OPINION

Your Turn: Shell’s cracker plant is off to a bad (and dangerous) start

Joseph Minott  |  Special to The Times

19 March 2023

If the first three months of operations at Shell’s petrochemical plant are any indication, the next 30 years are going to be stressful and hazardous for nearby Beaver Country residents.

The community is locked into a lasting and significant source of plastics production and dirty air pollution that will degrade the Commonwealth’s air quality and our environmental legacy for decades to come. Shell clearly isn’t interested in operating safely or responsibly ― so it’s up to regulators and citizens to force them to get emissions in check.

The Shell Polymers Monaca plant in Potter Township officially began operations in November of last year. Even before opening day, the plant was already posing a threat to the surrounding community. From the very beginning, Shell has not managed to keep its pollution to safe and legal levels. It has set a terrible precedent for decades to come, and there’s no reason to expect Shell will act differently ― unless it’s forced to do so.

The Environmental Integrity Project and Clean Air Council are taking steps to force Shell to take their responsibility to residents and the environment seriously. Our organizations have filed a notice of intent to sue Shell for the consistent violation of air pollution limits.

In September 2022, the plant emitted 512 tons of volatile organic compounds, nearly reaching in that one month the 12-month permitted limit of its approved volatile organic compound emissions (516.2 tons in any consecutive 12-month period). These chemicals contribute to smog and can cause nausea, nerve damage and other health problems. Shell also emitted the dangerous pollutants nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from sources at the plant in the final months of 2022 at rates that exceed permit limits.

It’s important to note that these limits were agreed upon by Shell and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through an in-depth permitting process. The fact that Shell began violating them immediately underscores just how little regard its leaders have shown for the residents harmed by the massive facility.

FULL ARTICLE

Shell Energy Broadband Reviews recently posted on broadband.co.uk

Reviewer Allyson: Location Devon: Date 2023-02-24

Comments

As with the majority of reviews, this company is simply the worst I have ever come across. Two weeks after signing up, my internet failed. After hours of being on the line and being passed from one person to another. Anyhow, after the most inept service I cancelled my direct debit and went to BT. AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COST.

Reviewer neal: Location Wolverhampton: Date 2023-02-24

Comments

elderly parents moved into new home, decided to keep the existing service, all fine on the day of new activation then suddenly the landline number changed and the broadband stopped working, after a 2 hour customer service phone call where I spoke to no less than 6 people from various departments I was told an engineer would be sent, never arrived on that day, called again and another ticket raised, I have lost all confidence in them resolving this, hopefully, I can cancel in the cooling off period, it really shouldn’t be this hard.

Reviewer David Butler: Location Hertfordshire: Date 2023-02-24

Comments

I am a former home phone customer but when I left Shell they claimed I needed to send back a router, or pay a £35 penalty. I have never been given any equipment by Shell. On receipt of a letter demanding return of the Shell router alleged to be in my possession in November 2022 I phoned Shell to point this out. They promised a note would be placed on my file to stop demands for payment. Out of the blue today (24 Feb 2023) I received a text demanding payment of £35 today to avoid a negative credit reference file. To add insult to injury the payment link in the text was broken. I have been in contact with Shell today and unfortunately the payment demand will take 3 days to cancel and they cannot tell me whether my credit reference will be impacted. This is now causing me considerable anxiety as well as already taken me a lot of time to sort out (the usual our lines are busy fiasco). I would recommended that people steer well clear of Shell Energy Broadband.

Reviewer Annabel hall: Location Westcliff – on – sea: Date 2023-02-24

Comments

Awful service !, passed from person to person , sent out wrong wires so my wifi can not be set up. Its been 6 weeks without wifi and waiting for them to set it up. There technician didnt even turn up to fix the issue so i took a day of work and sat at home on my own all day without wifi. And iv spent £100 on extra data. THEY Refuse to cancel my contract unless i Pay a fee. Absolutely discusting service. They shouldnt bother, messing around with peoples livily hoods. DISCUSTINGGG

Reviewer Andy Campbell: Location Lutterworth, Leics: Date 2023-02-24

Comments

1 week after placing my order for broadband I receive a phone call to say they cannot guarantee my broadband will be switched over on the same day. They told me it was my fault for giving notice to my current provider, something Shell Energy told me to do!!! Not happy as my current supply is being cut off and I have no new provider!

