CenterPoint Energy Reviews

So I call CenterPoint back and to discuss them delete the security deposit that they were asking for and they told me because I did not keep up with my monthly bill with the manager stated and I should be able to keep up with it. I was very upset and I also asked could I speak to another manager because I did not like her tone of voice so I just hung the phone up in her face and I just said I was just gonna try and email them to see if I can resolve it that way. CenterPoint is pitiful. It should be a crime for the way they treat their customers because they have no other competition.

It all started shortly after I discontinued auto draft services. I stopped using my bank account full time (transferring all funds into my boyfriend's account as received and we use a credit card for everything, which we pay in full from his account each month) and CenterPoint does not offer auto draft from credit cards. So I pay manually. However, they just do not send bills anymore so I didn't realize I was past due until service was disconnected. Then, they charge a NEW deposit (wth happened to the first?), reconnect fee, service guy's visit fee (shouldn't that be the reconnect fee?) and an additional $47 to connect today. Love this. Money isn't the issue...just learning NOT to rely on a monthly bill, which I think is pretty messed up on their part, and will have to remember to go online every month to check and that is a pain in the **. I guess they're unclear that paperless billing actually means you replace that with an electronic bill via email.

Totally unacceptable. I asked if they'd send an on-call tech to at least temporarily turn on service till this gets sorted out but no, flatly refused saying how would they bill me. I offered to pay a deposit over the phone to get it started and we'd account for it later but she said "I can't help you. You need customer service." The whole thing is asinine. I wish there were another option in my area.

Will definitely be filing a complaint with the Railroad Commission and the BBB at the very least. The company needs to train and empower reps to offer service and find solutions - not repeat "I can't help you" over and over till you feel like you're talking to a machine.

I got confirmation email from their system. Next day no one showed up. No call, nothing. I called again, customer service is closed! I called emergency line (waited 15 mins). The lady told me their system does not show any payment!!! I wanted to talk to manager, she said manager was busy and she would call me when she has time. I told her once more what am I complaining about and asked her to remark this in their feedback system. I am not even sure if she was listening to me, absolutely no tone during I was speaking. When I said thank you, she hung up without saying a word! It is unbelievable! So disrespectful, rude, annoying! I never experienced this before in my life! Lord please send us an alternative gas company in Houston area!!! Even a 1 star is way too much for this company!

Centerpoint came and turned off my gas Wednesday evening and left an #800 to pay the bill to have gas turned back on. Due to an oversight of $35 I had to pay $165 to reconnect ($70 deposit, $40 to turn back on, $20 trip fee and $35 past due). So I sucked it up and paid it (since it was my mistake). I called back on Thursday with a different question and the rep on the phones says, "Oh, I see you paid your fees, but you need to schedule your technician." I told them the website said the next available date was the following date when I paid Wednesday so I assumed someone was coming on Thursday.

Turns out I have to actually call and schedule (didn't know...didn't see it on the site). So I said, “well let's schedule it.” The rep told me it was too late for Thursday but she could schedule me Friday. I told her that will not work. She said I could have same day (Thursday) service for $47. I sucked that up too and paid it after she transferred me to the automated system. After I paid the call dropped. I called back and told them I didn't think I finished the process, but that the payment was posted and I needed to leave a phone # for the technician and hopefully get a time frame or a window. They told me they could NOT do either, because the call was dispatched already. Someone would be there between then (1:00 pm) and 10:00 pm. WHAT!? So I insisted to find a way for me to get a number on the ticket since I was at work and that way I knew if I had to leave sooner. Finally a supervisor said they could add a phone number. And guess what? NO ONE SHOWED UP OR CALLED THURSDAY.

So today (Friday) I called to complain and I was told they didn't show a call for yesterday, but they did for today. I was upset to say the least and I told them I wanted my $47 back because there was NO same day service. They said I had to wait 7 days to ask for a refund or a credit. Then they read back the contact number they had for me....I didn't recognize it. I gave them my cell phone number for a call back the day prior and they logged some outrageous number I have never even heard of. I asked them to change it....they said if they did they risked kicking my ticket to the next business day (MONDAY!!!!). I just about had a cow. After a lot of going back and forth a supervisor again said they could update the number without jeopardizing my ticket being kicked into Monday. They did and now supposedly someone is coming out today (Friday), but to be honest I'm feeling doubtful and helpless. I'm doing some research of my own today. I'm not sure if Centerpoint is the only gas company in Houston, but I sure hope they are not. I don't want to give them another dime!

