Vent: Txu

[Cajungaltx]

It gets hot here in Texas. I'm sure you guys know that. I signed up for TXU energy almost a year ago cause they were offering a 24 month price guarantee rate that was lower than what Reliant was offering. We had been with Reliant for years... customer service sucked there too, so it was just about the money.

The first bill, had a $400 deposit request. I called, told them that the .003 cents per kilowatt that they were saving me would never add up to the 400 deposit they were requiring, and that I'd switch back to my former electric provider. They rechecked my credit score, and waived it.

Life went on.

In November, due to, well, I'm not exactly sure why yet - the Hurricane? Maybe it was that my MIL was occupying my house and they found out... who knows. Somehow TXU overlooked the payment for the electric bill, and my electricity was cut off for non-payment. You should try looking up your bank statements, and emails showing you paid the bill on your computer when you have NO POWER. It's quite... frustrating.

I haven't been that embarrassed in a while. *grin* I work from home... and calling my boss and saying: Sir, I can't work cause my electricity has been disconnected. I paid the bill, I promise! *sheesh*

While I was on the phone dealing with that, I signed up for budget billing. I thought that was cool, at least the July/August/Sept/Oct bills won't be so painful, right.

I didn't notice when DH paid the electric bill last month - $488.55... $338.55 plus $150 Deposit.

I noticed when I opened the bill up this month, and they were asking for an ADDITIONAL $300 Deposit.

WTF?

I called - and because my electricity was disconnected in November - through NO FAULT OF MY OWN - they REQUIRE a deposit now.

"No."

(you should have heard the poor little "English" is not my native language guy stutter).

Ma'am, I"m sorry, but it's required.

Sir, I'm afraid you don't understand. I'm not paying it. If that means you need to come out and disconnect my service, let me know when to expect you so that I know that I need to contact one of the OTHER 15 Texas energy companies to make arrangements to pay my $400/month electric bill to them.

"Ma'am, could you hold for a moment?"

25 minutes later, 2 supervisors,and me in a VERY calm (scary my DH says, lol) fashion explaining to them that just because THEIR records say I agreed to a deposit, does not mean I agreed to a deposit.

Was it in the contract I signed? No.

Was it on a form that you sent me? No.

Do you have a verbal agreement recorded? No.

I'm not paying it.

End of Story.

If you want to argue about it, we can go through the PUC where you can prove I agreed to pay this charge and I can provide documentation showing it was waived by TXU originally, it wasn't included in ANY notices from TXU, and you have no verifiable proof that I agreed to pay it. I don't care what your system says, I don't care what your company policy is. I am not paying it. You determine what you need to do to remove it from my bill and let me know when it's done.

They are issuing a waiver, and will credit the $150 'deposit' to the current bill due.

I am PISSED.

And not even on my behalf. I am in litigation sales. I eat people like this for breakfast and I 'LOVE' calls like this. Seriously. I'm nice... until you piss me off. Then I'm scary calm... do NOT mess with my household finances. I do not like it... that's D300 or (maybe!!!) D700 money your taking out of my pocket!

I know there is some family in Houston who is scared to death that they can't make their whatever bill because they had something similar occur and TXU is trying to screw them over by now requiring a $450 deposit to continue their electric service.

And THAT bothers me. Maybe there should be a 'how to be assertive in the face of bad customer service issues' class that I could teach.

Anyone want to sign up?

[CaptainTom]

Sounds like you would be the perfect teacher for the course.

Maybe you can call a certain credit card company for me ???

[tresorph]

This story coupled with the one on last night on the 10 o'clock news about how deregulation actually cost us 65% in higher electricity bills than previous to deregulation - makes me boiling mad.

It wasn't until recently when browsing city-data forums that I realized just how much in electricity we pay here in Houston. People that move in from around the country are shocked, at what to is natural course of business for us.

I have TXU. And until now, okay. Our bill is about 180 a month - we're very good about not having the A/C when we don't need it, unplugging appliances and the lights. After the hurricane we had a $99 bill... I didn't question it. Then November and December came around - and we got slammed with a $400+ bill each month. We paid it - although I didn't think things were right. We have a small house, only 1500 sq feet - so wtheck. But I've been burned before and I didn't want an audit of my kilowatts at my request - to turn in their favor.

So FF to Jan bill... wouldn't you know it they credited me $380. Look I'm not going to call and complain. But man it's always hit or miss with these guys, Reliant, TXU, et al.

[Jeff_Green]

Oh no you didn't!! I hate ALL electricity providers! Brand spanking new, energy efficient appliances, storm windows and doors and well insulated first floor apartment. Paying over $200 a month? Don't watch much tv, don't have cable or Internet so I don't use my computer much... How can I rack up that much usage??

