Consumer’s Energy - YOU SUCK!!!!
Yes this is a rant so watch out!
I’ve lived in my apartment for 3 years now and have paid my electric bill every month. So imagine my surprise, shock, anger, and pure disbelief when I open my Consumer’s Energy bill today to see that on November 9, 2007 they will deduct (from my checking account because I have automatic payment every month to them) $769 and some odd sense!
And no that’s not a typo you read it correctly! $769!!!! I immediately got on the phone with them and talked to a not so very friendly customer service rep (I’ve really had it with customer service lately - it seems to be sucking no matter where you go or who you talk to!!!).
According to my bill they are billing me for for the past 2 years (from August 05 to October 07). I told her I didn’t understand and she said well someone noticed that your meter wasn’t registering your electric use and she immediately got rude with me and said “well didn’t you wonder why your bills were so low lately”? Well no I didn’t beceause they honestly didn’t get that much lower other than a couple months of $8 and something bills. But I have NEVER had high energy bills since I’ve lived here. I’m very anal about lights being off, appliances being unplugged when not in use, etc, etc.
I tried calmly explaining to her that I didn’t do anything wrong and she sarcastically and snottily replied back that neither did Consumer’s Energy.
By this time I wanted to SCREAM at her and tell her “screw you”! How can she say it’s not their fault when a Consumer’s Energy truck pulls up here all the time, the employee walks to the back of the apartments and checks the meters? It’s taken this long for an employee of theirs to notice that my meter wasn’t registering? Yeah whatever!
She was of no assistance to me at all (other than she got to be rude and nasty and sometimes I think people just like that power!) and told me to call my local department of human services and have them help me. Ummm gee thanks Mrs. whatever your name was (bearline or something).
So I hop in my car and speed away off to DHS. His answer was if it’s not an emergency and in shut off mode we can’t help you and even in this case if this was a shut off notice we still wouldn’t be able to help you because we don’t have that kind of money to pay that kind of payment.
So I walk out of there crying and even more pissed than when I got the bill. On my way home I saw a sign for legal services of Northern Michigan and make a quick detour there.
The office assistant took my name & number and said she would talk to the attorney and give me a call back.
I wish I could tell the entire world how much I think CONSUMER’S ENERGY SUCKS and that I hope I NEVER EVER EVER have to deal with them AGAIN EVER!
This is outrageous Tishia. They have to work out a payment arrangement for you - it’s insane that they think an average apartment dweller could come up with $800 all at once like that.
I am floored that they think you can pay $800 in one sitting!! And maybe it’s time they hire some new people - how can they not notice a problem before now???
That has happened to one of our neighbors here as well. Except she did notice her too good to be true bills and never said anything hoping they wouldn’t notice. They did take payment arrangements though and your company should as well. Call again because odds are you’ll get an entirely new (and maybe less rude operator) and tell them you need to make a payment arrangement.
Tishia I have to agree with the ladies above. I would me so upset. I am with you and it is not your fault at all. I will be praying for you.
[…] Can you imagine reading a letter like that in her situation? You can catch her reaction on her blog. […]
Praying for your situation Tishia. Fight them for payment arrangements. Talk to every lawyer in your area if you have to. They can’t do this. Close your checking account before they debit it if you have to. They’ll talk to you then.
I had this song on my mind for you tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8NhZN9UJU4
Love ya!
Shannon
As others have said, deactivate auto-payment ASAP.
Speak with an attorney if at all possible and see what your options are — if it’s not an option, then contact them again and see if you can work out payment arrangements.
Quite frankly, it’s not your fault and despite her saying it’s not Consumer’s Energy’s fault either, it is. They are responsible for checking to make sure their equipment is working properly and they were negligent in that regard.
IANAL, but something seems inherently wrong with back-billing for something that you had no control over.
Hugs,
-KB
I changed my automatic payment option with them, have requested to have bills sent via mail instead of online bills sent.
I’m waiting to hear from the local attorney I contacted at legal services of northern michigan and I still feel that they shouldn’t be allowed to back bill for 2 years especially when it’s not my fault their equipment was faulty. The point is I’m still ticked no matter which way you look at the situation.
Shannon thanks for the song
Tishia,
I’m so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I’m glad that you de-activated the auto payment, but I think I would actually open a new checking account. I would be afraid that they would try to do an auto withdrawal even though you’ve de-activated. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but they haven’t been fair with you so far, so better safe than sorry…
I’ll keep you in my prayers, please keep us posted on what happens!
