Complaint Review: Nicor Advanced Energy/ Nicor Solutions

I received a letter from NAE offering a quote to see how much money I could save.  I figured getting a quote couldn't hurt, and sent in the request.  I received notification from them in the mail as to what my new monthly rate would be.  Since it was considerably higher than what I had been paying on Nicor's budget plan (where you pay the same rate each month to average out your high and low usage periods), I called NAE to decline their service.  They refused to let me decline, informing me that requesting the rate was signing on with the service.  I asked where they got the numbers to determine my monthly payment, and they quoted me falsified information (stated that, during the past year I had been required to pay an additional lump sum because my budget payments weren't enough, when, in fact, I'd never paid a lump sum and my monthly budget payments had gone down just a few months prior).  When I challenged them on that, they swore up and down that I must just be "confused" about my billing history. 
It took a few months of threatening to sue and threatening to give all of my documentation on their fraud to every reporter in the Chicago area before they finally emailed me that they would, "as a goodwill gesture" be refunding me my unused funds, and reverting my account to Nicor for servicing. 
So, don't give up, you can get your money back and get out of their plan, but you need to be persistant and aggressive to do so.     

I did my homework prior to calling in to see if it was worth investigating today.  I added up my last 12 months of bills and called for a fixed price quote.  I spent just under $1,160 in the previous 12 months and also had a few of those 'questionable' estimated readings during a rate change per therm period but they would have only amounted to $5-7 differences on $150-250 bills.  They wanted $134.00 per month($1608/yr.), no adjustment at the end up or down like a old honest 'Budget' system.  This is indeed lucrative profiteering on behalf of this public utility and CUB should be investigating.  They don't disclose the consumer downside unless pushed and represent it as a 'budgeting tool' suggesting it adjusts at the end positive or negative.  I am sorry but I don't think paying almost 43% more is a financially sound idea for anyone.  

When I had a problem with cramming on my phone bill I ended up writing everyone I could think of. I wrote letters of complaint to the BBB, Il Commerce Commission, Il Att General, even the Post Office (because I received my phone bill through the mail. )

I think it was the letter to the IL Att General that finally got the problem resolved.

I came here to research my problem. Lo and behold, there is a problem.
I apparently have made a deal with 2 companies. My bank statement shows a payment for the amount negotiated in April $105. Then $70 in May (or .052/therm)
Then there is a charge Nicoradven for $129 in May. I don't just give money away.
So here is some support for your rhetoric!
I will be at my bank Monday at 9am to find out how these people got to direct bill me(EFT).
I'm very thankful that I keep and file all my documents. Don't ever give up your ability to recieve a paper hard copy of all transactions. Too many businesses are trying to cheap out with an email you can print out. Those can be manipulated. But when you have the original document the company sent you, prosecutors and district attorneys find these legit.

I'm hoping this is a clerical error. But I smell a rat

I came here looking for real information on this, but only found this unsupported rhetoric and accusation. I'm hardly defending them, but your "rip off report" is not based on any real facts that I can use. There's a clear disclaimer on the whitefence website for Nicor Advanced Energy and there are NAE competitors that offer the same service.

What is it about NAE's service that's not as good as its competitors??? It would have been helpful to hear from folks on that, rather than why you supposedly don't work there any more.

For all of us consumers who have been over-charged, ripped off.....who have proof of this, how do we get these bills off of our credit? I have a lease PROVING I was living somewhere else when charges were incurred, but they just don't give a crap....I want to buy a home, this, almost $1300 bill, is really interfering, I'm so frustrated, I have jumped through all of their hoops, their requests to no avail, not 1 dang thing has been done!!
Any words of advice, can I talk to somebody that truly cares and would help me? Or is everyone there evil and a liar?
HELP

Steve,
Westmont, IL

Sadly I am also an employee of IBT / Nicor Advanced Energy, and it's true the company is built on compulsive lying. I was hired on pure lies; they told me that if I joined the team all they cared about was helping customers and offering great plans that benefit them and no telemarketing, so I quit my old job with hopes of better pay and a good commission.

Now I know better, we have a sales quota we must meet or we risk getting paid poorly, we have to do telemarketing as well and we take a class in rapport (selling to customers unconsciously), we also get low quality scores if we don't try to shove these plans on to customers which also affects our pay. Our motto is present on every call.

If you read this and have to connect your gas, PLEASE do not use IBT Connections or Nicor Advanced energy THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF. Use Nicor Gas since they ARE regulated by the Commerce Commission, Nicor Advanced Energy is NOT regulated by the Commerce Commission; they can charge more without getting in legal trouble.