Ignite and Stream Energy - Is it a Scam?

[mowboy]

There are at least ten other suppliers offering a lower rate per KW.Why do you need stream energy?This pyramid chain works for the top sellers any consumer who does research can find a better deal for a electrical supplier.This is a sales venture that works for less than 2 per cent. Make your own choice but not for me and i would not want to sell to someone something I would not use myself.

[kenkade]

Could you name those 10 providers that has cheaper rates then Stream Energy. Also that's the whole point in why you should get family, friends, and co-workers, and people that are paying more for there electricity to switch. No one ever said Stream Energy has the lowest rates in the world. Also what do mean by the business only works for 2 percent of the people in this business. You shouldn't get in this business only to make 6 figures or a million dollars. You get in this business to make extra money while you keep your job you already have and to make residual income. Any extra money is good. I mean I don't understand why people wouldn't want to do this company because they don't believe they will make tons of money as if they make tons of money or residual income working as a slave at the job they already have.

[Joska]

I'm in the Stream

We DO have products. (electricity, gas) We ARE making marketing headlines. (under 10% share in TX) We ARE expanding. (GA, PA, MD, NJ) We are making MONEY.

[mowboy]

Could you name those 10 providers that has cheaper rates then Stream Energy. Also that's the whole point in why you should get family, friends, and co-workers, and people that are paying more for there electricity to switch. No one ever said Stream Energy has the lowest rates in the world. Also what do mean by the business only works for 2 percent of the people in this business. You shouldn't get in this business only to make 6 figures or a million dollars. You get in this business to make extra money while you keep your job you already have and to make residual income. Any extra money is good. I mean I don't understand why people wouldn't want to do this company because they don't believe they will make tons of money as if they make tons of money or residual income working as a slave at the job they already have.

Check your mailbox or research the net and you can find listing of electric supplier KW rates which are lower Kw rate than stream and they do not carry a 150.00 cancellation fee.This company won't save you alot of $ . We are talking about one half of a cent per Kw?If your making money in this economy that is great but for the majority they put up 300.00 dollars try like crazy and end up with an extra 50.00 dollars at the end of the month and after 3 months no income because it can be very time consuming.My time is worth more than that. Hard work is the only way to make money ,sure a easy way comes around once in a while but this marketing of energy is not going to last and it is showing because there once again is too many options provided by other suppliers.Once again i could not sell something that i would not use my self ,that would not be profitable to me.

[mowboy]

We DO have products. (electricity, gas) We ARE making marketing headlines. (under 10% share in TX) We ARE expanding. (GA, PA, MD, NJ) We are making MONEY.

You listen to too many sales pitches the only reason your company is expanding is due to the deregulation of those states period.Once deregulation reaches other states the company will be there to0, along with 20 other suppliers wanting a piece of the pie.Ignite will still be using this marketing plan and the corporate will we getting 99.9% profits and the bottom feeders will be happy with there 50 cent return.

[fakerolex]

If it looks like a duck

Firstly, my background knowledge of pyramid schemes. while not extensive, my understanding of these schemes is that it is a "pay up the ladder" thing. you get people to pay you, who get people to pay them, who get people to pay them, and so on and so forth, where there is no real product for all intents and purposes. I am sure there are more elaborate schema and plots, but thats the basic jist of it, right?

so tonight i went to this Q and A session for a real estate investment that was totally unrelated. i saw someone i recognized and he started talking about energy deregulation and how it opens the door for tons of residual money to be made. after initially voicing my concern that this was in fact a pyramid scheme, he told me that it was. of course, his rationale was that all companies are in a sense pyramid schemes, and that when it came down to it, this company was actually selling a product to people.

there are so many warning signs i dont even know where to begin. from the 1 posters on this site to the referral and associate programs to the initial cost to the company to become an associate, everything reeks of scam. but when you get down to it, the people who sign up for this utility transfer are not paying you money. they are paying this energy company. do car salesmen pay up the ladder? no, they sell a product, and they get commission. its the same thing really.

i am not sold on it yet, so i can be clear on that. i am going to a meeting tomorrow night where there are 2 guest speakers: the top seller for the company and 6th top seller. numero uno makes, apparently, 250k a MONTH. 4th guy around the horn makes 160k a MONTH. since im not an idiot, the only thing going through my mind is, "look for the proof, look for the proof, look for the proof." i will post again tomorrow once i have experienced the meeting and let everyone know more.

[francis]

Typical MM Scheme, sounds great until...

