Laclede Gas Co.

I came home from work and there was a card in my door saying I missed a gas tech who was trying to do a safety check on my pipes. They then shut my gas off! I had a guy come out 2 years ago unannounced on a Saturday and shut me off saying that my line was losing pressure. I had a company come out and repair the pipes then had Laclede out to do a reinspection and turn it back on. Well, about a week later another guy showed up and did another surprise inspection and said the pipes were losing pressure! I informed him of the previous guy out who passed the pipes. Then the tech did another test and said it was ok. What the heck is Laclede trying to do?

Dispute Bill: I lived at ** until 1989. I sold the house. I paid them the $400.00 last bill. This was over 22 years ago. I never received nor heard anything from Laclede Gas since then. Every place that I've lived since then has been all electric. On December 19th, 2011, I moved to Rain Tree Apartment 11011, Mollerus Drive #**. Laclede Gas Company said I owed almost $300.00. This has been over 22 years; I have not received anything after all this time and no one has ever tried to contact me at anytime. Please help me. I am disabled and this is not right or fair.

I have been a customer with Laclede long enough to know they charge an extreme amount to some customers. I am one. I use less gas than electric, but my bill comes in triple times the amount. I can't afford the gas for heat. In the summer, the bill is as big as in the winter and I only used hot water. I hope government gets involved in the overcharging. I know it would be for everyone if people would go all electric, although it is expensive to make the switch. The monies spent given to natural gas could be used to buy electric furnaces and water heaters.

I have had a past bill with Laclede that was accrued after I moved from an apartment. The account should have never been disconnected because they should have had it transferred back to the complex name. I have a bill for $62.00 reconnect fee ($19.50 monthly customer charge and $10.38 actual usage + 1.20 tax).

I agree wholeheartedly that this is robbery and because there is no major competition they are robbing customers blindly. I will be looking into electric heating units because I can't afford to pay my bills plus the outrageous charges.

I called Laclede and there was no help, they just hold that the fees are valid. I am being charged for being a customer with someone and I have no choice but to be their customer and they know this. Many people have no choice it is a regional monopoly and they are doing harm to the communities that they claim to give back too.

We have a gas odor so we called the emergency number. We have been on hold with the emergency number for over an hour and forty five minutes now.

Laclede Gas monopolize the market. We don't have options to change gas provider. They are thieves who are violating my rights and causing me harm. They are ripping me off every month. They are worse than the crooks in Washington D.C. Something has to be done to prevent them from setting there own prices and assuming what our bills should be from month to month due to faulty meters. They don't have any remorse from paying customers. In fact, they rejected my money in lieu of restoring my services. It's a crying shame that we have companies, which are so powerful, that the local government can't control them. I am seriously thinking about converting to all electric due to the ignorance of Laclede Gas.

Laclede Gas was supposed to credit my account because of a broken meter that they were way over charging me for gas. The tech that came told me it was way off and I would be issued a credit. When I talked to Laclede Gas the first time, they agreed. The next time, they basically said, "Too bad." The satellite was wrong and the meter was broken. Now they have disconnected my gas! Wow! How can they get away with robbing everyone? They don't care because they know they are the only one we can go to. It's unbelievable to me. They should be held accountable, but they're not. What can I do?

I recently found out that we have to pay a usage fee of $19.50 every month for gas. When I called and asked customer service about this they said there has always been a fee. I have not seen this fee before though and have been paying a gas bill for at least 6 years. Is there anything we can do about this? I do not want to pay an extra $240 a year just because I have gas in my house, if it was all electric I wouldn't have this fee. I am already stuggling to pay the bills. I do not want to give extra money away.

It cost me $25 to change the name on my account. When I asked the rep to breakdown the $25 fee, she simply said it was for administrative costs; to change a name? I already have another account with the company. Why was Ameren able to change the name on the account for free? Seems like an unnecessary high charge to me.

Can someone explain to me the "monthly customer charge" that is now on our Laclede Gas bills? It is $19.50 added to the usage fees. It first appeared on my October 2010 bill. I don't recall being informed that I would be charged an additional $20 per month for the service!

Their website explains it as allowing "the company to recover a portion of its cost of operation and a rate of return on its investment." Isn't that just a way to squeeze more money out of the customers without a rate increase? This month the "fee" was 33% of my total bill. It's outrageous. I'm shocked that I haven't heard more outcries to the unfairness of this policy. I would suspect that most customers have not looked at their bill closely enough to see where the obvious increase in charges lies.

I got a letter dated November 3 and it stated that on my next bill, a balance of $113.62 will be added to my account from an 8414 Halls Ferry account. I talked to Ms. **** and she said that because I was an individual in the home and 18 and over, I would be responsible for the outstanding balance even though my name was not on the account. Not to mention that this is a bill over 7 and a half years old. I have been a Laclede Gas customer for the last 6 and half years and they have never sent me a letter before about this. This is absurd and I don't feel like I'm responsible for someone else's debt. I need more information on who I need to contact to resolve this matter.

First of all my fiance paid our electric bill in cash. It was around $165. He received a receipt at that time. He also was told the computers were down, and that his payment would be put into the paper records and later recorded on the computers. It wasn't until the cut off date that one of the technicians arrived knocking on our door asking for $209. We received no notices in the mail or any other documentation to warn us of this oncoming cut off. Since I had no such money, I was forced to allow them to cut off our electricity.