16 March 2023

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.

Awful service

Awful service, customer care at it’s very worst! The phone and broadband goes down, you call them and they don’t help. In fact they try to charge you to fix a problem that isn’t even your fault. Yet you are forced to pay for a service that doesn’t work

Absolutely the worst internet i have…

Absolutely the worst internet i have EVER had!!!
I can’t wait to switch back to sky.
It never ever works and if it does it’s still not the best.
Ridiculous and absolute waste of money.
Never again!!!

Useless! The saga of the returned router continues!

We moved house at the end of May 2022, we cancelled the broadband, yet a week after moving they emailed to say they wanted the router back. Our stuff was in storage for 6 months and I was inundated with emails and demands to pay £35, despite explaining the situation. Perhaps if I had been informed BEFORE moving, I would have happily sent in the post. I paid the £35 and have been trying to get this refunded since the New Year! AVOID AT ALL COSTS. POOR customer service, poor communication – the phone hangs up almost every call! I would most definitely NOT recommend this company.

POOR POOR

POOR POOR,

Cancelled my broadband last year and they are still requesting money. I have late payments on my account and my Experian Credit File has taken battering. Come on Shell have some respect for your customers and stop doing this. No wonder you have so many bad reviews. I want a Shell member of staff to contact me and do three things.

1. Clean up my Experian Credit File so it doesnt have any missed payments showing. I can’t get a mortgage at the moment.
2. Write to me with an apology and confirm my account has been closed. I still havent had any correspondence despite asking several times.
3. Compensate me with a £100 for the rubbish service.

Finally, if I dont get a reply like the last one I posted, I will keep putting 1 star reviews up until you get the message.

Taking legal action – I have just got off the phone having…

I have just got off the phone having been told one thing only to receive an e-mail telling me the exact opposite. They have been absolutely dishonest from the outset and have gone so far as to add negative credit reports to me rating when they admit they did not invoice me for the amount they claim in late and are not even sure it was actually due. I was told on the phone they were going to sort it – only to get the e-mail saying the exact opposite. Do not use Shell.

Taking legal action today

If I could select lower than 1 star I would. From huge major concerns regarding data protection. Terrible customer service. Emails being ignored. Demonstrating complete inability to log even the most simplistic details on multiple occasions. I have a manager calling me back today to discuss serious issues regarding Data Protection, causing Maternal Stress to my wife. Financial threats. Taking legal action today DO NOT sign up.

This company is completely incompetent

This company is completely incompetent. No complaint procedure. Send emails that to cause fear, a contact centre that does not understand said email. Rude contact agent. Told 56 days before someone will contact me regarding a complaint. Not the first time I have had issues trying to contact a Complaints Dept. Staff who do not understand. Greed and incompetence.

Have always been on card meter and i…

Have always been on card meter and i moved to a new property. I wanted a card meter put in my new property (4 hours on the phone pushed to different departments )and they refused so they said I could have a the new smart meter fitted but could not give a time so i had to except this. Today I have received a bill off my pre pay card meter Gas £45.51 and electric £156.93 for my old property . I called Shell and they could not explain and would look at the bill again and will take a week . NOT good enough how do you get charged for something you pay up front, Kicked there |Broadband out for bad service looks like I am going down the same route, Horrible service when you contact them never get a answer

Bill incompetence

My girlfriend is fed up of trying to sort her duel fuel bill out even though it’s supposed to be a smart meter. Her meter reading for gas was completely wrong according to the bill with the reading being 00000. She sent in the reading and a new bill was deduced but when going to pay the previous amount was there instead. This is causing arguments and frustration for incompetence on shells behalf . Please sort it out

The above are extracts from the negative customer reviews about Shell Energy posted during the last few days on Trustpilot.  Visit the Shell Energy page on Trustpilot to view all reviews in their entirety, positive and negative (and Shell Energy responses). Watch out for any fake reviews. Note the reoccurring themes in the negative reviews, including difficulty in communicating with the company. Shell Plc CEO Ben Van Beurden (now retired) openly admitted at the Shell AGM held in London on 23 May 2022 that all is not well at Shell Energy. 

