Was I misled into switching to Alinta Energy?
What to do if you were signed up to Alinta Energy through misleading claims, or switched without properly consenting.
Regulator
State energy ombudsman (EWON in NSW, EWOV in VIC, EWOQ in QLD)
Key legislation
Australian Consumer Law and the National Energy Retail Rules
Dispute path
Letter first, deadline tracked. If they go quiet, escalation to State energy ombudsman (EWON in NSW, EWOV in VIC, EWOQ in QLD) is prepped and ready.
There are two different problems worth separating here, and it matters which one you actually have. The first is being switched to Alinta without ever properly agreeing to it, an unauthorised transfer, which can be reversed and corrected at no cost to you. The second is agreeing to switch, but on the basis of claims that were not true, for instance a savings figure that had nothing to do with your actual usage, which is a misleading conduct issue under the Australian Consumer Law.
If you are not sure which applies, start by checking what you actually recall agreeing to, and compare any savings promise against your real bills before and after the switch. A clear gap between what was promised and what happened is worth raising directly, and so is a switch you genuinely do not remember consenting to at all.
Put whatever you have in writing, the sales conversation, savings claims made, and your billing history, and ask Alinta to either reverse an unauthorised transfer or account for the gap between what was promised and what you actually got. If Alinta will not resolve it, escalate to your state energy ombudsman, EWON, EWOV or EWOQ, free of charge, which can investigate both unauthorised transfers and misleading sales conduct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Alinta switch was unauthorised or just misleading?
An unauthorised transfer means you never properly agreed to switch to Alinta at all. Misleading conduct means you did agree, but based on claims that turned out not to be true, like a savings figure that had nothing to do with your actual usage. Both are challengeable, just through slightly different arguments, so it is worth being clear on which one actually describes what happened to you.
I switched to Alinta but the promised savings never showed up, what do I do?
Compare your bills from before and after the switch against the specific savings figure or claim you were given at the time. If there is a clear gap between what was promised and what you are actually paying, put that comparison in writing and raise it directly with Alinta as potentially misleading conduct under the Australian Consumer Law, not just a pricing complaint.
Can an unauthorised switch to Alinta be reversed?
Yes, and reversing it shouldn’t leave you financially worse off once it is corrected. Ask Alinta to confirm what consent it holds on file for the switch, and if you genuinely never agreed, dispute it directly and push for the transfer to be reversed and any resulting charges corrected, since reversing typically involves both Alinta and your previous retailer confirming the switch.
What evidence should I keep for a misleading switch complaint against Alinta?
Keep anything relating to the original sales conversation, including any savings figures or promises made, plus your billing history from before and after the switch. Being able to line up the actual promise against your real bills is what turns a vague complaint into a specific, provable gap between what you were told and what you got.
Does it cost anything to dispute a misleading Alinta switch?
No. Raising the issue directly with Alinta costs nothing, and escalating to your state energy ombudsman if it isn’t resolved is also free for consumers. There is no need to engage a lawyer or pay a fee to have either an unauthorised transfer or misleading sales conduct properly investigated.
What if Alinta won’t properly engage with my switch complaint?
Escalate to your state energy ombudsman, EWON, EWOV or EWOQ, free of charge. The ombudsman can investigate both unauthorised transfers and misleading sales conduct, and can direct that you be moved back or compensated for the gap between what was promised and what actually happened.
What if Alinta Energy just ignores my letter?
Silence is not a dead end, it is a deadline breach. Alinta Energy is expected to respond to a formal complaint within 30 days. Build your letter with us and we track that deadline for you: a countdown check-in two weeks in, and if they miss the deadline, your escalation to your state energy ombudsman (EWON in NSW, EWOV in Victoria, EWOQ in Queensland, or your state equivalent) arrives pre-filled and ready to lodge. Escalating is free.
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Open the Alinta Energy armoury →screwtheman.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The content on this page is for general information on consumer rights, legislation, and dispute pathways. For complex legal matters, consult a qualified lawyer or the relevant regulator.