My fiance rushed off and immediately brought to the Hartville office the carbon copy receipt. At that point, we thought we were just waiting for the technician to return and turn it back on. Unfortunately, that wasn't what happened. Trying to get some further action to take care of the problem, we called the head office in Lebanon. Lettie, one of the customer service representatives, told us that she just had to call Hartville and confirm that the receipt was received. She did just that and informed us that Hartville claimed they did not see any receipt of any kind. So at that point, we discovered that the receipt was missing, whether we actually lost it or something else happened I can't be sure. I let my fiance handle the matter up until that point. In short, I personally searched everywhere for that receipt, both our car and our house, and still cannot locate it.

At this point, I can't prove with any kind of physical evidence that the money was misplaced or taken, since my receipt is gone. I know the bill was paid without a doubt nonetheless. I have tried every action that I know to do legally possible to correct this matter, but there is nothing left to help me.

My biggest concern, even though I would like all my money back too, is that this seems to be an on going practice with Laclede Electric. I've talked to a handful of people in the community about this, all honest people who have had similar experiences. One woman told me that she received a past due notice even though the bill was paid and showed her receipt, but the next month the exact amount that was in question reappeared on her bill. So if there is anything that can be done to prevent these sorts of things from happening in the future, I would like be involved. Also I would like Laclede Electric to be investigated. I can provide more exact dates if necessary.

Laclede Gas is "estimating" bills because they don't believe their own meters or technicians. Whoever came up with the idea that it is okay to just write bogus bills without any basis? For several reasons, when I'm away from the house, I shut everything off: water, gas - everything. There are several notes on the Web about pilot light waste (estimating about $100/year to run), and I just don't want fires burning in my house when I'm away. Plus I can't guarantee safe unattended operation of all the equipment in the house.

Despite their meter giving them readings multiple times a day, and having two independent meters on the house - one with the electronic gizmo, and the other readable from outside the house - whenever I'm gone, they decide something has to be wrong. And so they started "estimated billing" and overcharging by hundreds of dollars. And they've dug holes in my lawn trying to shut off my gas. I'm still perplexed at the wonders of their logic there. I'm just waiting for the backhoe to come!

They left half a dozen "We Missed You" notices in my door. Ever wonder why they might not be picked up regularly? Isn't one enough? And I certainly don't want them sticking those in my door, alerting thieves that I may not be home. My house was broken into and I was robbed. With Laclede Gas insisting that I have someone check the meter, the next time I was in town, I had a technician out at the house on April 1, 2010 (yes, that day!). He sniffed it with his sniffer tool. He checked it, looked at the pipes (which haven't been touched for a decade). I told him that I was out of town. He made his report and left saying everything was fine.

Fully expecting to get a credit on my account, when I got back "home" (away from St. Louis where the bills are being sent), I eagerly awaited the next bill. No credit. Still an "estimated bill." So I called them. Well, they apparently didn't believe their own technician. They can't understand my usage would be zero (as indicated by their own equipment) when I'm gone. So they refused to give credit for the unused gas. Now they want to send another technician out to check all my appliances (because they are not using enough gas) and to replace the meter, somehow thinking that a new meter will cause me to use more gas.

Can't they get into their mind that low or sporadic gas consumption may be "real," or just ask a simple question, "How much are you using?" rather than depending so heavily on a computer-generated estimate? Of course, they have a monopoly, but this is not a good way to run a business. At this point, it is becoming harassing. And if they charge "late fees," they should be equally responsible for overbilling. Perhaps I should just convert to propane, which would be much cheaper if I could find a good source to refill my bottles.

Laclede Gas continues to overcharge me. I'm uncertain of the amount - perhaps $500 or so. They refuse to give me the actual amount owed for the gas used. And, as mentioned, I'd rather be inconspicuous when I'm out of town. Finding a dozen identical notices stuffed in the door is frustrating, and finding the back door bashed in and the house robbed... I can't say the two are connected, but they need to respect a person's privacy.

My main problem is they will not send me the bill!! You'd think they'd be happy to get my money.

Here's the story. I recently bought a house on April 19 2010 at ***. I do not live there yet. I'm in the process of repairing it. I need to have the gas on so I can have heat in the house so the pipes won't freeze and burst in the winter.

Anyway, the house belonged to a deceased neighbor and I bought it from the representative of her estate. I have tried to contact them to tell them that the estate representative is no longer responsible for the bill, that I am the new owner and the account should be transferred to me. I have called, e-mailed, snail mailed and faxed a copy of my Buyer's Statement, SS card and ID. They still send the bills to the representative. He has also contacted the company and told them that he is no longer responsible for the bill.

My fiance and I moved into a new apartment on April 21. He called Laclede Gas to turn on service that day. He had a prior balance, so they said as soon as he paid it, they would come turn the gas on. Well, he paid it and then they called them. They then said we had to pay my past due bill before he could have service in his name.

A few years ago, my bill for Laclede Gas reached $554. I had called a charity to help with the bill. I moved out soon after and did not need the service. Apparently, the charity did not pay as promised, so I'm left with the balance. I have spoken with every supervisor at Laclede Gas to try to work something out. I have 3 small children in the house, so gas is something I cant go without. I can't cook. It's freezing in my house at night, and my kids have to take cold baths.