Centerpoint made the decision to remove and they do and then they want us, the owners, to pay a master electrician $400-$500 to just get a permit and have the COH inspectors come by and give the okay for the meters' installations. I spoke with COH electrical inspector who stated the city does not require this inspection especially if there was a meter in there before. Something has to be done for Centerpoint cannot just pull the meters out. After all, we paid for the initial electrical inspections and meter installation once and for them to "require" us to get another is just not acceptable in a city like ours. It is a shame that we are not even consulted at least.

I asked what are the adjustments and was told that they can't tell me and I will have to wait for my bill and find out. When I received my new bill, I was charge even more! I call back and ask about the adjustments, was told that I used more natural gas in Dec than what I was charged, so therefore my bill go up not down. I asked them how is that possible? Instead of trying to help me, they ask me do I need an interpreter?! I was speechless! Then put me on hold for the longest time then I'm back on the main menu automatic call system. I am so disappointed and angry on the customer services I received from CenterPoint Energy.

I went to sleep and got up to see LOTS of new charges had been processed overnight from the same website. It turns out there were more, queued up charges - when they were rejected the night before (when my balance hit $0), the website submitted them again the next day. Since those "queued up" charges were submitted before the debit card was cancelled, they still went through and brought my balance down to $0 a second time. I called the bank again, and they said I couldn't do anything to block pending debit card purchases from a vendor. So I emailed and called the websites they were using to charge my account to try to put a stop to it.

All told, I fought the issue for about 3 days before everything was straightened out. I kept transferring money into the account to keep it funded, so my bills would get paid. Well, less than a day after all of this started, Centerpoint processed the auto-payment (e-check) for my gas bill. It was rejected because I guess it went through during one of the periods where my account was at $0. They charged me a $20 return check fee, and (that same day) mailed me a bright red letter saying they were cutting off my gas in 30 days. Wow.

I paid both my current bill AND the next month's bill within a few days, since their warning letter said I needed to pre-pay since my last payment had bounced. Ok, fine. But here's what really bothers me: they wanted their $20 bounce fee. They could care less that I was a victim of fraud. Their policy is "if it's not OUR fault, it's yours. End of story, we don't care about the details."

So not only was I a victim of fraud, I was a victim of Centerpoint's complete lack of common sense. They could care less that I had a perfect payment history for two years. Even when they understood it was NOT my fault the payment bounced, my account was cleaned out due to fraud, they didn't care. I offered to have the bank write them a letter stating I was a victim of fraud - they didn't care. They wanted their $20 fee and nothing was going to change their minds.

They promised to have a manager call me, and their internal notes said the manager called - but they never did. I looked at my cell phone records - nothing. Oh, and when I asked why they didn't leave a message, they said there wasn't a voicemail service. That's strange - it's the same cellphone I've had for years, and everyone else has no problems leaving a message. Centerpoint Gas - they don't care about ANYTHING but money, and they're proud of that. I talked to multiple people to try to get this resolved, and they all said the same thing - so this is not just some rogue employee being a jerk. This is how they do business.

I was at the location from 6:30 - 9:15 pm. No one ever called or showed up. I called on the morning of 3.14.2014, I was told that someone did go to the location at 10:25 pm and called and that since no one was there I had to reschedule. NO ONE EVER CALLED. I want service, why would I then not make myself available?? I spoke with a manager and was told that they had to go by their notes and that since the notes say their employee called then (the logic...I was lying) I was not there so I had to pay $45 for same day service OR wait until Monday, (2 days) until they could do it for free.

I am trying to move into my new place, why would I wait? Why should I pay for YOUR error. How do you say hey our employee is honest, but you trying to get service are a liar. CenterPoint is the only gas provider in Houston? (as far as my research points me to conclude). Thus, if CenterPoint does this at least 50 times per day that means they pocket $2250 for their mistake that you and I have to pay for. This company has horrible customer service and I want everyone to know it.