Ok, this is a MM scheme. Yes they will pass down some money but like any MM Marketing scheme you have to understand that it's the people at the top that benefit ultimately. Once you are locked into their contract. Oh well... tough cookies for you. Also, read the fine print. They can change the rules of the game to suit their profit levels at any time. I had one bud trying to get me to buy into this. He's always losing money or getting suckered by these get rich deals. I have tried to explain to him that the Multilevel model and how they work to no avail. Yes, you can make some money until the model reaches the peak size and cannot pay the actual energy costs based on the spread. It's simple math, just hope you dont get locked in when they decide to sell/crumble.

[Fraudeducation]

Have you seen Ignites Income Disclosure? It says it all!

[BlueleafMarket]

I actually have been involved with Ignite for about 4 months. I've made my initial one time fee back and have this business secondary to my initial business which is network marketing. I signed up for a friend and made some quick cash, but I do have some issues with how things are done. First and foremost, their ways of doing business are outdated. Chasing people around preaching to "show them an opportunity" and not disclosing what the opportunity is.. such as energy deregulation because that will "scare" your potentials away is crap. the 24.95 a month fee makes your business paperless, but face it you can own your own website for 10.00 a month. Also, the initial 299 and the 24.95 doesn't go to stream.. it stays and recycles with ignites quick start bonus. Your first bonus check does not come from the customers you recently acquired paying their bill for service because it takes up to one bill cycle, sometimes two to hit to their current electric account. This is simply something that can hinder this business in the long run because for the 299 fee.. there is no tangible product. Also, they have strict "rules" about using the internet to show your "opportunity." It has to be sent to corporate for approval and "THEY" tell you if you can post a link to the website or write an article or record a video. If the Jury is out on Ignite with all the articles, records broken yada yada.. what's the secret of allowing associates to use the power of the internet to build their business? Clueless there.
And actually since I've made some quick bucks, I've been doing a ton of research on the pricing and that. I had an associate in my downline try to sign his aunt up for service a week ago... she was already paying 8.29 kwh. Ignite and Stream currently is at 8.69 or 8.4 with 12 or 6 month contract. and Variable is 8.3. So... in the end we weren't saving her any money. This is where the whole cheerleader aspect comes in and telling assciates friends and family will just sign up because they trust and support you. Every single person I've signed up as a customer asked for the rate first.. It's like Ignite is ignorant to the fact PEOPLE WANT ACTUAL SAVINGS... and if you can't provide that? Why go with your company? There are actually energy companies out there that offer more than just rates to customers in the form of savings... paying six bill cycles on time gets them a credit. With Ignite, there's no other offering to a customer rather than rate and theres no other way to offer the opportunity without a recycled 299.00 fee for a quick start bonus.
I am actually doing more research after making money here and looking at other opportunities. There is actually a company that launched in 2010 that offers savings and reps don't get paid until the energy bill is paid every month. No Start up to recycle for quick start bonuses... which is why I've grown quite uneasy. Just some thoughts.

Have a great day.

[LGBTQ4U]

my parents are doing it here in PA.
and so far, its been really good.
We pay half of what we used to pay. i think its really good. but i dont really know much about it. just heard about it from my parents.

[delvin]

Reading through this long thread, it seems to me that all the regular members of this forum warn that Steam and Ignite energy is something that everyone should be very cautious about at best, or better stay away from. New members with only a few posts seem to be the most adamant that this is a great company. Can I assume that most of these are from people that just found this thread and want to promote their business? Should I give more credence to the long time members over the newer members?

[ExtraPnt]

Here in Texas there is an energy company called Stream Energy that also owns its marketing business called Ignite that uses Multi Level Marketing to sell its energy.

It is set up like Amway and I do not trust it and wanted to see if any of you guys have had any experience with them that you can tell me about.

Thanks

Stream does not own Ignite. Ignite is the marketing arm for Stream energy. You're right, the Ignite compensation plan is set up much like AmWay, but with several differences. AmWay is not a scam (I built a Direct Distributorship, but kept getting deployed over-seas), and neither is Ignite. It is not a get rich scheme and does require work. The payoff can become substantial for both, but the problem with people is that they don't work the business long enough, nor duplicate the work to make the business grow. Hope this helps a little.

[Bortek02]

It's what you make of it...