I offered them a payment and asked that they add the remaining balance to my bill over a few months' period, but they were unwilling to work with me. We have gone without gas for 2 weeks, and there are no funds available in my area for assistance. If you can, please contact me anytime. Thank you.

I received a bill for last month that also had a previous balance on and a delinquent pay date of 04/01/10. Much to my surprise, there was an additional amount for a "deposit" that they are requiring we pay, since I have paid late each month for the past 5 months. I have paid each month, just paid late. My husband lost his job after 19yrs at Chrysler and we have been struggling, however, paying our gas bill each month just a little late! What kind of sense does it make to add a deposit of $265, if we are having trouble paying what we owe on time? Anyway, I was in and out of the hospital the week of 03/29/10.

When going thru mail, on 04/02/10, when I got discharged from hospital, I found another bill from Laclede for $1,093.88! Last bill was only for $199.96 due by 4/1/10! I just thought it was an error. I called at 8:00am Monday morning, to let them know that I would be paying the bill of $199.96 on my lunch break at noon, same day. She advised that gas was scheduled for cut off on 04/05/10! Why? I have paid my bill every month, a bit late, but within the month!

Bill was delinquent 04/01/10, Thursday, I got out of hospital, 04/02/10 Friday, I called Monday to make payment! I also inquired about an error, with the amount of $558, when I moved in 2008. I called for them to turn off gas at my old address and turn on gas at my new home in Feb 2008. Apparently, they did not turn off gas at my old house and I was responsible for $558! I disputed this in April of 2008, in which they have notes on. I called Caldwell Banker and requested they call Laclede to verify that they purchased the home 2/2008. I never heard anything else from Laclede and the $558 was no longer on my bill! I figured the matter was taken cared of. No, I was wrong and now they have attached this to my bill again. They said, I have to prove to them where I was living when these charges occurred. Well duh!... You turned on the gas at my new house 02/2008 and I have been paying for gas at the new house since then. What proof do you want?

Also, they attached a bogus amount of $143.45 to this bill from 1988! 22 years ago? I didn't even live in the state of Missouri at that time! I went on my lunch break to pay the $199.96, my gas was then disconnected at 11:45am. I called to see what I needed to do to get it turned back on, as I have never been thru this before. They demand that I pay $1,093 before they will restore my gas! This is money I don't even owe them! I disputed it 2 years ago and again this morning! Even though I am disputing these old bogus charges they refuse to restore my gas service! Someone please look into this and help me get my gas service restored immediately. I have paid my current charges but refuse to and am not financially able to pay for the bogus charges of $702.00! Help me please!

My gas was wrongfully disconnected and I don't have the money to pay these bogus charges in order to have gas restored. I have babies in my home and no hot water or heat. Thank God it isn't the middle of winter! I was accused by Mr.Shaw for being dishonest as he wrote my SSN down wrong, he said, I gave him the wrong SSN however he was 1 digit off. Even though I have disputed the amount, they still disconnected and refuse to restore my gas. I am very distraught over this situation. My health is not the best and this kind of unnecessary stress is prolonging my recovery from serious illness I was in the hospital for. How can you try to collect a debt (which is bogus to begin with) that is over 22 years old and never? I have never been contacted about this old (bogus) debt until now and have been a Lacled Gas customer for many many years!

This missive was generated due to Laclede Gas Company discontinuance of my gas service at my residence on 02-24-2010, for allegedly diverting gas illegally for personal use. I emphatically deny any and all accusation of improprieties use of gas at my residence. I have been a Laclede Gas customer for over thirty years, without a loss of service for any reason.

I am not currently in areas nor historically and paid last month bill ($96.00) in a timely manner. My next gas bill is not currently due at this time. When I arrived home on 02-24-2010, I observed a gas bill on my front door for $2,973. When collections was contacted, I was informed of gas diversions at my address and charges was due to averaging disparages usage since 2005.

I vehemently protested collection manager's (John) ludicrousness to allege impropriety at my place of residence and demanded my gas service restored. Mr. John spoke with demigod defiance arrogance to my request to have my gas restored without a total payment of $2.923. I am requesting an immediate investigation of my complaint with Laclede Gas and restoration of my gas service.

Our second floor furnace went out the beginning of winter 2009. We had Laclede Gas send us the list of companies they recommend to help with assistance in purchasing and installing a new furnace. We were denied financial assistance. It was unbelievable!

I have been a loyal customer and this is future rental property and they just flat-out denied us. We both have good jobs and a decent living and pay our bills on time. With the economy today, they should be thankful that we can pay our bills. This is so upsetting. They sent me an estimated bill for $120.00 for the second floor apartment. I called them twice and explained that we are waiting on an approval for a new furnace and still they expected us to pay $120.00 for not having gas service. I am not through yet. I have a letter for the Attorney General.

As a taxpayer, this is outrageous! According to the government, they want us to use the programs that are designed to help the taxpayers. Who does Laclede Gas think they are?

This company continues to be one of the most out of control and uncaring utilities in the entire country.