I went online and it shows $159.00 due 1/28/14. That's all it showed. So SIX days late, it couldn't be turned off. I hit "pay now". It says “service off for non-payment”!!! They charged me $257.00 to have it turned back on today! YES almost $100. Who has that kind of money to throw away? I could have paid that dang money if their technician had any common sense to mention that my address was marked for suspension. Cold weather, NO red notice, main page of online does not show ANY warning AND I get the emails from CenterPoint! Yet, NO email stating disconnect notice. I have photos of website page showing all this. I think they are jumping at the chance to disconnect in cold weather to racket the $100 for each successful suspension. What HORRIBLE customer service! They hold the market on natural gas and if we are ever lucky enough to get that changed, I will definitely be switching. I have decided to discontinue using their misleading website. Others beware so that they don't get your $100 too.

The cost to me was $107, a reconnect fee and a "same day" service fee, if I wanted gas the day the temperatures were to dip down into the 20's. When I called Centerpoint Energy again... I was told not to use the pay by phone because I was not the first person to have this problem..... and that they are working on the system. Now I have to get cash and drive and pay at HEB and will have to do this for 12 months before my online account will be turned back on.

How many poor, unemployed people or elderly or just plain poor people have been victimized by this... Here in The Woodlands thanks to George Mitchell Centerpoint Energy is our only choice so I can't even change providers. By the way the Railroad Commission is who regulates Natural Gas Providers such as Centerpoint Energy not the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Second problem: We moved in 2013. I go online to have the account transferred to the new address. I type in the new address, get a confirmation email back stating that service will be connected on November 19th at my correct (new) address. The 19th went by, no gas. I get online and pull up my account and the address they have me at is our house number on Washington Ave. I live on Polk St. I call and ask what the deal is and they blamed me for the mix up saying I must have typed Washington Ave. instead of Polk. I'm staring at the confirmation email from CPE that states, "Your service will be connected at (the right address on Polk) on November 19th." Then the manager proceeds to tell me that my house has to be inspected by the city.

So, here it is, November 22nd with record temps of highs in the 40s for the next 4 days and I live in a 1936 bungalow with really bad insulation. Yaaaaaa meeeee :-/

The next day I called to restore service and was told they don't do same day services! So, here I am without gas the first night, all the next day and they couldn't even give me a time the third day when my service would be restored! Not to mention someone had to be here while it was restored... Hello, we work, that's how I paid it in the first place!? Anyway, it got turned back on and the payment came out of my account on the 8th. On the 11th, a letter was sent saying my bank didn't honor my check?? Yet it had already came out of my account. Okay so I call again and was told while they tried to "locate my money" my service would not be interrupted. Well, of course, it was shut off again! They've gotten my money and here I sit again, this time for three days without gas! No cooking, showers, etc.

My service finally is restored, same issues as before, along with of course the horrible customer service and I don't give-a-hoot attitude of their employees (who are conveniently in Texas as I'm in Mississippi). And I'm told it was their fault and a computer problem! I receive my bill and here I sit with $120.00 in fees!! $40 a pop for two restorations of service and a $40 fee for my "bank not honoring my check" which isn't true! I call today to try and get this straightened out before I pay my bill and had no luck! I was told they would not take the fees off. And after explaining my situation time and time again and becoming very aggravated, especially with her attitude, I hung up after telling her I would call back and get someone who could understand how I obviously wasn't responsible for these fees! They're running a monopoly and it's not right! What a rip-off!

It is not our fault that their payment system doesn't work, or that they do not notify you that they haven't received payment. Yet they feel free to charge you for their mistake! At the end of the whole ordeal, we ended up paying $250 dollars on a $137 initial bill, that we attempted to pay, but that they couldn't accept due to their subpar payment system. We are literally paying for their mistakes. I would love to switch services, but CenterPoint is a monopoly in central Texas. The only way that this practice will change is via trust-busting legislation.

They tell my husband over the phone that the tech will be out between 9 - 5 the next day to turn our services on. We were not in the house yet, because I have a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old so I was waiting for hot water and a stove to cook on for my babies. I get to the house at 8:30 that morning with a note on my door saying he came at 8, no one was home, so he left. I called and they tell me that I have to reschedule for TOMORROW!! I was so angry, but have no choice but to use CenterPoint so I reschedule. I let my kids stay with my mom and I stayed at the house so I wouldn't miss him. My front yard is only a yard. There is no driveway or anything. I have a back door where my driveway is located and that is where everyone comes.

