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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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AIBU to warn you about Boost Energy?

32 replies

BoostWarning · 10/03/2018 15:56

I just want to share my experience as I've had a week from hell. I have name changed.

My ex husband moved out 2 years ago and my gas and electric account was in his name but payments came from my bank account.

The last few months have been financially horrendous for me and because of this I applied to the local welfare provision department for a fuel voucher.

I was awarded a £30 fuel voucher which was emailed to me and needed to be redeemed at a paypoint machine.
Up until now I have always used the app to top up and so never used my boost top up card.

So on Saturday 3rd March I called Boost to ask for them to send me a reolacement card. I explained i had a fuel voucher i needed to redeem as i was struggling financially.

Boost told me that they had to speak to the named account holder, as this is my ex DH he said he would open my own account.

My fuel voucher only was valid for 7 days and I was told to redeem within 2-3 if possible so I was worried about not being able to get it in time.

They told me that I could take the PAN number to the paypoint machine to redeem the voucher.

On Monday I took the PAN number and the voucher. The voucher worked and £30 was in the Paypoint machine.

But the PAN number was coming back as invalid.

I phoned Boost who said it might be because my account was so New, give it 24 hours.

Tuesday I went back and the £30 still wouldn t transfer
(The money was essentially stuck in the paypoint till)

They said they would send me a card.
Wednesday an OVO card arrived.

I went back to the shop. Card didn't work.

They sent me a 2nd card when I called

That came yesterday. That card didn't work.

I then on Thursday called them because when I called on Saturday my account had £18 credit and I wanted it transferred to my new account.

I had to send email proof the money had came from my account.

At this point all the money I had in the world was £129.

The person on the phone said they had added £18 to my account.

At this point they accidently added £38 And I got a barage of texts and emails thanking me for my top ups.

I assumed this was the £38.

They removed the extra.

Yesterday I went on my online banking and saw £60 had come out of my bank from boost.

They had taken 6 × £10 payments out of my account

Leaving me with £69 to my name.

I called very upset and was told they could not find the payments, there was no record on their end of this occourance.

I had to email them my bank statement.

She then found the payments and said it would take 5 to 7 days to refund.

I was upset but didn't have a choice.

As I put the phone down I got another six texts thanking me for my £10 top up.

They had taken another £60

I called them back and they said I have to claim this back through my bank.

The 2nd 60 was still pending and charge backs take 48 hours according to HSBC.

So for the weekend I was left with £6.

This has been the most stressful week.

I have spent hours on the phone to them and had to visit waypoint so many times trying to get my £30 fuel voucher, it was so embarrassing.

They are the worst company ever.

If you can avoid them please do. They took £120 from me unauthorised in 2 days.

OP posts:
onalongsabbatical · 10/03/2018 16:07

Oh, my god, that's shocking. I have no idea how such things work or who regulates them, is there any way to make a complaint? I'd be exhausted after all that. And certainly I'd never want to have anything to do with them ever again.
Hoping for a more peaceful time for you, OP.

onalongsabbatical · 10/03/2018 16:08

Can you complain to the bank? Just occurred to me.

BoostWarning · 10/03/2018 16:12

I am definitely going to complain.

I just find it shocking that after I was on the phone to them crying because they took half my money they did the exact same thing moments after.

And then had the cheek to tell me if I didn't want to wait 7 days for the £120 back they could add it to my energy account immediatly.

I asked how I was going to feed my children and pay my other bills with £120 gas and electricity credit?!

OP posts:
LanguidLobster · 10/03/2018 16:13

Oh god that's given me a headache just reading that.

I don't know anything about Boost, is it via the Council?

I think your bank should be able to reverse (they did with me once with Amazon prime payment), get on the phone pronto!

LanguidLobster · 10/03/2018 16:14

Sorry, money worries are stressful

BoostWarning · 10/03/2018 16:18

No Boost is nothing to do with the council, it's an energy company.

They still don't kbow why 6 x £10 came out twice.