I found out that they are claiming my gas meter is "broken" (same bogus story from MANY other victims) and they have been "forced" to estimate my bill (at twice actual useage). Based on actual readings on the meter, they are overcharging me by about $1000 for a residence with 2 people who keep the heat in winter in the 60's. Even though they owe me money, I was forced to pay them an extorion fee of over $600 to get my gas service scheduled for reconnection. They also say they "sent me a letter" about needing to get in to investigate the broken meter, and I was unresponsive-- well they did, which was dated and delivered THE SAME DAY AS THEY DISCONNECTED MY GAS SERVICE. I guess you need a time machine to deal with these bozos. They also are refusing to adjust the "estimated" reading.

The reports of their exploitation of the middle class here in St. Louis via fee after fee, bogus "broken" meters, etc are legion and probably worthy of a federal racketeering investigation.

One of their workers also lied to gain entrance to my daughters residence and sabotaged the gas meter and shut of the service. Since we have had a spate of criminals posing as Laclede Gas personnel recently to gain entrance into homes the same way, this is truly shocking that their own personnel are engaged in the same nefarious practices.

A truly evil,out-of-control monopoly that makes the bonus-babies at AIG look like petty pikers.

"Going Green" with an all-electric home can't happen soon enough for me, and hopefully eventually Laclede will **** so many people off that they will lose a TON of business. This is one company that NEEDS a government takeover!

(Not to mention the recent epidemic of exploding homes in the area, all due to gas explosions, whats up with that?)

In October-08 my gas bill skyrocketed to $793.00, of course I was unable to pay this amount, when I did finally pay, the first week of December, it came to my attention that they had tacked on $410.41 from a gas bill that was in my ex-husbands name. I've been divorced for 2 years, the gas bill was never in my name, however I had to take off from work and go down to the business office and present Laclede Gas with my divorce decree in order to get them to take it off my bill.

I specifically asked for a check, instead Laclede has held this and decided to apply the monies as a credit when they see fit. Now my bill is up to $443.12 which is totally unreal considering that I have a small 2 bedroom apartment. I can not take off every time they send me a bill to dispute it. What is going on with this company that they don't have to answer to anyone.

I paid my laclede gas bill all but 47.00, in November 08. When I called to see if they credited my payment, they told me that I have a new bill that was being mailed out for $291 dollars, plus the 47.00 dollars I already owed them. My problem with this company is that they are simply greedy and their charges reflect this. I try to pay my balances in full every month and soon as I pay a ridiculous balance, then the next month it seems like they add on more. There is no way to get around these issues with this company. I use very little gas, keeping my thermostat on 69 degrees.

While this economy is bad for everyone, it seems as though this corporation does not care other than raking in all that they can. My Winter bills for 07 ranged from 1400-1800 for the season, and my thermostat was always kept low.

I moved into my apartment in December of 2007. I needed gas service turned on so laclede said they would send someone out. I waited long past the time they were suppose to show up. They sent another crew out and they informed me that my hot water was electric. The only gas expense that I would have would be the heat. I was excited to know this seeing as how gas can get very costly. I was very surprised to see my first bill in the amount of $232 dollars! I couldn't believe it since my apartment is only 400 square ft.

I called laclede and they told me that this was an estimate and if I wanted the exact amount I neede to have a meter reader come out. After about a week a meter reader came out and told me that my reading was very low. I was relieved thinking that this was all taken care of. To my surprise the next month I received a bill for about $400 dollars. I called laclede once more and they told me that they were having trouble reading the meter so they would send someone else back out.

I left town for eighteen days in the month of February. The gas was turned off the entire time I was gone. I received a bill in march stating that I owned an additional $200 dollars. I contacted Laclede yet again and they gave me the same run down. They finally sent another worker and he informed me that my meter was broken. I had to wait another 2 weeks to have someone so called replace the meter. I did not go into the basement with him but he said that he replaced the meter. I don't know how they replace a meter but I was under the impression that they take the entire meter out. When I looked at the meter it was the same meter with the same marker writings on it as before. Nothing looked different to me.

So I waited and when the next month rolled around it was the same situation. They claimed that they still weren't getting a reading and that I had to be charged by estimation. I told them that my apt is tiny and I only use gas for heat plus I also use a little heater. I went to Lacelde in person three times and spoke with people who never helped me or gave me adequate service. They told me that if I set up a payment plan I couldn't have my bill reviewed and possibly reduced. Since I didn't agree with the bill I didn't set up a payment plan. They told me they would send me a letter that week. It took almost three weeks to get that letter and guess what, my bill was up again.

My bill was reduced by $126 dollars. I stll felt that this was unfair so I pressed in more.
They came and turned off gas service in August. I didn't mind because it was still summer and I only needed gas for heat. I decided to take this matter to the executive offices. I wrote them a letter explaining my

expericence with their company. The next day they contacted me saying that they needed to investigate the matter.

When they called be back they told me that it had been too long and the information wasn't available any more. She told me that they could reduce it by another $180 dollars. She told me that my bill would be in the $500's. I thought that was okay. When I got my new bill it was $131 dollars more than what she told me it would be. I didn't understand the bill because there were these extra numbers on it. When I spoke with her she said I had been credited the $180 dollars but there was a late fee and cancellation fee. She initially told me that I didn't have to pay the late fee that it would be credited on the bill. When it was all said nad done they only really credited me a hundred dollars. She informed me that I needed to pay $298 to get service turned on and that I would have to pay $175 a month! I do not have the money for this. She said that if I paid them they would automatically turn service on and that I would have to pay the $175 a month. I felt that this would put me in a deeper hole so I asked could I pay at my own accord. She told me no and that my bill had gone to collection. I didn't understand why she was trying to get me to make payments if it had already gone to collection. I asked her if I paid Laclede would those payments me viewable to collection. She said no because they were on a monthly system. I was like okay so you want me to pay you when my account has already gone to collection, and they would have no records of thesee payments? She said yes, I couldn't believe her. If I could get gas with another service I would. I am a very unhappy customer. Laclede gas is a rip off.