I understand about how the skeptics feel and I felt like that too. It's true when it's mentioned that you must do your research before joining the business and with respect that's towards the people that says MLMs are scams. You have to know where the money is originating from. I'm going to include another MLM business for example, Primerica. They follow the same word of mouth advertising blue print and that company has a track record of success since 1977. Why are they still in business if a pyramid scheme is illegal? Because its not a pyramid scheme in the first place. It looks like one, smells like one, but there is a subtle difference that makes it legit.
The illegal pyramid scheme is designed where if you were in business and if someone joined up under you, you would be payed an amount just for that person joining. In MLMs it doesn't work this way. In Ignite's case, you would pay the $299 fee to get started because no matter how you look at it there are fees to start a business. That $299 give you the supplies needed to get started in business in a box. It contains information on how to get your business started and how to get the best results. There is nobody getting compensated upon you joining the team. You and your "upline" only gets paid only if you put out result in sales through form of commissions.
Be mindful that electricity is a nessesity that we all use everyday whether we want it or not and that's a damn genius idea if you ask me. That's Ignite's origin for associates getting compensated.
This is the part where I say whos really being scammed. You went thru elementary school thru high school. Learned from your parents and teachers that in order to get a good job you need additional education. So you go to college whether you get an Associates, Bachelors, Masters or more. Your potentials of a good job depends on how experienced you are, if your resume, cover letter, and portfolio impressed any employers. And at the very end you probably spent well over $60,000 and stuck with students loans and high interest and so forth. How many people do you think are actually happy with the jobs they received after college? That sounds like a scam to me but you probably thought of it as the normal thing to do now did you? Did you really recieve that education or did you party it up, drank beer, got laid, and repeated those steps? .Thats called being conditioned for the average Joe life.
So you mean to tell me your on the "Internet" typing on a "computer" using "electricity" flaming about how Ignite is a scam when your the one probably the victim of paying more than what you should in educational costs. Yeah, ok. You got me there. Another thing. MLMs are not for the faint of heart because it will allow you so much more freedom than what we are conditionally use to. It's always going to be the hardest thing at first because of your efforts you need to put in. Another scam I need to mention is how traditional businesses keep people working forever until the age of average retirement age 65 or more. You tell me what's a scam now.

[stabwound]

Research

I just wanted to thank you guys on your information about this. I try to be as cautious with my money as much as possible but don't want to completely shut out the oppurtunity to make money. I was very skeptical about this ignite business option asking the same questions that all you are. After doing lots of research and coming here to find out the same I have decided not to pursue this.


The main thing that really drives home is the fact that everyone keeps saying the same thing about how many posts people have or don't have. That the people that have only a couple of posts are preaching the great things about this but more importantly the people that have been a big part of the community and NONE of them have anything good to say about this.

Once again thanks for your insight and look forward to post here and reading in the future.

[DebKirk]

Sream Energy is a Winner !

Here in Texas there is an energy company called Stream Energy that also owns its marketing business called Ignite that uses Multi Level Marketing to sell its energy.

It is set up like Amway and I do not trust it and wanted to see if any of you guys have had any experience with them that you can tell me about.

Thanks

I have been Representing Stream energy for over 6 months now. The company has been fabulous to me & my family. There is NO SCAM, there is No "Catch". There is NOTHING To SELL. All you do is sign people up for a Lower electricity or Nat gas Rate-they save money and you make a permanent monthly residual income every time they pay their energy bill. Simple.The Federal Gov'nt has de regulated Utility companies: We can "choose" from 40 different phone Co, 10 different way to watch TV, Now We can now all "choose" who we buy our electricity from.Stream energy decided NOT to tele market or send out 'tacky' annoying multi mailings, Instead they come into a community & ask "us" to sign up our friends& Family, and we get Richly compensated-THEY give $ back to the communities where they offer their service.It gives normal-regular people an opportunity to Tap into a Wealthy opportunity that is usually ONLY offered to the very rich, bankers & financiers. I have been given Bonuses back for every single customer I have signed up & that customer is saving 10-20% every mo on an energy bill they would be paying anyway.Instead of paying $$$ dollar ad agency to GET customers-Stream gives their sales $ back to us.They set up the sign up fee to be reimbursed in the 1st 2 weeks of You Opening your "Ignite business" (marketing arm of Stream) It takes 2 customers: Your Own house bill + Your Mother = $200, that can be done in 24 hrs.Then 6 more customers (which I did in 4 days)or a friend who needs a plan B for their finances, coming along= $100 bonus. Your initial investment For opening a Real Business is paid back in full. Call me and i will show you my Bonus checks-no inventory NOTHING TO SELL, this is NOT Amway ! All you do is sign people up for a Lower electricity or Nat gas Rate-they save money and you make a permanent monthly residual income every time they pay their energy bill.