“Shell has received three notices of violations, submitted at least 10 malfunction reports and violated the prohibition on the visible mission…”: “Those effects can include things like cancer and respiratory aggravation, potentially leading to asthma.”

CBS PITTSBURGH

Residents want answers about loud bang, orange glow at Beaver County Shell cracker plant

BY MEGHAN SCHILLER: UPDATED ON: MARCH 15, 2023 / 10:22 PM / CBS PITTSBURGH

MONACA, Pa. (KDKA) – Community members in Monaca are demanding answers after a loud bang and an orange glow filled the night sky from across the river at the Shell cracker plant.

Shell posted to Facebook apologizing for the loud noise Tuesday night, but residents KDKA-TV’s Meghan Schiller talked to said the explainer just left them feeling more confused and frustrated, and they still don’t know why there’s a hose spraying water at the plant almost 24 hours later.

“Eyes on Shell got notification from watchdogs around 9:50 or 10 o’clock at night of both the loud booms that are mentioned in Shell’s Facebook post as well as the light,” said Anaïs Peterson, Petrochemicals Campaigner with EarthWorks.

People started sending pictures to the community watchdog group Eyes on Shell. They shared pictures with KDKA-TV showing the dark smoke and bright orange color filling the sky.

“When they’re operating correctly, usually you don’t see any flare, any flame shooting out of the top,” said Dr. Clifford Lau, project manager of the Upper Ohio River Valley Monitoring Group.

Nearly 12 hours later, Shell posted to Facebook saying its ground flare was activated in response to a “compressor trip” which resulted in the noise. It continued saying residents might “see a glow from our ground flare as hydrocarbons are reintroduced into the system” over the next few days.

KDKA-TV’s Meghan Schiller asked if what happened last night was dangerous for people who live nearby.  

“Since they’re not doing efficient 98% flaring of all the toxic gases that come off of their process, and we don’t know which ones were not burned off, yes, I would say that,” Lau said.

KDKA-TV looked at the recent reports filed to the DEP and found Shell has filed over 35 malfunction reports since 2022, and in the past four months since coming online, “Shell has received three notices of violations, submitted at least 10 malfunction reports and violated the prohibition on the visible mission,” Peterson said.

Local mom Rachel Meyer lives nearby and is a member of Mom’s Clean Air Force.

“There seems to be something wrong with their flare. It seems to be that they are spraying it with water. Why are they doing that? Why didn’t they address that in their Facebook post? Again, it’s a lack of transparency,” Meyer said.

She wants more robust answers not just for her community but for her young daughter.

“Those effects can include things like cancer and respiratory aggravation, potentially leading to asthma. So, as a mom, I’m very concerned about how this is impacting my 3-year-old daughter and all of the other children in the area.”

Late Wednesday night, the DEP sent KDKA-TV a statement, saying:

“Shell contacted DEP last night to report a malfunction and subsequent flaring. Shell communicated that they experienced a compressor failure.

“As a result of the compressor failure, Shell shut the process down and flared gas. The flaring is required when there is a malfunction. As part of Shell’s Plan Approval, the facility has 30 days from the incident to submit a full written report to DEP with all of the details.

“Shell has been fined for several 2022 violations, and proposed penalties are being calculated for others. DEP has required Shell to report monthly emission data, which DEP has promptly posted online at this webpage: https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Regional/SouthwestRegion/Community%20Information/Pages/Shell-Petrochemical-Complex-.aspx

“DEP is evaluating the situation and will act accordingly.”

