Direct Energy -- Hand in my Pocket

And from the annals of disappointing business practices (remember Primus?), we have another company whose practices feel sleazy to me. I signed up for a couple of protection plans for my heating equipment and over the last while have felt that I was wasting my money ... the equipment will be 24 years old this year and is at the point where a major failure requires replacement, not band-aids. It is also rather inefficient by today's standards.

So ... I called Direct Energy and tried to cancel today ...

The nice young lady sweetly told me that the plan was set to renew at the end of June and that she could cancel it today but I would be billed for the remainder.

My reaction is hardly worth describing ... but to her credit, she maintained her composure despite my rather unpleasant reaction (I was not abusive, in case you are wondering.)

So ... she has set it to non-renewal.

Now ... why am I upset? Because in numerous conversations and interactions I have had with these people, I have never had this explained to me. One presumes that it is buried somewhere deeply in paperwork, but I admit to not taking all that crap to a lawyer ... and I certainly have no patience to go through those things. But this is the kind of caveat that should be front and center.

Anyway ... I am used to it by now ... cell phone providers are the worst, cable not too much better ... Primus have horrid customer service policies ... and I can now add yet one more to the pile.

Whatever ...