I originally wanted to open an account for my rental unit. I was informed that I would have to pay a deposit. I have no problem with paying a deposit, however, I did not have the money to pay when I was informed that there would be a $150 deposit required. I said that I will have to call back when I have the money. Progress went ahead and set up an account and charged me the deposit and only gave me five days to pay the entire amount. I did get a letter but it states that I have until the end of the month to pay this. This morning, my power has been cut off for apparent lack of payment. I called Progress and was first told that I was correct, then no one else would agree with me. I was talked over, talked down to and called a liar. I was made to pay the deposit and then charged a $30 fee to reconnect the power. I did not approve or ask to be billed for the deposit. I did say that I want to get this done when I do have the money. That is not what happened. All I want back is the $30.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
My lights were disconnected due to my thinking it was paid. When I went to my budget book to look for the receipt in order to have them turned back on, I found the bill with the money still inside. I could not believe that somehow, it had not gotten paid. We then had to catch up the full bill amount and pay a $15 reconnect fee. I totally understood and agreed with that and paid that amount and the power was restored. What I don't understand or agree with is that in 10 business days, we have to pay a $562 deposit or they will once again disconnect our service. My husband and I are both unemployed. He has drawn all of his unemployment funds and I go to college online (which requires power). We were told to go to local charities to get the money.
We went to one of them today and they or no other one will pay for a deposit. No one at Progress Energy will help us or explain why we are being charged this ridiculous amount. If people are having a difficult time paying the monthly bill, how in the world can we pay for such nonsense as this? I really don't understand why a company this large and wealthy cannot or will not help out people in these hard times. It could be divided up into smaller amounts at least and added to our monthly bill until paid. We have been a customer for over 17 years, and a good one.
I just moved this past weekend, and was told to get my electric changed over into my name. I understand that there must have been a miscomunication between my renters and I, but as I was going to have it changed today, it was suddenly shut off. Being as I am in the US Airforce, and serve this beautiful country, I simply gave Progress a call, to have it put back on. I am well aware that it takes less than 5 minutes to reconnect my service. I informed them how I am living at my new house, and since I moved in this past weekend, I had no possible way to contact them.
Even though their only response was that, I have to call the day prior to change my service over. Even though they were closed on weekends. The elder boss that I did speak ton and try to get to understand that, it is an emergency to have my power turned back on, so that I may be able to get up on time, and make it to work in the morning, and simply protect her rights in this great nation.
As usual they were very ungrateful, and still, I was told that I have to wait until later tomorrow afternoon. It seems all the good people in this world, are definitely not working at this ** company. All it will take to have my power turned back on is a simple phone call to the guy on the road. They simply do not have 5 minutes of their time to help me out. Even after all the time I have given. I suggest to anyone, who is planning on moving into a new house, to greatly consider who their new power company will be, and to not choose this one. Thank you, and to all the real people left in this great world. Good Luck.
This energy company is corrupt. I've been set up on auto payment for 3 years. I've asked a total of two times to have my payment date moved by a few days. First time no problem. On August, not only did they refuse to do so but they took it out three days earlier.
When I made my payment manually in September, they took my payment and gave me a ref number. When I went to make my payment this month, October, I found out that the payment didn't post because they said they didn't have my routing or acct info. Even though when I go on the acct web site, it's there and now they want to charge me an extra $30.00 for a returned payment. However it won't let me edit the info. This company intentionally tries to rip off their customers because they are not regulated and they can do anything they want to, obviously.
They halved my tree in the front yard away from the road and power lines. Yes, they halved it. They cut the entire branches facing the road from the base of the tree. Now, I have only a half tree with limbs facing my house. It's horrific.
I had been out of work for 3 months and struggling to pay my utility bill, but continued to pay it in good faith. I have finally gotten a job but don't get paid until August 31, 2011. I had received the final notice for amount due of $126.37 dated for termination August 30, 2011 if I didn't pay by 5:00pm. I phoned them to request an additional day to pay the $126.37 because I would get paid the following day. They said the only option I had was to pay the full amount due of $290.13 by September 6, 2011. I explained that I couldn't pay the full amount and would pay the $163.76 on September 15, 2011 when I would receive my next paycheck.
They refused and said it was company policy and couldn't do a thing about it. I begged them to help. I was trying in good faith to make arrangements to pay my bill just like I have with my landlord, car loan, insurance, etc. for the past 3 months. They pretty much said, "sorry, your service will be terminated for non-payment regardless". This is so unfair. I can see why there are so many people trying to make good on their accounts, struggling to make ends meet and end up in the street! What can we do to get better treatment in tough economic times?