Shell did not respond to KDKA-TV’s request for more information about Tuesday night’s flare or the water hose on Wednesday.

Shell’s recent response email to Shell pensioners

From Katarzyna Maciejko

Thank you for your recent email.

This company are without question the worst company I have EVER had the misfortune to have any dealings with. Shell Energy and broadband are nothing more than a bunch of cowboy liars…!

Shell Energy Broadband Reviews recently posted on broadband.co.uk

13 March 2023

Reviewer Martin: Location Kingston upon Thames: Date 2023-02-22

Comments

Stay clear! I moved over from Virgin Media and had absolute terrible broadband speed from the get go. It was an absolute nightmare to get in touch with support.
First I tried the phone, just to wait ages in a holding loop to then having the line suddenly interrupted when I was finally talking with someone.
Then I tried email and nobody answered for a week. And even then it was a very slow back and forth with them not taking it serious.
Finally reached someone on the phone, just to be told it must be the WiFi router and I should reset it and connect it to another outlet. And after I’ve done that, I had to wait again for hours to talk to someone.
I then tried to cancel as it was an absolute nightmare, and they just outright rejected it. Months later after the communications ombudsman, finally someone came out and fixed it. Speed is now perfect, but too late, because I had to extend Virgin Media as the Shell line wasn’t working.

I now have two connections. Never ever again!

Reviewer Scott Holt: Location Wolverhampton WV12: Date 2023-02-22

Comments

Refuse to honour the 30 day cancellation policy, despite a looming price hike. Followed through with the complaint and they insist on charging the full amount of my remaining contract if I cancel £170 for 9 months. I will never entertain signing up with Shell Energy again

Reviewer Robert Machin: Location Plymouth: Date 2023-02-21

Comments

This company are without question the worst company I have EVER had the misfortune to have any dealings with. Shell Energy and broadband are nothing more than a bunch of cowboy liars…!

Do yourselves a favour and DO NOT have anything to do with this bunch of greedy, careless, Liars… Stay well away…

Reviewer Malcolm: Location Alfreton: Date 2023-02-20

Comments

Absolutely awful service if I could give minus stars I would, 3 months of misery tried to cancel contract they want £250, How dare they, They are not supplying me a service, I so wish I had read the reviews from other people, PLEASE DO NOT USE SHELL BROADBAND

Robert Alexander Donovan (Bob Donovan) in an archive photograph with Don Marketing Office Manager Valerie Hewitt: 1981 (approx).

Bob Donovan passed away in March 2023 at the age of 95.  Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Bob Donovan was a founding director of the promotional games firm Don Marketing, which devised a host of promotional games for Royal Dutch Shell and many other blue-chip clients.

1984 Shell Make Money Game Created And Supplied By Don Marketing

Shell Mastermind Promotional Game Created And Supplied By Don Marketing

Shell Make Merry Harrods Linked Promotional Game Created And Supplied By Don Marketing

Shell Bruce’s Lucky Deal Promotional Game Created And Supplied By Don Marketing

UK VERSION

IRISH VERSION

Shell Star Trek Promotion Created And Supplied By Don Marketing

UK pension funds threaten to vote against BP and Shell directors over climate targets – FT

Reuters: Sun, March 12, 2023 

March 12 (Reuters) – Two of the UK’s largest pension schemes will vote against the election of top directors at BP Plc and Shell Plc at their annual meetings unless both companies improve their commitments to tackling carbon emissions, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

The plan by the Britain’s Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and Borders to Coast, which together oversee 130 billion pounds ($156.36 billion) in assets, was part of efforts to push oil companies and banks to make faster progress on climate change pledges, the report added.

Shell and BP did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Shell has pledged to be a net zero carbon company by 2050 and has said its overall carbon emissions peaked in 2018 at around 1.7 billion tonnes. ($1 = 0.8314 pounds)

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed)

FULL ARTICLE

A product that doesn’t work reliably and a router that drops the WiFi completely in the next room.  Avoid this company and product at all costs.