It's sad that they are doing people like this especially with the economy the way that it is. I feel that I have been cheated. They have stressed me out!

As of today I am freezing. My gas service is turned off and I can't pay half of the bill, and keep up with the monthly charges that they are asking for. They have been stressing me out for a year now. I believe that I did everything that needed to be done to assure that I received good service. I feel that I was cheated and I do not believe that their worker ever changed my meter. It's an outrage.

I am on budget billing and my bill went up 100% this month, I called them and they said it was because gas will be going up 30% shortly. This is a joke!

[They] are driving the middle class to the poor house.

Due to the high gas bills resulting from last winter, Laclede Gas has been threatening to come out and disconnect my gas ever since last March. At that time, I had called them and asked them if I could set up a payment plan with them to pay what I owed them in arrears. They had told me that I could only set up a payment plan if I paid half of my bill to avoid disconnection. At that time, it would have meant coming up with approximately $300, which I didn't have and hence why I was calling them in the first place, to see if I could set up a way to send them regular payments to pay down my arrears.

Because I live in an apartment building, Laclede cannot just cut off the gas from the street. So, instead of cutting off my gas, they would just leave a note on my apartment door saying how much I owed. Last month, I owed $419.81. So, in an attempt to at least get my bill down to half to avoid disconnection this month, I paid two separate payments of $100 each, totaling $200. However, when I got my bill this month, the bill read the following:

Prior Gas Balance: $419.81

Prior Other Balance: $173.33

Payment Thank You: $100.00

Late Payment Chrg: $ 4.80

Payment Thank You: $100.00

Deposit Assessment: $173.33

Charge for Gas Srvc

07-28-08 to 08-26-08:$ 31.54

St. Louis City Tax: $ 1.31

Account Balance: $604.12

I didn't understand what the $173.33 Deposit Assessment was that was being continually charged to my account and so I called Laclede to try to get some explanation. From what I think I understood from the girl that I spoke with, she said that it was the fee they charged to reconnect my service. I asked her how they could charge me for reconnection when I never was disconnected in the first place? All they've ever done was to come out and attempt to disconnect me, but they've never have actually succeeded because I've always been at work whenever they would come by. So, I asked her if that is the fee that they are going to charge me everytime they come out to attempt to disconnect me. She said something along the lines that they weren't going to charge me those fees anymore, because it was from last month and the month before. This didn't sound right to me and it was obvious that she didn't understand what I was trying to get at with the fact that they can't charge me for reconnection when disconnection never occurred in the first place. I felt frustrated with the girl and gave up trying to argue with her. Unfortunately, I never got her name.

So, now, I have to come up with $300 by September 18th to avoid disconnection. It's a never ending cycle whenever they keep adding fees to the amounts I already owe. It preys upon people of low income. It's frustrating and feels as if I'm trying to dig myself out of a hole that keeps filling up with sand, getting nowhere. And, the fact that they are not willing to work with me unless I pay half of the balance is not very customer service oriented and is a sign that they are not concerned about their consumers that are trying to be honest.

If they wouldn't have kept slapping on those fees for something that didn't occur, I would have been able to pay them off a long time ago!! I think it's ridiculous when I pay them almost $200 per month for the past few months and my actual charge for gas service is only about $32 and SOMEHOW the bill keeps getting bigger and bigger.

This whole situation has me feeling frustrated and helpless. I feel victimized and taken advantage of. Everytime I think I'm paying Laclede off, they slap me with more fees! I can't afford it! I work full-time. I'm also a part-time student and live on my own. Having no money, with mounting bills every month and no savings is stressful. I worry all the time about how I'm going to make ends meet and what I'm going to forego this month to pay this bill and that bill. And,now, with winter around the corner, I'm afraid that they might actually come one day while I'm home and turn off the gas and I will freeze to death because I won't be able to afford to pay the reconnection fee and everything they say I owe them!

My gas had been disconnected for 11 months and when I qualified for assistance from HDC, a bid of $1300 was made on my account. I was told by HDC to make a $500 payment, which I did. After 3 weeks of checking with Laclede Gas about the pledge, they kept telling me it wasn't in the system yet. I finally spoke to a nice young lady who told me my gas should have been back on because of the $500 payment.

Well my gas was turned back on but the pledge from HDC was never paid because Laclede Gas told them I didn't have an account (but I did, where did they apply the $500 if I didn't have an account); not to mention I went down to the office on Olive to get the account information before making my payment. Yet I don't have an account. The payment plan was unreasonable jumping from $200 to $400 a month. My bill remained high and was disconnected for $1700.

I noticed that I was being assessed a deposit of $158 per month or more making my bill for one month over $200 (that doesn't include the $200-$400 payment plan amount). Thus making it impossible for my bill to ever go down. In the past I've had trouble with them not crediting my payments as well. The new bills are very hard to understand (which I think was intentional).

