or below those charged by my current gas supplier.
He further said that the sooner I sign-up, the sooner I could begin saving on natural gas. He was so convincing that he made me feel that I would be sorry if I passed up this tremendous opportunity to save. So I went ahead and signed the papers he presented to me. I thought I had done a smart thing.
Then when I saw my gas bills in December and January, that I was paying in excess of $350 per month, I realized that I had been scammed. At this point, I switched to IGS. This is a 1-year agreement that would continue through my December, 2008 billing cycle, and automatically renew month to month thereafter. Rather than pay $1.049 per CCF, Interstate Gas Supply, Inc. (IGS) would bill me at $0.849 per CCF, a savings of 20 cents per CCF.
Then I get a statement from Universal Gas & Supply dated Feb. 6, 2008 saying that they have been advised by DTE/MichCon that I requested to switch my natural gas service. Now they tell me that if I do so before Oct. 31st, 2012, I will have to pay an early termination fee of $250. I was not aware that this was a 5-year agreement. To avoid further legal problems they said I would face, I went ahead and sent them a check @ $250 by Feb. 29th, 2008.
I have requested them to refund the $250. Also, they continue to bill me, even though I am signed up with IGS. A payment of $354.48 will be withdrawn from my checking account on April 09, 2008.
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