Shell Energy Broadband Reviews recently posted on broadband.co.uk

10 March 2023

Reviewer Joanne: Location Leeds: Date 2023-02-15

Comments

Absolute joke of a company message you 5 days before installing to say they cancelled order after waiting 2week STAY CLEAR

Reviewer Ron Bell OBE: Location Blackpool: Date 2023-02-14

Comments

Absolutely disgraceful service that pass you round in circles with no solution.

The product doesn’t work reliably and the router drops the WiFi completely in the next room.

I’m thinking of buying out of the contract its that bad.

Avoid this company and product at all costs.

Reviewer Donal McAuley: Location County Antrim: Date 2023-02-13

Comments

Absolutely appalling service.

Inept customer service that pass you round in circles.

A product that doesn’t work reliably and a router that drops the WiFi completely in the next room.

Avoid this company and product at all costs.

Reviewer Bob: Location Ramsgate Kent: Date 2023-02-10

Comments

Since Shell took over from The Post Office I’ve had no problems at all. Good speed and reliable broadband

Reviewer Candy: Location Date 2023-02-10

Comments

Today I was on the phone to such an amazing lady who really wanted to help me and was so kind . I don’t think much of Shell as a broadband company but I do however think it’s extremely important to give credit to customer services in particular one named Katie from the retention department. What a star so pleasant so kind patient understanding and has helped me resolve my problems. She’s been the best person from this company and I’d like to thank the manager to for accepting my issues kindly too . Thankyou ever so much Katie I really cannot thank you enough.

Reviewer Candy: Location Date: 2023-02-09

Comments

I am absolutely dissatisfied with how poor Shell broadband is. I am having issues trying to get them to close my account because I refuse to be with them for a second longer. I signed up with them which was the biggest mistake I made and now they’re trying to see if I can get out my contract or what the fees will be. This is an absolute disgrace considering I’ve had a very poor broadband that went on and off constantly I was forever having to turn the router off non-stop issues had to get an engineer out to tell me there was nothing wrong with my line which was a lie that Shell broadband told me over the phone and then to make things worse when I asked them to close it this is now the third time they’ve still not closed my account. I moved on to another provider.I am refusing to pay for a service I didn’t receive and this company should be avoided at all cost . If they continue to expect me to pay for leaving early I shall take it further

BBC NEWS

Former Shell boss Ben van Beurden’s pay package jumps to £9.7m

9 March 2023

OILPRICE.COM

Shell: Britain Is Less Attractive Than The U.S. For Energy Investment

By Tsvetana Paraskova – Mar 06, 2023, 3:51 AM CST

The UK is less attractive than the United States for energy investment, due to the high windfall taxes on energy producers in Britain and the lack of incentives for clean energy investments similar in scale to the American provisions to boost green energy, Shell’s CEO Wael Sawan told The Times in an interview published on Monday.

The UK government should “take a page from some of the things that the US have done recently, through the Inflation Reduction Act,” Sawan told the newspaper.

The IRA has nearly $370 billion in climate and clean energy provisions, including investment and production credits for solar, wind, storage, critical minerals, funding for energy research, and credits for clean energy technology manufacturing such as wind turbines and solar panels.

The EU also seeks to bolster policies to support the EU’s clean technology manufacturing and preserve the bloc’s competitiveness in the face of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and massive subsidies in China.

The UK, for its part, is discouraging investments with sudden changes, regulatory permitting hurdles, and uncertainty over subsidies and windfall taxes, Shell’s Sawan told The Times.

The RenewableUK group called on the government last month to stop intervention and uncertainty and start looking at what the U.S. is doing in terms of supporting green energy investments.

“At a time when the USA has set up a much more positive policy and regulatory environment for investors, the UK is continuing to develop policies which would increase uncertainty and dampen investment,” RenewableUK said in a report.

Shell, which has planned to invest $30 billion (£25 billion) in the UK energy system over the next ten years, is now re-evaluating each project comprising the investment plan, after the UK raised the windfall tax, officially known as the Energy Profits Levy (EPL), to 35%.