My gas was disconnected for an amount that could have been avoided if they had not intentionally given false information to HDC.

I want to give a compliment to the crew that resodded My front had been dug up in two sections to put new lines in. The original replanting was not acceptable and several call were made. Finally I finally got a satisfactory from Jerry. The crew came today and in no time it was resodded and watered in a professional and satisfactory manner, will you relay my thanks to Lacledes supervisor on the job. His name is Dale. Again thanks for a job well done.

Laclede Gas came to change out my gas meter 10/5/07 and turned off my gas and left a post-it note on my front door they has turned off my gas. My Oct 07 bill had been $86 and I paid $86. I called Laclede gas and they advised they would turn back on my gas at no charge when I was ready and could be home. My father was very ill and passed away end of Oct and my best friend died 4 days later after fighting breast cancer. I then rec'd a bill indicating I owed $247 for gas for Oct? But my gas was turned off and not turned back on until 12/15/07? I called Cust Serv - they could not indicate why I was charged gas for Oct when I had no gas coming into my home? A supervisor would call me. Never did.

Then I rec'd a bill for $1,100 - I called. They advised that was for gas service dating back into 1970 that they underestimated on my estimated bills. I advised I had been sending in card w/ my gas usage? Laclede Gas indicated they no longer used those cards and had no meter readers. They last read my gas meter in May 07. Why did they wait until Nov 07 to advise me I had under paid?? I was advised a supervisor would call me. Never did.

I then rec'd a gas bill for $9,500. That is right - $9,500. I called. They could not explain. The customer service rep suggested I "had a business I had forgotten about that was being billed to my home?" $9,500 in gas for a business I forgot about? No. They will have a supervisor call me. Never did.

I eventually rec'd a credit for $8,800 after several more calls to customer service. But, they continued to bill me for gas service I "underpaid" from their 2006-2007 estimated bils. I gave up on customer service number. I called downtown location - asked to speak w/ a VP. Got a VP - it was Friday. Advised situation - I am not confident in their billing since they could not appropriately bill me in Oct when I did not even have gas on - THEY turned the gas off? She advised a problem was the Laclede employee never turned in the ticket that he had turned off the gas at my home on 10/5/07.

So, Laclede assumed I had a faulty meter that was not reading any gas usage. Explained customer service supervisorsr never return calls and the service reps are clueless - can never answer my questions. She had no idea whey the supervisors were not returning my calls. It is Fri - she will look into this and get back to me by Wed. never did. I called her back the following Friday. She advised my bill was correct - I owed them the $1,000 for under -estimated bills they sent me. She advised I actually owed $2,200 but they could only collect back as far as a year.

I receive a shut-off notice from Laclede Gas since I am not an established customer they will have to cut off my gas. I call customer service. Advised the bill had been in my name at this address for 20 years. THey argue. Eventually realize I am right - disregard the disconnect notice. It was sent in error. OK. 3 weeks later I receive another disconnect notice - I am not an established customer. Again call. They argue I am a new customer. Again realize they are wrong. Disregard the disconnect notice - sent in error.

Now it is May - get disconnect notice for not paying the $1,000 back estimates still. Call to make an appointment downtown at main office to speak with someone in customer service. You cannont make appointments (great customer service!) you just have to show up and sit and wait your turn. I spend 4 hrs - talk to a Mr. S. eventually. I asked him why I was again receiving estimated bills since I now have this new meter that is suppose to allow them to read my meter over computer. He does not know the answer. I advised I do not feel I owe the back charges they claim I owe since they have made nothing but erros on my account and they cannot even figure out how much gas I am using when THEY have turned off my gas and I have NONE ! He askied me how much I feel I owe. I advised $300-something.
OK - can I write a check for that amount now? Yes.

So I wrote a check and went to hand it to him. He advised he could not accept it - I must go to a Laclede Gasp Payment Station like Scnucks grocery store! I am sitting in the Customer Service office in the Laclede Gas Building - their corporate offices - and now I am suppose to take my payment to a grocery store? I dropped the payment in the overnite box as I exited the offices. I thought this was finally resolved.

My May 08 bill comes - it is for $247. I call - how am I using $247 in gas in May when I am single, live alone, do not cook - ? They suggest I have a hot water leak - I can request them to search my home for hot water leak. Advised I do not have hot water leak. June and July bills arrive - they are ESTIMATED at about $50 per month. Why are they estimating my bills? I have the new meter?

On Sat 8/23 I went to Dierberg store and made payment of $250 to Laclede Gas which is MORE than I feel I owe for May, June & July 08 at $50 per month. I have rec'd a disconnect notice for Mon 8/25. On Sat 8/23 in AM I call customer service - spoke w/ Lisa. Advised I am disputing my $250 May bill and still disputing my $1000 back underestimated bill. Advised I made payment for $250 today. COmputer payment - will show issued today, Sat.

Why are they estimating my June & July bills. She "cannot answer that" - she can only say "a meter is a device and devises break down." So my meter is broken, is that the reasons for the estimates? No, she cannot say. Request to talk to her supervisor and make and appointment to speak w/ someone over the Mr. Shaw I spoke w/ in May to try to resolve this. She can take my disconnect notice off if I pay $500. Advised I paid $250 - I feel that is all I owe. Her supervisor comes in Mon 8/25 at 8:30 AM - she will call me before Noon on Mon 8/25.