I moved to Knolls at the Neuse subdivision four years ago. During that time, I have experienced numerous power outages; however, other homes in my subdivision were not effected. The others have never lost their power in the entire four years that I have lived here. Why?
On Saturday, August 27, 2011, my power went out around 2:00 a.m. and it was not restored until 24 hours later. Approximately 95% of the subdivision never lost their power. Why? A neighbor on one side of my house lost power but the neighbor on the other side did not. Do you have a logical explanation how this can occur? Are we not on the same line? Another neighbor three streets down lost power but her neighbors across the street from her did not.
I moved from Savannah, Georgia where this sort of thing never happens. You didn't have a subdivision where your next door neighbor had power and you didn't. When you lost power, it should affect the entire subdivision or the entire area where you lived.
We have underground wiring. The subdivision is five years old. Is it possible that the wiring was faulty or placed incorrectly? Please explain to me why I lose power and my neighbor doesn't. Is it possible that my line is connected to the street lights in our subdivision? Is that legal? This is a problem. Is it possible that it can be fixed?
I have never in my life had to deal with such a horrible company. I feel trapped; they know there is nothing we can do. The customer service representatives were rude and heartless. They shut your power off after even just a few days late and don't even have the hospitality to notify you. I have an English bulldog that is very sensitive to the heat and cold and he was trapped in the house with no power all day while I was at work because they decided to shut the power off without notifying me. Oh, and the bill isn't even due for another week! When I asked why I wasn't called, the so-called manager asked why he should have to notify anyone.
Me and my family went on vacation for 3 1/2 weeks. We have a four-year old disabled child. Me and my girlfriend went the first week. She stayed with her real dad and we went primitive camping. My girlfriend wanted to go first and try it before we brought Avi back. Everything went a lot better than she thought. We went back home on the 24th and went back to the mountains on the 25th. The power was on when we left and the meter was read on the 26th. It was not working. Instead of them going ahead and fix what they knew they were going to have to fix, they didn't.
I called my answering machine a couple of times and the nearest phone service was about 30 miles from where we where. I got someone over to check why it wasn't working. It was the power and it was out for 10 days when the temps where 100 degrees. I had a fridge and freezer full of food and had family to come and at least get all the meat and food out.
I have talked with Progress Energy numerous times. Everyone tells me that they can't help me at all! Wow! It has been a nightmare. We do not have the money to buy a fridge and freezer. More less the money for the food. I can't believe they won't help us at all. Our homeowners insurance is only going to pay 500.00 dollars. We are going to lose our house over this!
I have been dealing with this for two weeks now but I can't get the smell out of anything. I have cleaned everything over and over again but it won't go away. We are living out of a small dorm fridge and no freezer at all. The bad part is that one of Avi's disabilities is can't gain weight. She is four years old and 24 lbs. There are things that she needs right now that we can't do anything about. Thanks for the help Progress energy!
I have experienced some very bad service from Progress Energy, between April-June 2010 and July 27, 2011. When I phoned them with my first complaint, they informed me that someone moved into the apartment directly next to me, but that party gave Progress Energy the wrong letter for their address, which was actually my full address. Progress Energy proceeded to use my original deposit to pay off my bill, then informed me that I had to pay a new deposit for a new account. I spoke to John and then his supervisor and they gave me the runaround. A few days later when I called back, I was informed that the situation was Progress Energy's mistake.
My second complaint which is around July 27, 2011 at 9:17 in the morning, I was at work, and my son phoned stating that, "the lights were off". I responded by telling him to try the breaker box. He said, "No service." So, I had to leave off my job; return home, and find out what was going on. I contacted Progress Energy; they said an error was made in disconnecting my service because my payment was received on time. A CSR by the name of Jamar informed me of this error, who was also very rude towards me--by calling me a liar.
I paid my bill on 8/2/2011 and my services were turned off on 8/2/2011. I confirmed with a CSR on 8/3 that electronic payment from the bank should usually process the midnight before, but was unexplainably processed at 4:00 in the afternoon. My service was disconnected at 3:30. I was then told that I had to pay a $358 "down payment" to have my services turned on again, despite having an account for 6 years. I was also told that it had to be paid immediately or I would not get my power back. On top of that, I had a $300 credit to my bill! Talk about predatory practices! I am forced to pay this since they are a monopoly and I have no other company to turn to. The "supervisor" RJ was condescending and trying to get information out of him was impossible.