Last year, Shell said it planned to invest £20-25 billion in the UK energy system over the next 10 years, with more than 75% of this intended for low and zero-carbon products and services, including offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), and electric mobility.

The levy is “fundamentally disincentivizing the investment in new supplies which are critical if you want to build energy security for the long term,” Shell’s top executive told The Times.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

• Shell Is Reviewing Its Plan To Reduce Oil Production This Decade

...by far the worst internet I have had ever! The download speeds are super slow and the Wi-Fi constantly cuts out…

Shell Energy Broadband Reviews recently posted on broadband.co.uk

Tuesday 7 March 2023

Reviewer Abmed: Location Middlesbrough: Date 2023-02-09

Comments

Horrible experience!!! definitely would not recommend them and I wish I read the reviews before I join them

The broadband speed is not the best but the real nightmare is trying to contact the customer services
Awful and horrible experience

Reviewer Mel: Location Wick: Date 2023-02-09

Comments

Absolutely appalling service
Many times loss of broadband.
Had a phone call just to say, we dont pay for loss, just to rub it in my face.

DREADFUL

Reviewer Jay: Location Maidstone, Kent: Date 2023-02-06

Comments

OK when everything is ticking along. Disastrous at sorting out problems–particularly bills!

Reviewer Mrs G: Location Suffolk: Date 2023-02-05

Comments

Absolutely awful I have been stuck with shell since July. It is by far the worst internet I have had ever! The download speeds are super slow and the Wi-Fi constantly cuts out – driving everyone on the house nuts. I’ve contacted them so many times and even bought a signal repeater nothing helps just stay away from shell broadband.

They screwed up my broadband and now they’ve screwed me on electric and gas.

6 March 2023

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.

Move over B GAS there’s a bigger crook in town

Just when I thought I’d met all the cowboy’s in the utility game another one rears it’s head. After leaving Shell in January this year I’m glad to say they will never see a penny of my cash ever again in any way shape or form. They screwed up my broadband and now they’ve screwed me on electric and gas. Probably the worst energy and broadband cowboy’s out there.

Although the young guy helped me out…

Although the young guy helped me out somewhat on the day the problem with my broadband has returned.
I have spoken to 6 different people over the past week and spent hours on the phone so as far as I’m concerned Shell broadband does not have the customer service to back it up. And I would definitely not recommend them.

Shell energy are the worst company…

Shell energy are the worst company ever! Our smart meter stopped working in Nov 22. They confirmed it was their end and promised to send someone out to fix the problem. We were told Jan then Feb then March and as of today will be the 24th April (watch this space). We are currently paying estimated bills and are £500 in credit!! They keep reminding us to send meter readings but we can’t because the electric meter won’t give as a reading and they have known about this since Nov 22. Still nothing has been done. All they do is keep saying sorry. But that doesn’t help us. We can’t change companies until this is sorted but my god we certainly will. Put in a complaint and reported to ofgem. Gave them one star but if we could give a minus we would. Crap service.

If I could rate zero I would

If I could rate zero I would, overcharging despite being aware of a fault in the meter. Setting up smart meters to fix fault but being unable to connect them to the system- so I switch they then sent awful emails withholding my overpayments and delaying amended bills/final bills in shear spite. DO NOT BECOME A SHELL CUSTOMER THEY ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN ANY OTHER PROVIDERS – stealing your money for their profits

Appalling customer service

Appalling customer service, and the executive office is as bad.. most of the operators are from abroad and very difficult to understand. and trying to get a supervisor is like pulling teeth… In the process of looking for a better company, have told them I am leaving they are not interested never communicated so their loss…!!

Don’t ever expect to talk to the…

Don’t ever expect to talk to the complaints department. You open a case then they just call you, hang up the phone and leave a voice mail saying they will Email you. It must be a defined procedure for them to follow!!! Makes the statistics look good I suppose.