I'm hoping it doesn't happen again or I'm going to go overdrawn.

OP posts:
starzig · 10/03/2018 16:25

Lucky you had the £129. Many people wouldn't have had that.

LanguidLobster · 10/03/2018 16:25

Have you phoned the bank? Hope it gets resolved shortly Flowers

greenlanes · 10/03/2018 16:26

If the £10 charges are via direct debit? Direct debits are "regulated" by your bank. Perhaps start with them. There is a direct debit agreement on your current account.

BoostWarning · 10/03/2018 16:27

I was lucky that I had only just got my monthly CB payment so I had £129. But that money was supposed to last me 2 weeks and pay my council tax.

OP posts:
Ruffian · 10/03/2018 16:44

'Lucky' to have £129 in the world? nice post starzig Hmm

That's really shocking OP, the whole point was to help you, not make things 100 times worse. It's so precarious living like that, hope things improve soon. Flowers

Afreshcuppateaplease · 10/03/2018 16:48

That is terrible Shock

starzig · 10/03/2018 16:50

I just meant at least the OP didn't get overdrawn until it's sorted. If it was the end of the month most people wouldn't.

jaseyraex · 10/03/2018 16:53

That is absolutely shocking. I've never heard of the company but I'll be sure to avoid them if I'm switching in future.

Can your bank not get the money back in quicker? Something similar happened to me with an Amazon payment, they basically charged me twice, and the bank was able to take the payment back before it had gone through to the other end. I hope you get it sorted asap and things improve for you.

BoostWarning · 10/03/2018 16:59

I just wanted to warn people as they seem to have a big advertising drive going on at them moment (they are the people with the yellow logo and the Bruce Lee advert)
I keep seeing them on TV and internet adverts.

They say 9/10 people can save but my sister's gas and electric bills DOUBLED when she switched to them and this happened to me.

OP posts:
Funnyface1 · 10/03/2018 17:26

The advert you've just described is now at the bottom of this page. That's terrible for you, I really hope you get some money back soon.

ivykaty44 · 10/03/2018 17:31

Go and see the council and see if they can push your council tax payment back 2 weeks - at least that would take some pressure away

TenancyTroublesAgain · 10/03/2018 18:12

Very helpful starzig.

BoostWarning · 10/03/2018 20:37

Yes funny, it's just been on the TV too Angry

OP posts:
Grobagsforever · 11/03/2018 23:49

@BoostWarning - call the police. They STOLE from you. And tell them that's what you're doing. And tweet them every five minutes.

BoostWarning · 12/03/2018 09:00

My bank said they could do a chargeback on Saturday but the money's still not back in. I'm supposed to be going to my mum's today, no bus fare no card no gift for mothers day. I'm so bloody mad.

OP posts:
Grobagsforever · 12/03/2018 13:36

Report them for theft. Seriously

Ruffian · 12/03/2018 16:50

Can you get hold of Citizen's Advice OP? Also You and Yours consumer programme on Radio 4 - [email protected] - they tend to pick up quickly on terrible service like this.

I think you should really go after them for the way you've been treated Angry It's totally unnacceptable, particularly as they are supposed to be part of a scheme to help people in need

SophieLMumsnet · 14/03/2018 15:23

Hi all,

We're posting a statement here on the behalf of Boost Energy who have been in touch:

"It's really disappointing to read about this experience and I can understand why @BoostWarning you feel so frustrated and stressed.

There are a number of things here that need further investigation, we would never purposefully aim to leave a customer in a situation like yours so we welcome the opportunity to resolve any outstanding issues and to make sure this doesn't happen again.

I can appreciate that you've had to spend a long time on the phone to us, but we really do want to help. If it's easier for you just send us a private message on Facebook with your full name, DoB and account number - www.facebook.com/boostpoweruk. As soon as we receive your message, I will ensure one of the team investigates as a matter of urgency.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The Boost Power team"

Thanks Flowers

mikeyssister · 14/03/2018 15:44

@BoostWarning let us know how you get on.