The day before, my note from the gas company was on my back door so the next morning I hear someone knocking at my FRONT door. Well I had boxes in front of my door from moving so I start moving everything out of the way. By the time I get the door opened, the tech is at his tailgate of his truck. I say, "Hey, sorry. I am here." He gets in his truck and drives off, never acknowledges me at all. I called right that second to report what happened. No one could help me, not the manager either. My options were to reschedule next day or pay 40 dollars for him to come back after 5!!! I even called the corporate office!!!!

I finally get service turned on and they have been on maybe three weeks. I get a letter saying that I have to pay the 77 dollars from my account at my old address or our new account at our new address in my husband's name is going to get shut off. I think my account should have nothing to do with the services at this address, but I know I can't win the argument and like I have stated, I have no other options. CenterPoint is the only company available, so I just get online and make the payment yesterday. My service was still shut off, after hours so when I called last night there was no one available to speak to. Dinner was in the GAS STOVE, kids needed a bath. Our dinner was ruined and we had to load up the kids and go stay with family for the night. I call this morning and was told my service was cut off, because EVEN though my payment was made and received, I didn't call them to tell them I made the payment so NOW I have to pay 60 dollars and my service can not be turned back on until tomorrow!!!!!

HOW IS ANY OF THIS FAIR? This company should be ashamed. I am not someone who doesn't pay my bill. This has all started from their employee not knowing how to do their job! My kids have had to stay with family, my dinner has been ruined. I have gone more days in my house without gas than with. I have been out more fees and more fees for every incident. They are treating me this way because they know I have to pay it. I have to have hot water and a stove to cook on and no one else can provide me gas service in my area, so what choice do I have?

I had been a regular customer of CenterPoint for at least 23 years without ever missing a payment. Everyone at CenterPoint was gone for those two weeks. Since that time, they still have never mailed me a bill. They keep saying it's a problem with online payments, but I've never used anything like that. I have asked at least 50 times for a bill to be mailed. They also don't provide any notification if they are going to turn off the gas. They ignore my requests to send a bill. I have to go somewhere to log-in and see if I have a bill.

Next thing I know, this meter man is in my back yard with my other two American bulldogs who are very territorial. The strange thing is they're silent. I run out and find the meter man leaving my meter and my poor dog is knocked out cold. The other is circling him wanting to lunge at him... and he walks off and gets in his truck. I turn on my camera phone and start recording him. He gave me his name, and I asked him "what were the rocks for? I saw what you did in the front of my house picking up rocks, what were they for?" He turns his face and remains silent.

This all happened within 15 minutes. I was not given the time to greet this man at my front door and inform him about my dogs. But by the looks of it, he already knew what he was going to do to get to my meter, and he thought he'd get away with it. Here I am, June 11, 2013, and nothing has been resolved - no call backs from CenterPoint Energy, nothing.

Friday comes around and at 6:50pm, my services had not been restored. I then called CenterPoint to find out what the problem was. I was told by a rude supervisor that it had been a rainy day and to bear with them, and my services would be restored by 10:00pm. No apology was given for my inconvenience. 11:00pm rolls around, no gas restored yet. I called CenterPoint again and got another rude and impolite supervisor Diana on the phone. I explained my issue and she replied by saying and I quote, "The dispatch has rescheduled your order for tomorrow." I had heard it all and to top it off, she offered no apology. In other words, "those are the facts so deal with it" attitude. I then asked how I would be compensated for my inconvenience and she replied, "We don't do that." I asked who could, and she exclaimed, "No one!"

I then proceeded to say, "Since the conversation we are having is above your pay grade and you could not and do not know how to handle an irate customer, please give me your name and the name of someone who is better equipped to handle such elementary situation." I had to ask her to say and spell her name several times because at this point, the conversation was unapologetic on her end and very angry on my end. End of story. Two nights without gas and I never received an apology for my inconvenience of having to spend extra money. I may not have to feed my household for two days. Hopefully on Monday, someone qualified to handle these types of issues and complaints will understand my dilemma.

Even though all my gas was paid up in full, when I returned, I had to pay over $130 in fees to get reconnected. After 6 phone calls and most of a morning, the crooks acknowledged I had a balance due from overpayment during the reconnect. I asked them to send me a check for the balance. I just received my latest bill today with a $43.67 Service initiation fee. This is on top of the $42 Disconnect fee + the $42.10 Reconnect fee + my initial $42.10 connect fee when I moved back. What can I do? Their customer disservice clowns are only amusing but certainly not helpful? It might be difficult to go without gas, but I'm investigating.