The above are extracts from negative customer reviews about Shell Energy posted during the last few days on Trustpilot.  Visit the Shell Energy page on Trustpilot to view all reviews in their entirety, positive and negative (and Shell Energy responses). Watch out for any fake reviews. Note the reoccurring themes in the negative reviews, including difficulty in communicating with the company. Shell Plc CEO Ben Van Beurden (now retired) openly admitted at the Shell AGM held in London on 23 May 2022 that all is not well at Shell Energy. 

OILPRICE.COM

Shell Is Reviewing Its Plan To Reduce Oil Production This Decade

By Tsvetana Paraskova – Mar 03, 2023, 7:26 AM CST

OILPRICE.COM

Shell Considered Relocating To The U.S. In Pursuit Of Higher Value

By Irina Slav – Feb 28, 2023, 3:16 AM CST

Awful awful customer service and product. Worst company I’ve ever dealt with in my life. Totally incompetent. AVOID like the plague.

Shell Energy Broadband Reviews recently posted on broadband.co.uk

Reviewer Colin edwards: Location Ainsdale: Date 2023-02-03

Comments

We had Shell broadband fitted on the 13 January 2023 it hasn’t worked since the day it went in. If we are lucky we might get 20 minutes a day before it drops out we gave had to telephone calls who could not fix it an engineer called out it worked for 4 hours then dropped out we called another engineer who was booked for the second time to call on the Wednesday but he never turned up phoned Shell who told me they forgot to book the engineer he booked again for Monday. The company will not let me cancel for 30 days or I have to pay £300 to cancel. So 21 days into thus contract we get approximately 20 minutes service. I am now taking legal action against thus absolutely dreadful company. Whatever you do don’t take out out a contract out with this diabolical company you will be sorry

Reviewer Tony: Location North Wales: Date 2023-02-03

Comments

I was with the post office, then she’ll toothpaste over, now extremely slow, rarely able to use laptop, can use mobile which is better than it was this was due having a replacement rooter, buti gave up hoping for better, also they changed my number when they gave me new rooter, now I find I’m ex directory, no one can now find my number as they no longer add the number to the directory, not a service they offer according to customer service I rang today, can’t wait until my contract is up, they are appalling.

Reviewer jean: Location neath: Date 2023-02-03

Comments

the way you handle the relatives of deceased loved ones when sending a final bill, you make the bill look like people owe you money, you even put on a pay by date, lucky i noticed after paying your company, that you owed the money to myself and not the other way around, i had to phone to complain, how many people have fallen for your little tricks on making people think you owe the money, like myself, clearly out to swindle greaving, the vulnerable and the elderly , you must be making millions out of the most vulnerable people, shame on you

Reviewer zraeme: Location Moray: Date 2023-02-02

Comments

Awful awful customer service and product. Worst company I’ve ever dealt with in my life. Totally incompetent. AVOID like the plague.

FT.com

Shell explored quitting Europe and moving to the US

New boss part of executive review that discussed potential shift in effort to close value gap with American rivals

Shell pensioners in uproar over capped pension increase

28 February 2023

The December Retail Price Index (RPI) only exceeded 7% twice before 2021 (7.5%) and 2022 (13.4%).  The two occasions were in 1989 and 1990.

In 1989 the RPI increase was 7.7%. At the time the SCPF took the decision, following Company approval, to match the RPI increase and Pensions went up by 7.7% in April 1990.

In December 1990 the RPI figure was 9.3%. Once again SCPF pensioners received a matching 9.3% increase w.e.f. April 1991.

So the decisions last year and this year, when the RPI increases were 7.5% (2021) and 13.4% (2022), to cap our pension increment at 7% were unprecedented – certainly over the last 30+ years.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2405778596/?ref=share

27 Feb 2023

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.