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Oh no you didn't!! I hate ALL electricity providers! Brand spanking new, energy efficient appliances, storm windows and doors and well insulated first floor apartment. Paying over $200 a month? Don't watch much tv, don't have cable or Internet so I don't use my computer much... How can I rack up that much usage??

Dang, that's alot for so little use.

Cajungaltx added 0 Minutes and 58 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by tresorph

This story coupled with the one on last night on the 10 o'clock news about how deregulation actually cost us 65% in higher electricity bills than previous to deregulation - makes me boiling mad.

It wasn't until recently when browing city-data forums that I realized just how much in electricity we pay here in Houston. People that move in from around the country are shocked, at what to us is natural course of business.

I have TXU. And until now, okay. Our bill is about 180 a month - we're very good about not having the A/C when we don't need it, unplugging appliances and the lights. After the hurricane we had a $99 bill... I didn't question it. Then November and December came around - and we got slammed with a $400+ bill each month. We paid it - although I didn't think things were right. We have a small house, only 1500 sq feet - so wtheck. But I've been burned before and I didn't want an audit of my kilowatts at my request - to turn in their favor.

So FF to Jan bill... wouldn't you know it they credited me $380. Look I'm not going to call and complain. But man it's always hit or miss with these guys, Reliant, TXU, et al.

That was awesome of them. I'm going to get an efficiency person over to check out the house and make sure we aren't funneling the a/c into the attic or something...lol.

Cajungaltx added 2 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Sounds like you would be the perfect teacher for the course.

Maybe you can call a certain credit card company for me ???

I helped a friend of mine reduce his 'repo'd car' loan of 11K to 3K a year ago. He was deployed during the first gulf war for over 9 months, came home to a wife who was 4 months pregnant... who hadn't bothered to pay any of the bills. It was a nightmare.

[rbalcom]

Originally Posted by tresorph

This story coupled with the one on last night on the 10 o'clock news about how deregulation actually cost us 65% in higher electricity bills than previous to deregulation - makes me boiling mad.

It wasn't until recently when browing city-data forums that I realized just how much in electricity we pay here in Houston. People that move in from around the country are shocked, at what to us is natural course of business.

The real question is not how much rates have gone up (easy to answer and makes for a good story), but rather how would they compare to what our rates would be in a regulated environment (not so easy to answer). The problem with Texas is that he majority of the electricity produced is produced from natural gas, which costs four to five times what it did before Texas implemented the competitive market. Also, most of the country produced their power from coal rather than natural gas which is why their rates are much better than ours. I do not think that competition is working for the benefit of the residential customer, but the news is not giving the whole picture and therefore creates an unreal expectation of what could be.

I don't like TXU or Reliant. Best thing you can do is go to www.powertochoose.org and look for the best deal you can find. Keep the contract you sign to a reasonable duration because in this economy, prices are going to be volatile and you are betting on the direction they will go.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Oh no you didn't!! I hate ALL electricity providers! Brand spanking new, energy efficient appliances, storm windows and doors and well insulated first floor apartment. Paying over $200 a month? Don't watch much tv, don't have cable or Internet so I don't use my computer much... How can I rack up that much usage??

Baking a lot of cookies? Using a lot of heat or air conditioning?

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by toverman

Baking a lot of cookies? Using a lot of heat or air conditioning?

Very little baking... VERY little. I ran the heat but tried to keep it no hotter than 72 degrees. It's possible that it's an apartment issue... faulty equipment, defective thermostat, something, but still, for as little electricity as I use, having a bill over 200 seems a bit steep.

Jeff_Green added 0 Minutes and 55 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by Cajungaltx

He was deployed during the first gulf war for over 9 months, came home to a wife who was 4 months pregnant... who hadn't bothered to pay any of the bills. It was a nightmare.

Add one... carry the nine... umm something isn't adding up right.

[acymc]

I just don't understand . . . all the electricity companies and the state senators and representatives keep saying that deregulation is working. Some of us tried to warn folks that the individual would suffer and have much higher bills, but the rich guys laying out "gifts" got deregulation passed.

[toverman]

Our house isn't big (1,800 sq ft) and it's old (1964), and our electricity bill is usually less than yours, Jeff, so definitely see what's up. But we also have gas appliances (furnace, water heater, oven/stovetop), so we end up paying more to run the whole house.

toverman added 0 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by acymc

I just don't understand . . . all the electricity companies and the state senators and representatives keep saying that deregulation is working. Some of us tried to warn folks that the individual would suffer and have much higher bills, but the rich guys laying out "gifts" got deregulation passed.

You're right .... it is working for the lobbyists.