Calling them is fruitless. The customer service people working there prove to be completely unwilling to go off script and acknowledge common sense points. Getting a supervisor is worse. Someone who thinks that they have some kind of power over you and is going to use it, they talk down to customers and will screw you over in a heartbeat. I don't know about the electric side of things, but if there was a way to convert my house so I didn't have to use them for gas, I would gladly pay through the nose just to be rid of them. Hate, hate, hate, hate them. This is why monopolies are outlawed.

Two installers did not do their jobs correctly, causing our gas to be shut off and requiring us to pay for a plumber and miss work waiting on this problem to get resolved, when we came to find out there was never a problem in the first place. They shut off our gas and red-tagged our meter for no reason, because the technician didn't want to wait around and do his job correctly.

After talking with Customer Service for days regarding this issue and being talked to as though I was a hassle for them to deal with, I got a representative who told me the installation fee would be credited and that if it was on my bill, to call and have it taken off. It showed up on my bill twice. I called and explained the situation. And now suddenly, there's a same-day service fee that they decided to waive; yet that charge and/or credit never showed up on any of my bills. That installation fee sure does keep showing up though.

Unfortunately, I have to use gas in my home right now or replace my appliances with electric units. This company has cost me hundreds of dollars already in plumbers and missed work, and instead of giving up $42 and showing a little compassion for a customer, they treated me with utter disrespect.

Be warned that this company will not take responsibility for their mistakes or the mistakes of their employees. They are a monopoly here, being our only option for natural gas. So they know they can get away with treating their customers badly, because what other choice do we have besides spending even more money replacing gas appliances with electric ones.

I told Greta that I wanted her to call me before a team comes out to fix my driveway because I thought they should replace the entire strip across my driveway (approximately 10' x 4'), as opposed to the one hole they just chopped out of my driveway. Greta clearly didn't listen to me (or didn't care) because a crew came out and replaced the 6' x 4' section in my driveway, which now looks terrible and they placed new grass in the 12' x 4' section of my yard, which now looks decent after I re-landscaped it. Greta informed me that they would not fix my sprinkler system as it was in an easement and was technically CenterPoint's property. My sprinkler system was never repaired after numerous complaints to Greta and her supervisor, Kim **. My driveway still looks terrible. I wound up going out in my front yard and spending a weekend fixing my grass and sprinkler system as Greta stated that she would not pay to repair my sprinkler system.

It is now May 6, 2012 and my sprinkler system is finally fixed (because I did so on my own). It took CenterPoint 6 months to not fix my yard. The bottom line is that CenterPoint's monopoly on the Houston (and surrounding areas) now allows them to act at their own desire and break, tear and destroy anything in their path without any recourse. If you have a choice, which most of us Houstonians do not, do not use CenterPoint Energy. They are crooks and they are quite cognizant of their monopoly!

I have lived here for 3 years; my other bills, neighbors, landlord, and family can attest to that. He said my gas had been turned off last March 2011 and had never been reconnected, at least not by them. Oh, so now, not only do I not live here and don't use the gas enough, but now I am a thief also. My bills have always been around $25.00. Well today, I received a bill for $603.89. How can I ever pay that? And why do I owe so much since I did not use the gas enough? Especially since they say I did not live here? Come on, how did you get your numbers. Because they stink!

Thankfully, someone did finally come out to relight our pilot light. Terrence ** was extremely efficient, polite, and thoroughly professional. He was the one bright spot in this whole situation. It is my hope that CenterPoint Energy will attempt to improve what appears to be a gaping hole in its customer relations, so that similar issues in the future are more amicably settled.

This person told him that CenterPoint would be out immediately to install a new meter. CenterPoint had also sent out someone to measure for burying a new gas line and had given my son a price of $1,624 for the installation. This was paid immediately, within an hour of receiving the estimate. CenterPoint had refused advance payment for this work so that it could be completed as quickly as possible. To date, there have been many, many phone calls. Nobody has any authority. We cannot find out the work order number, we have only been able to establish tonight, April 24th, that on April 17th there was a number of some sort, not a work order, assigned to us. We were promised return phone calls because you cannot talk to a person, only leave voicemails. The calls are seldom returned and it is only to dump you on somebody else who cannot help you.

