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Consumers Energy Complaint - Bills and Meter Readings
Complaint
48867, MICHIGAN -- Consumers Energy decides to estimate meters whenever they don't feel like coming out to your house and giving you an actual reading. My bill went from $81.67 to $274.00 because they estimated instead of doing an actual reading. Not to mention their customer service is really of poor quality when they hang up on you.
Comments:
Posted by adzidek on 2007-02-13:
LOL been there, done that. I once received a $1500 cancellation fee from my energy provider. When I called to inquire, they said they had "estimated" my usage for the rest of that year based on the average household usage in my area. What a crock!! Just yell at them enough, they'll reverse the charge. They know full well they can't get away with it, they do it to see who will just pay it without bothering to complain. Don't let that be you!
Posted by spiderman2 on 2007-02-13:
You should be able to call and give them an actual reading. BTDT without a problem.
Posted by Sparticus on 2007-02-13:
Hmmm... Are you saying I should somehow request they come out to do a reading each month? Or should I just try to learn how to do the reading and compare? Interesting! I always thought they could scam me whenever they wanted to...
Posted by spiderman2 on 2007-02-13:
When I had to call for the same issue, I walked out to my electric meter and read them the number off the thing to the electric company. It wasn't complicated at all and I then sent payment for my actual usage not an estimate. It wasn't a big deal, dramatic or difficult.
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-02-13:
I've actually had the problem where the meter reader misread the meter. He'd do it a couple of times a year. I once had a credit in a summer month cause I used a negative amount of kilowatts. I got where I didn't even call anymore cause it would all works itself out when there was an accurate meter reading.
Why aren't the meters computerized or something. With the available technology you'd think meter reading would go the way of the rotary phone or good customer service.
Why aren't the meters computerized or something. With the available technology you'd think meter reading would go the way of the rotary phone or good customer service.
Posted by Stew.old on 2007-02-13:
Hey spidey, don't know about all companies but here OG&E doesn't take meter readings from customers. They send the guy or gal back out to re-read the meter.
Posted by CrazyRedHead on 2007-02-13:
I'm with Pennyrile Electric and we have those computerized meters. There are no meter readers anymore, they just pull it up in there computer there at the office. I never ever saw a meter reader in all of the 9 years that I am here. The meter is located right beside the window, I thing I would notice someone standing there. My bill has actually dropped since the installation of those things.
From what I understand, if they need to turn off your electicity they don't even need to send out someone to remove your meter, they just shut you off at the office, it is like you are nothing but a switch anymore.
There was a lot of trouble in the area for awhile. People who did have there electric turned off would just go to there neighbors and steal there meters. I had a neighbor that went to another state and stole theres and tried to put it on her trailer. It was a shocking experience.
From what I understand, if they need to turn off your electicity they don't even need to send out someone to remove your meter, they just shut you off at the office, it is like you are nothing but a switch anymore.
There was a lot of trouble in the area for awhile. People who did have there electric turned off would just go to there neighbors and steal there meters. I had a neighbor that went to another state and stole theres and tried to put it on her trailer. It was a shocking experience.
Posted by spiderman2 on 2007-02-13:
Stew -- thats how my electric company, PPL, does it. It was about 10 years ago and probably the only time I have had an estimated bill. There was a lot of snow at the time.
Posted by KenPopcorn on 2007-02-13:
My gas meter is connected to my phone line, and dials up and reads itself during the night. For my water meter, they just drive past the houses and point a reader at the house and the meter reports itself. So Stew, they are.
Posted by Cyane on 2007-02-13:
My apartment building has electric meters that report directly to the electric company.
Posted by pet sitter on 2009-03-01:
This is an old problem. I just need to figure out how to close this discussion. Thanks anyway.
Posted by John Sheppard on 2012-07-13:
I rented out my cabin and rentes have moved out. I called 2 weeks ahead of time. After they left for 2 days I pulled the master power. I then get a bill for 251.22. I call on phone for exactly 47 minutes then get disconnected. ON phone again now for 4o min and awaiting for third transfer. They keep tranfer and hope the person hangs up thats there way to solve problems.
WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE. Who pays for all of my time waiting for them.
THey say the do not have resource to read meter. Then they should get out of business. Why not fix problem rather than transfer people. I told them all why do they just get back to me and not make me wait forever. I now has been 50 minutes that a total of 107 minutes. I would like to charge for my time and the cost of call
WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE. Who pays for all of my time waiting for them.
THey say the do not have resource to read meter. Then they should get out of business. Why not fix problem rather than transfer people. I told them all why do they just get back to me and not make me wait forever. I now has been 50 minutes that a total of 107 minutes. I would like to charge for my time and the cost of call
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