Avoid Shell

Shell broadband is awful. Poor signal.
When you do get a signal it drops off.
No person to call for help and they send you email instructions – no good if you have no internet and have to use mobile data.
When you can read your emails they send you the same information over and over again

Complete and absolute nightmare

Complete and absolute nightmare. Where can I start been with them sine 2018 no problem smart meter reading always worked. Then in January 2023 smart meter failed to communicate so an estimate bill was generated wait for it £2500 for one month!!. I immediately phoned and complained they advised it would be corrected in February bill it wasn’t another bill for £1500 so phoned and asked to make a proper complaint I was transferred through to complaints department who said they would sort this out and contact me now at end of Feb and still waiting for them to contact me as they said they would. My bill is now showing i owe Shell £3800 for two months gas and this is not including electric.

When help isn’t helpful!

I reported a router that was faulty the so called support only managed to kill the router completely I’ve had no Internet for 36 hours with a severally Ill mother , as a carer I feel cut off and angry I’m having to eat into my mobile data just to keep intouch

Terrible customer service

I contacted Shell Energy on behalf of the account holder, my mother-in-law, who is 93 years old and relies on her phone landline, which stopped working several days before the 17th.
Our initial service request forms were the ignored, my wife then called and was told it was Open Reach’s problem.
As yet, we have no anticipated time to fix, nor any real information in terms of what is going to be done and when.
It just such a rubbish experience. They should not be selling a service they can’t support.

Worst energy company Ive been with

If you want an energy company that repeatedly lacks common sense on their reading estimates and then increase their direct debits by several times over this is the one for you. By far the worst energy supplier I’ve been with and cant wait to get them out of my life.

The above are extracts from negative customer reviews about Shell Energy posted during the last few days on Trustpilot.  Visit the Shell Energy page on Trustpilot to view all reviews in their entirety, positive and negative (and Shell Energy responses). Watch out for any fake reviews. Note the reoccurring themes in the negative reviews, including difficulty in communicating with the company. Shell Plc CEO Ben Van Beurden (now retired) openly admitted at the Shell AGM held in London on 23 May 2022 that all is not well at Shell Energy. 

If you want bad customer service and multiple internet issues to make your life more difficult and stressful, go with Shell. Otherwise, I’d advise staying clear!

Shell Energy Broadband Reviews recently posted on broadband.co.uk

27 February 2023

Reviewer ZM: Location Sheffield: Date 2023-02-01

Comments

I would never usually bother to leave a bad review but feel the need to share about avoiding Shell! Unfortunately the only positive thing to say about Shell is that the internet is ok (if it works) but the customer service (if you manage to get through before being on hold for an hour) is terrible. I’ve been lied to about my rights, had issues with resolving any internet problems (seems to take a while to resolve anything, even when the internet doesn’t work at all). The router they send is terrible and randomly died but Shell didn’t take responsibility and charged me for an engineer visit (which they later refunded after multiple calls disputing). I’ve had issues with connection and speed. Whether it’s zero internet or bad connection and poor speed.

Even when leaving them recently as near the end of my contract, they caught me in a trap of believing what they said that when I would move provider, that the new provider would take over their line – without actually saying that I need to ask the new provider for an “in-line takeover”. They then said that I hadn’t cancelled my contract when I had initially called (with plenty of notice) and offered me to stay with them. Now that I’m my last few weeks of the contract, I currently have no internet. If you want bad customer service and multiple internet issues to make your life more difficult and stressful, go with Shell. Otherwise, I’d advise staying clear!

Reviewer Matthew: Location Cornwall: Date 2023-01-30

Comments

Please avoid. Broadband was pretty expensive but went with it because of the high speeds promised. Speeds were good when stable but regularly experienced drop outs and generally unreliable. Customer service really disinterested and bored which made me think they probably get a lock of flack for the poor service generally. Definitely wouldn’t go back to them again.

Reviewer Lorraine: Location hanklin: Date 2023-01-26

Comments

Agreed £17
Bill raised to £27.+
Impossible to call or discuss when finally get through speaking to different people. Their internet not working so can’t help
We are both elderly and disabled and only need internet for forced online stuff we don’t want to do! Stress stress stress ! Theft of our money ! We are entitled to social tariff and it keeps being ignored