Since it is impossible to talk to anybody of authority at CenterPoint, maybe the media would be interested in this horrible customer service! My last comment: We live in Costa Rica, a third world country, the service there is 500% better than here. Shame on you David McClanahan, CEO, for receiving a 7-figure salary for this kind of performance and if I have to, I will come to your office and sit there until I get satisfaction! This company seriously needs competition!

There is nothing you can do. They do not care if I could use someone else. I would, I am furious! But I believe that was his goal to play god. They came in like thieves in the night, no knock on the door. There is no excuse for them to not dispatch someone right away to put the meter back that they stole because my bill had been paid. They admitted to their mistake, they are a conglomerate and do not care about us little people.

I told the person with whom I spoke that this was shabby business practices when there was only 3 days from when I scheduled the bill to be paid and when they cut the gas off. She told me that the payment in the system was "pending" because I cannot set up a pre-payment after a cut-off notice has been issued. I said it was Sunday. There could not have been a cut off notice issued. She said it was issued on my last bill that if the bill wasn't paid by the 25th, the service would be disconnected for a one month bill of $67.00+.

I really hate them. I hate their practice of screwing customers because they are the only game in town. It’s time to deregulate the gas company as they have done the electric company in Texas. It wasn't like this was a $400.00 bill for five months. This was a one month bill for $67.00+.

Well, I returned home to find my gas had in fact been shut off and immediately made a payment. Unfortunately by then it was 6 p.m. and the earliest they will reconnect my service is "sometime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow". That means it could be almost 24 hours before I have gas service again and it is February in Minnesota. I have two small children (4 and 8) living here who now will have to go all night without heat in my home. Upon contacting CenterPoint I was told there was "nothing that could be done". They could start by refunding the reconnection fee--which is outrageous I might add--and refunding the other various late payment fees. We'll call it a "late reconnection so my kids have to freeze tonight" fee. Unbelievable.

According to my calendar, Friday 10 was in August 2011. That is how long I had been trying to work with them. They told me it could take some 30-60 days to complete you accounting stuff. Well, you see how well they do their jobs, and cut people off even when they have not tried every way to contact them, even in the winter. You guys really.

Everything they sent me is correct, except it is 4 months old history. I had given you a new bank account to use for auto draft and online billing and ask for average gas monthly billing. The only proof of this I have is my account password "Friday10" that is the day I worked all this out with their account people. They knew how to contact me online and they chose not to.

CenterPoint called me at 11:03 PM on 02/04/2012 that someone was coming to address the problem. I am still facing the same issue. On 02/06/12, I called CenterPoint Energy to send someone down quick because my baby is hungry and crying, and my three other kids need to eat before they go to bed. However, I was told that someone will be there only by 11 PM.

My baby is losing weight, my kids are not happy going to bed hungry. I can perform at work because I can eat appropriate food while in diet. My family is devastated. We never received any notice from CenterPoint for this low voltage. Any notice could have prepared us in advance. I want CenterPoint to pay all the damages done to my whole family and I need a lawyer.

In a generic form letter received six days later, they said no problem was found and "we ask that you pay your current bill by the due date". I called my sister-in-law's heating and AC Company to check out her furnace. No problems were found. Then I called her plumber to check out the water heater. No problems were found. I called CenterPoint again and they agreed to send someone to shut off the gas and run a gas leak test. No problems were found. When my sister-in-law called two hours later to say it was cold in the house, I had her check the furnace to see if the pilot light on her furnace was lit. It was not.

Larry, the CenterPoint man had failed to relight the pilot light! I called CenterPoint immediately and was told, very indignantly by Mr. Grant, supposedly a supervisor, "We do not send someone out to light a pilot light!" even though their technician failed to complete the job. When I asked to speak to someone over him, he transferred me to the voicemail of a Miss Marshall. I left a message to call me.

It was obvious no one would return to light the pilot light, so I called my sister-in-law's heating people again and they relit her pilot light (at a charge of $60). I have also left two other messages for a supervisor to call me and sent an email to CenterPoint's Customer Service department. It is now a week later and I haven't heard from anyone. I will pay the now overdue bill of $714.07 myself because I don't want her gas disconnected. I live 117 miles away from my sister-in-law, so it's not possible for me to handle everything from her home. I have never encountered such poor service from any company..

The CenterPoint thugs came back while my friend was still there, and they used the screw driver to break in again. Rios actually demonstrated to others how to do it! I now have a broken gate and lock. I also know that the contractor they hired is an expert at breaking into locked gates. Do they recruit them from TDCJ?