Never did. On 8/26/08, my birthday -I discovered Laclede Gas has again turned off my gas.

This is frightening to deal with a company who has one error after another, can never provide the same answer if they can provide an answer, the supervisors never return phone calls. They have blatantly no concern to provide any type of customer service - they are a monopoly. I cannot take my business elsewhere becuase their service is unprofessional and not trustworthy. It is pay what they advise you owe even tho they cannot document it or they will turn off your gas. Period.

I have since heard of 2 coworkers who have basically the same story regarding the changing out of their meters. No return calls- rudeness - charging for gas usage from months ago because Laclede gas does not want to pay meter readers, card usage readers, and underestimate gas usage. And oh yes - I was told at least 5 times - I never rec'd the gas usage cards, or they never rec'd them back,- I was apparently mistaken. These card had not been used for a year. 2 weeks ago I got 1 in the mail - to fill out and return to them?

This is crazy. The Missouri population need help and Laclede Gas needs to be accountable to someone besides themselves. Where do I apply for a job as supervisor at Laclede Gas? What are these people paid for? They do not return calls. The customer service people cannot transfer call to them (that is a fact)? What do thay do? Please help - I am sure there are many more like me out there. This needs to be looked into by someone. It is like living in a communist country. How do they get away with this? HELP.

They have added on a $493.14 to my bill. I have NO idea what I owe and what I dont owe anymore because they keep adding on and on. IF they were not stealing money from us. Id have no problem paying my bill. But because im poor and can't afford to pay a 100 to 200 a month in their late fees, I am getting stuck with their ungodly redicilouis amounts of late pay. This has to be stopped!

The consequences are, I do not have the money so I will loose my gas services because of this new Idea someone had. the Physical damage is I have lost alot of sleep and worried much and still do. I am not a well person at all. I have a heart condtion, it has made me very upset, Im diabetic and I just dont know how much more of this I can take.

Contacted leclede about my bill at one point was over $500.00 I let the rep. know that I had not been using that much gas could they send someone out to check their equipment and to make sure that this appartment meater was being read wright. She told me that the averrage for this appartment is acurate. I exsplained that leclead staff is not accessing the bld. to read the meeter and those averages where not wright.

This past month my bill has rose to $2058 and I have been here in this appartment less that 12 months last month I paid $450.00 trying to do the wright thing but leclead in not assisting me with my concerns about their over billing as if they can do no wrong I will continue to make payments until someone please help!!!!! Unfair.

I did set up a payment arrangement with leclead but because of finacial issues I was only able to send in smaller amounts a couple months prior to last month but I have increased my payments but lecleade will not check their equitment or check to see if staff is reading the meeters correctly or if the meets reading equitment is working properly. Please help!!!

It is very stressful to know that I am making payments and still being threated with the gas being turned off. I have a immune disorder and stress works against me I was totaly disabled at one point. Now I work full time and no longer getting a disability check but still under the care of a doctor. I would not be able to take care of my needs without the gas being on please help.!!!!!

Contacted leclede about my bill at one point was over $500.00 I let the rep. know that I had not been using that much gas could they send someone out to check their equipment and to make sure that this appartment meater was being read wright. She told me that the averrage for this appartment is acurate. I exsplained that leclead staff is not accessing the bld. to read the meeter and those averages where not wright. This past month my bill has rose to $2058 and I have been here in this appartment less that 12 months last month I paid $450.00 trying to do the wright thing but leclead in not assisting me with my concerns about their over billing as if they can do no wrong I will continue to make payments until someone please help!!!!! Unfair.

I did set up a payment arrangement with leclead but because of finacial issues I was only able to send in smaller amounts a couple months prior to last month but I have increased my payments but lecleade will not check their equitment or check to see if staff is reading the meeters correctly or if the meets reading equitment is working properly. Please help!!!

Laclede Gas company added over $600 to my bill last winter, and again approximately over $1000 last month. They said I had been on an estimated bill and this was the adjustment of an actual reading. They did this and it has caused a tremendous financial hardship, now they refuse to make payment arrangements unless I make a down payment of approximately $1300+, which is impossible, and as a result my service is being disconnected tomorrow.

I am a single mother with 4 children in the house, and gas is our heating, water heat and cooking supply source. We will not be able to cook dinner at home (I cannot afford to eat out or buy microwaveable tv dinners every day) or the kids take baths or myself a shower.

My case with Laclede gas is similar to many others They estimated my gas bill, and I was overcharged. I sent in readings that were not noted on my bill, and time and time again we were overcharged. Can anybody fill me in on this Laclede gas scam?

I have been in the same apartment for over year and half now. Since July, I had not been receiving any bills from them and upon calling, they have been sending me bills estimated at $24 a payment. Then all of a sudden, I got a bill for $702 in Oct for gas usage since July. That puts the avg bill per month to $180 when my average has been around $60, except for peak winter months when I have paid $110 max. I was on the phone for 50 min before I could talk to a rep and she said that they have not been getting accurate readings and had to come and replace the AMR device on my apartment. She could not explain why I got this excessive bill and said her supervisor will call me. I never got a call from them again. Upon writing an email to them, they called me and scheduled for a service man to check the appliances. This month I got a bill for $237 for a single month. I never received such a huge gas bill for a month ever. This is strange and Laclede still has no clue. I have been frantically trying to reach them over phone and e-mail without much success

My dues with them just for the last 5 months has run over $1000 now. This puts a real financial crunch and causes an emotional nightmare of not being able to pay the bills for the unreasonable billing charges. The winter is just around the corner and I am scared what my bils would be if this is not taken care of right away.