Tishia - that would make me so upset too - it’s not your fault that they made a mistake and I don’t think it’s fair for them to charge you a lumpsum like that. I hope you can arrange for a payment arrangement.
I think Customer Service jobs (as well as Teaching jobs) should be the highest paid industries…up there with sports paychecks.
Because they are awful, difficult jobs…and I wonder how many calls that woman got today before she gave in to her natural instincts to fight back.
What you did isn’t right…and remember…ALWAYS ask for a manager if you’re not getting along with someone on the phone. For whatever reason. Even if they just sound like your mom. When you feel someone isn’t going to help you…they probably aren’t…and you need to be talking to someone else.
Sorry, I feel bad for customer service reps. They don’t start off as awful people. They’re beaten into it by having rules to follow that make no sense.
What you’re going through isn’t right, and I hope you can get high enough up the food chain that you can get a payment plan into place. If not, know that I’m behind you and supporting you!
We love you Tishia!
Hay just emailed you I am having trouble with them also
We use the seam company here for our gas I wrote you to tell you my story what they are doing to people is so not right! Let me know when you get my email you may find it of help.
Your not alone! http://www.coolcandle.net/
Tishia - do any of your local tv or radio stations have a call for action team? I think this would be a great story for you to share so that your own situation can be resolved, but also so it doesn’t happen again. You’d be surprised at the results these ‘call for action’ teams get. Good luck!
I have call our call for action team on this company this is the 2 times now I have had to get there help when dealing with this seam places you should call they do help!
I don’t know what a call to action team even is. But if I can find out if a local radio or TV station has it, I’m all about sharing my story! I’ve heard that I’m not the only person that has had issues with this company recently so I think the story needs to be brought to people’s attention!!!!
The thought of being on TV absolutely freaks me out but if my story can make other’s aware of what’s going on and to start paying attention then I want to step out of my comfort zone and share!!!!
I for one work in customer service and please go higher up than that witch. They have to work out some type of arrangement with you. They just cant sock you that much money. If I were you, I would let the tv news station know and maybe something will happen. I think that is totally illegal. I would also contact a free lawyer. I wouldnt take this!!!!
Good luck,
Deanna
I am so happy the blogging community pulled through and I hope that you are feeling a huge sense of relief right now.
The cost for electric and gas just keeps on going up and up and it’s really stifling sometimes! I totally feel your pain. Everytime I feel like I’ve gotten out from under the financial strain something else falls on top of me.
Tishia have you thought of going public with this by contacting your local news media’s consumer advocate?
Around here (atlanta) there are a couple of these, they’re reporters who specialize in blowing the whistle on consumer rip offs.
Also try clarkhoward.com (he’s one of those, and has a nationally syndicated talk radio show). Contact his show staff and out them on the phone. He’s GREAT about getting stuff DONE for people who call his program.
This is wrong, flat out. They made a mistake and they have no right to debit your account.
As a side note, you’ve unwaringly helped hundreds of people who will read this blog post and get stuff like this OUTTA their checking account. Never never never pay bills with autodrafts from your checking account cause they can just pull crap like this. So you’ve helped a lot of people.
not unwaringly. I meant unwittingly. LOL!
Thanks for the info Carrie. I just emailed Clark Howard but they disable their email address at 7pm on Friday’s so I have to go back to the site & email Monday morning!
Although I’m afraid of getting TV coverage I kind of hope that one of the local TV stations I contacted will let me share my story. I think people need to hear my story and start paying attention to their bills!
And maybe this gentleman you mentioned will offer some advice or just simply SLAM the electric company….LOL!
Large utilities get away with stuff like this by virtue of their size. This is just plain WRONG!
A friend of mine had something similar happen to her. She found a very creative way to handle it. Here is what she said to do…
“I would call the local news station and tell them you have a story that they will want to know about.
Tell the station that the local utility company’s meter was not reading correctly and now they are billing you, a single mom with serious health issues and no money, almost $800.00 in one lump sum.
T.V. stations love this sort of thing and will probably be at your door on Monday morning to get the scoop. Think Big corporation verses the struggling single mom.
I am sure the utility company will not want the bad press and they will write it off.
Make sure to tell the T.V station all the details about how the customer service rep treated you.
Some T.V. stations have consumer watch department where they take on companies that treat people unfairly. Check to see if any of the stations in your area do that sort of thing.”
I am praying for you, Tisha. God be with you.
Love,
Martha
Thank you for stopping by and commenting Martha. I’ve contacted the local TV stations (Thursday of last week) but so far haven’t heard anything back from them.
Speak Your Mind!