I've repeatedly tried to work with Progress Energy to obtain answers to my questions. As of today (more than a year later), they have not yet responded to them all. I am seeking Progress Energy to provide written answers to each of the questions that I have asked. I am also seeking copies of the documents that I have requested--documents that at previous occasions they previously provided quickly and fully. I am finally requesting an investigation into why Progress Energy has swept this matter under the rug, has provided such dismally poor service, and allowed this matter to have dragged on for over a year. I sold all my stock in this company due to my terrible ordeal!
Progress Energy required a deposit for a new connection during my recent move. I paid the deposit a week in advance of the connection date and the power went on fine. I received a bill from Progress Energy thanking me for my deposit payment, but requiring a SECOND deposit payment. As I received the bill after business hours, I waited till the following day to call them. The following day my power was disconnected; calling Progress Energy, I was informed that while they acknowledged it was there problem, the reconnection would happen "sometime later in the day". They were unable to determine *when* the reconnection would occur.
Power was not restored three hours later, when I called a second time and informed them I would be filing a utilties commission complaint. While they claimed on the phone to have no ability to expedite the order, the power came on approximately five minutes afterward.
Hello, my name is Dominique ** I always pay my bill on time with Progress Energy. The bill I paid last month was $117.00. During that time, I was the only person who was working. My wife was on maternity leave for 2 months and I was covering for the bills on one income. I submitted a payment to them at the beginning of the month and it was returned because they stated that when I transferred the money, they had already withdrew the payment. The supervisor in the customer service department, named Jonah, stated that they do not give out extension on a payment that was sent back. I do not get paid until next week and they are stating that they will turn off my lights. I told her that I always pay my bills and I am willing to fax in the information which she stated she saw.
I just had a son on April 16, 2011 and medical bills is out my tail, plus, rent along with benefits is $200.00 which is coming out of my check. My rent is $590.00 with utilities at $46.15 separated from my rent. My wife graduated from college and the tuition is crazy. I only get paid $12.00 an hour and my wife works at a daycare making $10.00 an hour. Daycare fees is about $125-250 a week.
The supervisor told me that maybe I should ask for government assistance. Who gives her the right to tell me that and then she cut me off. She didn't care one bit about my situation. I asked her that the only time they give extension is when people have the money to pay for it but the people that do not have the money at that time are screwed? She was like yeah and you should pay your bill when it is time to.
I have always paid my bill on time with Progress Energy and not one time have I missed a payment. They are telling me as a customer that they cannot at least give me until next Friday, when I get paid, to pay the bill. And yet, they have already sent the bill for next month for me to pay which is $143.00. They call it rules and regulation.
I have been getting phone calls the past 2 weeks from Progress Energy with the above cell phone number being used. I have twice pressed 5 as requested to stop these calls. They have not stopped. When they woke me from a deep sleep at 9:30 pm last night, that was the final straw. I am on a Do Not Call List and should not be receiving these calls .I live in Leesburg, FL and our electric payment goes to the City of Leesburg. I have no idea what this has to do with Progress Energy
I always pay by bills online, including Progress. As such, I typically discard most of what comes in the mail as every other company I have every worked with will notify via the very latest technology, the cutting edge method of communication, email! Or perhaps a phone call. Not Progress. On the first occasion, I came home from an exhausting vacation to find a Progress Energy hang tang on my door. It had no info on it. Just a number. As my bills had been paid on time, I thought I would give them a call in the next few days but was not too worried about it.
The next day when I arrived home, my power was shut off! I called and asked why. My wife, who passed away about a year previously, was on the account and they said this was against policy or against the law or something. I ended up spending the night in a hotel. It was August and they couldn't get the power back on until sometime the next day. As I said before, I never got a phone call and email, nothing. They said they mailed me a letter which I never got. Second incident: I was kicked out of the equal payment plan they offered because my payments are typically a few days late as I get paid once a month. Again, no phone call. No email. The letter I got this time indicated another letter was sent previously, which I never got. So this company doesn't even have the common courtesy to give you a phone call or email before they make drastic impacts on your life! Poor form.
After Progress Energy acquired Florida Power, my bill went up $40. Than came an new meter that transmits my power usage to a driver's PC. My bill went up again by at least $20. I have not changed my habits except for raising the a/c thermostat to 80 degrees. My electric bills went from $140 per month to $290 per month! Progress Energy refuses to check my meter! Always excuses!
I own two homes using Progress Energy as the electric power source. We have no other choice. in the past two months, August and September 2010, my electric bills have doubled! When i called the company, the customer service rep asked all sorts of questions, insinuating that I must be running all sorts of electrical appliances, perhaps, as she said, do keep our homes cool during the hot months. I have not changed or added a single appliance, no air conditioners or fans. As a matter of fact, one home is a rental unit, and the tenant moved out last month. so a house that was sitting empty actually had a bill higher than when it was occupied! the progress energy rep had no answer, left me on hold for at least fifteen minutes, and told me her supervisor would call me back, but no one called back.