Excessive economic burden completely unexpectedly and unexplainable.

I called the gas Co they too said something was wrong so they checked in to it and here is their explanation

in March they put what they call an amr on my meter contacted me in July and said it was defective and came back in August to fix it I watched the young man put it back on as he changed the reading #s to a new setting said it would bring me up to where i was supposed to be?

I called laclede and they told me that they don,t know when but some time around 1998-1999 my meter was regestering incorrect and thatthis is what they think is owed.

They are refusing our customer reads. Claiming that we are reading them wrong just because we have an energy efficent furnace. They believe that we are reading our meter lower than it actually is. So as a result they are contining to estamate our bills. We requested that they send out someone to read our meter which they did. But they still insisted on estimating our bill. We have been paying all along but now we have $554.54 bill that we can not pay and do not owe. We have a 6 month old baby with a bad heart. Yet they have given us a disconnect notice for April 17 2006. We have asked them months ago to let us get on budget billing they refused because we owed at the time $50.00 on our bill. They will not accept our reading or the reading of their own employies.

The first time I called laclede gas was for a first time set up of my gas service. The woman was very rude and put a bad taste in my mouth immediately. She consistly made me feel stupid and when I told her I felt she was being rude to me, she said that was impossible. When I received my first bill, it was for 2 weeks of living in my new 1000 square foot apartment. The apartment has better storm windows than my parents 2500 square foot home and better insulation than most homes I have been in. The bill total was $219.40 for just 2 weeks when my parents' home was half that for one month.

When I called them to discuss the matter, Tammy was the woman I spoke to. I was interrupted over and over again although I am sure if she received that kind of bill, she would have been livid as well. I feel stuck in this monopoly and laclede has refused to hear me in this matter. Of course, they are the only company to provide gas service in the area. Sometimes I think it might be better to freeze.

They will not allow me to sign on to budget billing until the bill has been paid. I will not pay the bill until I get some answers about the obvious overcharge which they refuse to help me with. By the way, my heat is always on 60 when I work and doesn't go above 70 when I am home which is infrequent.

I own a two family flat. I use it as 1 home. It has 2 floors. I had a persons name taken off the bill and kept mine. After that, they treated like I was a new customer, and the bill became too high to keep up with. I have lived there for 7 years and nothing changed until then.

My gas was shut off after disputing with them on making payments. I paid them something each month. Now, I owe $384.00 for the first floor in which I payed and called to have it turned on. After they took my money, then they told me that I had to pay both floors before they would turn the gas back on. It is now freezing in my home and I am working with just my oven on at night. I want the house billed as one in the beginning, they said no. But now when it comes to getting their money, it becomes one unit. They are refusing to work with me.

It is very cold throughout the house. I am taking cold showers, and have battled several colds and flus due to a freezing enviroment.

I have two small children ages 7 and 3 and an open trench in my front yard for a week, and possibly another week or two. This trench is a real danger to my children not to mention an exposed gasline which opens up all kinds of possibilites of vandelism. I also don't want this copper line replaced with plastic since it was damaged through no fault of my own.

My bill has been astronomical, as if I am being penalized for my concern.

My gas bill is extremely high due to the back payments from a home I use to own in the county, my current bill at my present address is around $30.00. My service has been disconnected due to the balance owed of $2161.00. I donot qualify for assistance and Laclede gas will not let me particpate in a catch up plan. How can this utilitie company expect to get their moneys due if you can not work with the customer and implement plans to help us?.They were very rude when I called and I really dont want to fall in the hundreds of people filing chap 7.

Since I moved into this house I purchased, every bill was estimated. During the winter months, I was billed $160 per month, then when things got out or control, I phone them to prevent disconnect and try to get someone out to read the meter inside of my house.

With working full time and going to school full time, they didn't have any appointment times outside of normaly business hours. Last month, after finally being frustrated with paying $99 per month to catch my self up, I made an appointment to have my meter read and to cancel budget billing. The woman I spoke with refused to cancel my budget billing and said after I received my adjusted bill, I could call again and cancel.

When I received the adjusted bill, the gas company showed the amount I was pasted due, subtracted the total amount they had estimated me, subtracted $10 in late fees, noted my last payment, then charged my for the actual amount that my meter indicated was used, charged my the tax that my county would have, and already taxed me, and told me that I have a balance of $182. I do not understand if they can charge me for the total that I used, why they wouldn't deduct from that total everything that I have paid to them. The manager that I spoke to was rude and cut me off several time throughout the conversation, then I heard him place the phone down while I was talking like he was tired of doing his job.

I told him since he wanted to place the phone down while I was talking then he could hear me do the same, and I hung the phone up as loud as I could. Laclede Gas takes advantage of the people because they are the only gas company in the area, but what ever happen to customer service? Do you no longer have to be polite because the cosumers have no other options?