Powergen are evil - a corporate fairytale

So you don't think corporations are inherently evil, psychopathic entities, do you? Oh really? Go and have a look at The Corporation and then come back and talk to me...

Okay, you're back? Well then, here's my story (start voice over, I'm thinking Michael McKeane in his droll dulcet tones):

Not too long ago, there was a household occupying a typical semi-detached interbellar dwelling, who got their gas from British Gas and their electricity from TXU. Every Saturday they bought the Guardian from the local shop and the Beano for the children, but that's beside the point. One fine Saturday, the Guardian said that there were better deals to be had, so they went online and switched both gas and electricity to Amerada. The transfer of the gas went without a hitch, but the electricity just wouldn't budge, no matter how many times they inquired to both TXU or Amerada.

Then, several months later, they were notified that Amerada had become subsumed by Powergen, which was the new name for TXU. It goes without saying that the price reduction that Amerada had promised never materialized. Disgusted, they switched their electricity to ecotricity. There was a dispute over the outstanding electricity bill, but since their queries weren't answered, their letters lost, and their calls remained unreturned, little progress was made.

Until, that is, they contacted energywatch, and things started happening. Powergen apologised, if somewhat grudgingly, and no longer requested the disputed moneys to be paid. They furthermore promised never to contact them on the matter again.

Imagine their surprise therefore, when they found out (from ecotricity) that Powergen had reopened their account, and was now billing them again, even though they had been paying their bills to ecotricity for some time. Again they tried to contact Powergen, but again it was like talking to someone with cotton wool in their ears, singing at the top of their voice.

So once more they contacted energywatch, and again the matter was sorted. In further disgust, the household switched their gas supply to swalec, and now powergen sends them a letter every few weeks asking will they please come back to them. And what do you think their answer is on these occasions?

Exactly!