We are one of the unfortunate clients of “De Vlaamse Energie Leverancier”. So we decided to change to a new supplier ASAP. We are young and dumb, so please have patience when reading this post or call us out whatever, at this point we are too frustrated to care if you call us idiots.

Anyways, we do the VREG-test as you would and decide to go for a quick solution, [a fixed rate offered by Engie called EASY3](https://i.imgur.com/7Mikn9D.jpg) (yes those evil SOBs, and i’ll show you what kind of scummy buttholes they are in just a minute). So we visit their website to see if we can become a customer and we basically fill in a test similar to the VREG-test and [these were the results](https://i.imgur.com/jp7GOS6.jpg)*…

As you can see, it proposes a variable rate, which we don’t want. HOWEVER, when you proceed with this option,[ the next screen mentions that you have a fixed rate until December 2022?](https://i.imgur.com/dBROwYX.jpg) Super weird and confusing. Is it fixed or variable? We continue just for the heck of it and download the document. [Nowhere is there a mention on the type of rate in the document…](https://i.imgur.com/xsqKGNm.jpg)? What are we buying here?

Okay, so back to the two offers. There is a box to select for green power for €1,28 extra per month.[ So we select that option and lo and behold suddenly the variable rate changes to a fixed rate](https://i.imgur.com/oDe86NW.jpg), AND the price increases with almost €10 per month instead of the advertised €1,28???
We proceed once again, and now the screen once again stipulates that you have a fixed rate until December 2022 (as was the offer). We click through and download the document to see if it would mention the type of rate. Nope^^Chuch ^^Testa

Anyways, we have no idea what we are buying here which HAS to be against some kind of rule right? This experience alone is making me seriously consider a more expensive alternative.

*Side note here: So ENGIE has several EASY products. They have EASY3 which was the product we saw on the VREG test. However, in their own test they don’t specify what EASY product it is. Is it EASY variable, EASY fixed, EASY3 fixed? Who cares right??

10 comments

  1. You can do a similar test on mijnenergie.be. I did that last week for a fixed rate and Luminus Comfy came out as the cheapest, for gas and electricity combined. If you follow the instructions of mijnenergie.be, it is quite simple to get the cheapest contract with little paperwork. We will change again when iChoosr does a new auction in May.

  2. It’s all bullshit those comparison websites. It all depends on the amount you consume, the discounts, where you live and all the rest. I never got any of the rates suggested in those things.

  3. If you’re going variable (which really is the only option atm with these prices) go for luminus basic if finances are the biggest concern.
    No green energy or anything, it’s the cheapest variable contract year to year (without counting these yearly discounts that some providers offer, which will screw you over if you don’t switch after a year).
    It does require you to do domiciliëring and per 3 months payment, not monthly.

    I’ve had it for a few years now and have been pretty content pricewise, obviously this year will suck but hopefully not too much.

  4. I know most people recommend VREG, but other online comparators will handle the switchover for you. When your contact arrives at renewal they contact you to check if it’s worth to switch again.

  6. I like Bolt personally, but they’re not the most cheap. That is, when I check on these comparison sites.

    I just really like their business model.

  7. You need to know your basic use and their basic prices per kilowatt(?) to compare really. Engie overcharges per month (but you can adjust your payments as a client). And from my experience, they try to lower my payment every year, but I don’t like surprises unless it’s money back. But I find their efforts to be very correct.

  8. Some comparison websites that also handle the contract for you can give you discounts you wouldn’t get yourself. I used energievergelijker for this.

  9. I am currently in the final stages of a complaint about this very thing. Their wizard promised me one thing and they ended up giving me another by using vague and confusing language as shown in OP’s post.

    Cost me quite a penny before I figured it out and when I confronted them they got really defensive, saying I should prove their wording was misleading. I did exactly that by taking screenshots of everything and then they make me a counter offer which doesn’t even come close to what I’m owed.

    I’m currently awaiting a final offer, but it’s taking really long so I’m thinking of just going to the ombudsman or to court with this. Surely if both OP and myself got fooled by this, we can’t be the only ones, right?

    Maybe taking it to court will draw some media attention and help others figure out they got scammed too.

    Thanks for sharing, OP. Good to know I’m not alone in this.

  10. I will never ever ever willingly switch to ENGIE. Ever.

    Last month I got a letter from them confirming my new contract with them. I never switched. I never signed anything. I wasn’t even looking for a new supplier.

    Apparently one of their door-to-door sales reps talked to one of my neighbours and decided to hook me up with a new contract. Didn’t even get my name right.

    Tried talking to ENGIE. Got cut off their phone support 4 times. They just ended the call. Tried their online complaint forms, zero feedback.

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