This is a first: the energy mediator, whose mission is to resolve disputes between consumers and energy suppliers, denounces the fraudulent practices of the electricity and gas supplier ENI. 

EUROPE INFO 1

It was the last straw that triggered the wrath of the energy mediator.

Blandine, 98, was claimed the sum of € 1,314 for unpaid gas bills by the supplier ENI.

Except that this lady, now in a retirement home for three years, no longer occupies her house and has never signed a contract with this supplier.

"It's a completely crazy situation", denounces his nephew, in charge of his administrative procedures.

"I immediately contacted ENI to ask them what it was and they told me that a contract had been signed," he continues.

But the email address and phone number that appear on the document do not exist.

And the signature at the bottom of the contract is not that of Blandine.

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"Fraudulent practices which must be sanctioned"

After several exchanges with the supplier, ENI admitted that it was a fraud, specifying that the sales representatives responsible for canvassing individuals are service providers outside the company.

The matter could have ended there.

Unfortunately, it then took six months for Blandine to recover its previous contract from its historic gas supplier.

"I had to seize the energy mediator for the situation to be unblocked", explains Marc, the nephew of the retiree.  

One too many litigation for the energy mediator, who wrote to the public prosecutor of Carcassonne to denounce the actions of ENI.

"It is appalling for individuals to discover at the turn of a reminder for unpaid bills that we have changed supplier", annoys Olivier Challan Belval.

"These are fraudulent practices that must be sanctioned."

The energy mediator denounces a double discourse on the part of ENI which is not at its first attempt.

In 2020 alone, 829 disputes were reported by dissatisfied customers.

On the side of ENI, we assure that "this type of behavior does not reflect the practices of the company"

"When I ask ENI about their practices, they assure me that they have put in place a charter of good conduct. But when you look, as soon as there is a case of fraudulent canvassing, it is ENI who is behind ", annoys Olivier Challan Belval who hopes that his action with the prosecutor will push the supplier to change its practices.

On the side of ENI, we assure that "this type of behavior does not reflect the practices of the company".

The energy supplier told Europe 1 that it had lodged a complaint against X, and no longer worked with the author of the fraudulent contract.