Enel Energia once again accused of defrauding customers. You could be a victim too, let’s find out how.
The Antitrust has opened an investigation to understand whether Enel has implemented unfair commercial practices towards consumers. The company defends itself by denying that it acted in violation of the law.
At the end of 2023, the Antitrust imposed fines of more than 15 million euros against Enel Energia, Eni Plenitude, Acea Energia, Edison Energia, Iberdrola Clienti Italia and Dolomiti Energia for having adopted aggressive commercial practices by conditioning consumers to accept changes in increase in electricity and gas costs. Now Enel appears to have made mistakes by applying unfair commercial practices.
If it happened to you too bills that are too high between October 2023 and January 2024 it could be due to the change in the contract conditions not adequately reported by Enel Energia. The lack of transparency and correct information is the accusation that many customers have made against the energy supplier by contacting the Antitrust asking to verify what happened. The point, therefore, is to understand whether the methods of communicating contract renewals have complied with the regulatory directives or not.
Antitrust against Enel, what is happening
The Antitrust has opened a new investigation against Enel Energia to verify whether the unfair practice reported by consumers actually happened. It would seem that the communication of renewal of the contract following its expiry with the new economic conditions of supply did not reach customers or it arrived incorrectly.
Users who punctually receive invoices via email or via App have not received notification of the renewal on these channels. Many customers informed the Antitrust that they had accidentally found an email coming from Enel Energia in the spam box.
This vaguely informed of the new economic conditions and seemed more like an advertisement than an official and important communication. The accusation is of having planned this strategy on purpose to be able to increase prices to consumers who, in fact, received very high bills, with figures much higher than the same period of the previous year.
More than 600 complaints they reached the Antitrust Authority which necessarily had to open the investigation. It would also appear that in no way did customers receive prior information in written form giving the possibility of exercising the right of withdrawal by choosing another energy supplier.
If the accusations prove to be well founded, the AGCM will ask for the refund of the sums paid in excess by consumers. Enel, for now, has responded that it has acted in compliance with the law and contractual regulations.
