Kathyrn writes:

A friend of sent me your article on ESCOS [Energy Service Companies]. My father is a senior citizen and he signed up, and his energy bill has sky rocketed, we have called his energy resell co. three different times asking them to cancel his contract every time they say we will it will take about 30 days, but nothing is happening, can you advise me how to get him out of this contract?

ESCOS are supposed to save people money on their gas and energy bills buy buying energy on the open market. While your old energy company still runs the pipes to the house, the share of the energy is coming from the ESCO. ESCOS sign up people by going door to door. Some ESCOs have generated fraud complaints when the bills people get are wildly more than what they were promised.

If you’re trying to cancel your contract and they’re not listening, it’s usually pretty easy. Just call up the legacy energy company that used to service you and tell them you’re canceling the ESCO and want to re-sign up with them again. I would also send the ESCO’s headquarters a formal letter by certified mail to their corporate office indicating that you are canceling service. Inform them if they do not comply 1) they will not receive another dime from you and 2) you will send a complaint to the Public Utilities Commission and the Attorney General’s office. If you’re feeling extra spunky you could also ask them in the letter if they were aware that sending baseless requests for money is considered mail fraud, a Federal offense. If they don’t comply, lookup your PUC and AG and give them a shoutout about your issue.

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