Progress Energy is a monopoly. They are frustrating, hard to deal with and hit you with all types of fees. Why? Because they can! You don't have a choice so they really don't care! We moved to Wilmington, NC from Columbia, SC. All of the other utilities took a letter of good credit from our previous companies and set services right up. Despite 6 yrs of excellent payment to SCE&G (not even one late fee in 6yrs), Progress still demanded $220 upfront.
After speaking with several rude customer service reps, it was clear they could not care less. They would follow their protocol to the letter with no concern for common sense or their customer's concerns. They refused to even look at the letter from SCE&G. Then, the next bill hit us with a $17.00 new account service charge. When I called to discuss the fee, it was immediately clear they would not budge. When I asked what other hidden fees, they were planning on hitting me with next the rep. responded, we don't have any hidden fees. I guess she meant other then the ones they already charged without informing me about.
Progress Energy is a monopoly and holds our electricity for ransom for a hefty price. I have paid over $900 for the past three weeks due to an overdue bill, which has been paid. I have called and asked about another deposit, which has been required in the amount of $240 after they have already received a deposit in the amount of $142 when I moved here in 2005. I think it's completely unfair and not right that they sent someone to my house today and told me I have two hours to come up with the $242 or be disconnected today.
This is **. It's not like we can go to another company and get power because there is no one else. This is **. I would rather sit in the dark in my hot house than deal with Progress Energy anymore.
I know this is futility. Nothing will change. However, is only for stress relieve exercise. Ever since we moved to Florida, the worst experience, dealing with companies was dealing with Progress Energy. Up to this very morning, when calling, people are rude, they even refused to connect you to a supervisor, not that they probably be better. Anyhow, this has to be the worst company and service in the USA. The first thing when we moved, they required a $200 deposit. They are so liked that people will not pay, I guess. So we paid the deposit. We now have been a customer against our desire to find a different company. It is just a monopoly, and we know what happens when this occur.
We have been a customer for more than 18 years. We never failed to pay as we do all our bills, and on time. Not too many people can do that. We are lucky we have the means to pay our bills and on time. I tried this morning to talk to a manager or a supervisor, you know? The very obnoxious woman that answered refused to connect me with a supervisor. This is outrageous that one cannot talk to someone else. These people, as my wife said, they are like Nazis. It's a disgrace. We American citizens have to put up with these companies. We intend to write to the State Attorney's office, and the Better Business Bureau. Who knows, maybe someone with some clout can teach this people a lesson.
We had our power for our business turned on in 2006. Because of my husband's good credit, we did not have to pay a deposit. Now four years later, because we were late on a few payments (power has never been shut off), they sent us a bill with a required deposit of $784 due by the end of the month. As a business owner, you can't expect someone to come up with that kind of money in a month and you can't run a business with no power which will be shut off if the deposit is not paid. I can't even change power companies because they are it.
This incident occurred on 03/18/10 in the evening. There was a knock at my door in which I answered. A Progress employee by the name of Kenneth ** was standing there. He informed me that was electric service was going to be disconnected. I advised him I had made a payment of $377.64 on 03/15/10 through Progress on-line. He aggressively replies "you got a confirmation number" twice. He calls another Progress energy employee at that moment and says the payment is not showing.
I ask Mr. G. to give me a minute so I can check my bank account on-line. I checked and saw the payment did not go through. I apologized to him and stated I'm not sure why the payment did not post. I ask him for another minute so I can correct the problem and make sure the payment is posted. Mr. G. says "I'm here to cut service off and that's what I'm going to do." I asked him again to just give me a few seconds and I will make sure the payment is posted. He starts to walk away while saying "I'm cutting it off, I'll be back later". He went around the house and cut the service off.
I was surprised that he did this and also by his overall attitude. I called customer service and made the payment. The representative said there is nothing they can do. Five minutes later, Mr. G. showed up and reconnected my service. I asked him for his name and he just stared at me and said nothing. He then held up his I.D card and walked away. Why would Mr. G. come to my door, when he never intended to give me a chance to correct the problem? Why wasn't Mr. G. able to give me the 2 minutes it took to make the payment that I had believed to be posted. Mr. G.'s behavior was unprofessional and arrogant. I question if Mr. G. has ever received basic customer service training. Progress Energy is a monopoly which lacks incentive to provide good customer service. They don't care how you are treated, because in the end they are the only one who can provide you with service.