For that I turned off all appliances I could, including the fridge and unplugged phone adapters for a few minutes. And I recorded the new smart meter readings. Instead of the old spinning wheel, the smart meters have dots cycling on its display. Each dot equals one watt-hour every time one dot comes on or when it goes off. Count the number of dots cycling in six minutes and do the math (multiply your count by ten) to get the number of dots in an hour, because there's ten times six minutes in an hour. Now you know your minimum power use in an hour. It could be zero in an apartment, or it could be a few tens of watt-hours in a house where furnace and yard equipment may still be using power that you can't shut off.

Next, turn on a lamp with a known wattage, for example a 100 watt light. I used a 300 watt halogen lamp. Count the dots for six minutes again and multiply your count by ten. This is the reading with the lamp on. Subtract the minimum power use number from the reading with the lamp number. Does it equal the power of the lamp you actually used? For example, it should be 100 watts if you used a 100 watt lamp.

If the reading matches your lamp rating, then the meter is correct. If the reading is higher than the lamp rating, then call the power company and tell them the meter is misreading and ask them to fix it. In my case it was reading double, but got fixed. Try to check that as soon as your new smart meter is installed. And don't forget to turn the refrigerator back on when you are done.

I called this morning and spoke to manager "Alma" who 1) said Lucio did not waive the deposit and 2) said I would have to wait until tomorrow or pay another $40+ to get service today. I have 4 kids at home tonight with no heat and no hot water. I am not a second class citizen and refuse to be treated like one. It is also my understanding that service is not supposed to be interrupted during the winter months? I have been lied to and cheated and because Centerpoint is the only provider (monopoly), they could care less how their customers are treated. Trust I am sending the above to every major news agency in Houston right now. I am beside myself with their lack of service, compassion and integrity.

My husband and I moved here in June of 2010, each bill we received, we paid. We did not think any different the bill being a small amount because we do not have any gas appliances in the entire house and we have never turned on and/or used the fireplace. When I originally placed the order, I asked if someone was going to come out and check to see if everything was working properly. I was told there was no need. I was surprised when we received an estimated $750 bill in the mail stating if we did not pay this amount our services, we would be disconnected. I could not believe in a home with no gas except and/or maybe the hot water heater we had, used over $750.00 worth of gas and that we were blamed for the faulty equipment of CenterPoint Energy.

We recognized that this is not a battle we could win at this point without seeking legal assistance and called to make a payment agreement. Each payment had been received on the 7th as agreed, however, with only 2 payments left, I received a disconnection notice with the entire balance attached to the already extremely high current month bill. I called and spoke with a gentleman named Curtis, who original told me that the payment did get there on Friday, 7th. However, the payment was not processed until the 10th that Monday. I asked for a supervisor and was connected to Mrs. **. She stated the yes, it was received on the 7th but because it was not process until the 10th, the notice was generated.

This is a repugnant way to treat your customers in this economy. I would not have argued the fact if the payment was a week or two late, but it was in your office on Friday the 7th according to your representative. I imagine it was not processed until that Monday because some lazy worker, who does not appreciate their job, put the payment aside and did not process it accurately. Mrs. ** was extremely callous as well as Curtis to someone who lost their job in this economy and is struggling to pay your high gas cost. I pray you nor them Mr. ** never fall on hard times and/or have to be made to pay for something that did not properly work in the beginning. I find it extremely disturbing, with only 2 payments left to go, that CenterPoint Energy could not show some type of leniency. I would rather purchase for a home where I do not own an electric water heater in order to eliminate dealing with Center Point Energy.

This was my father's account. I have no idea what has gone wrong. But I have never spoken with such rude people, unprofessional with just a few nice good people. This has been a nightmare. Out of all the people I spoke with, only one looked into why this happened. It was not my fault. She said there was one number wrong. As mentioned, I called it in twice. It was repeated back to me .

I called CenterPoint and they very rudely informed me that I do not have service because it was disconnected in March. I argued that I do have service and I even told her that I'm feeling hot water while on the phone. Frustrated wth her attitude and from calling me a lier, I asked to speak with someone else. Then she says that my service has been disconnected since March; which hasn't and that my husband offered their guy a bribe not to terminate the services, but supposedly the guy denied and still cut them off; I went outside and turned my gas back on and I am using unauthorized gas. After going back and forth with the representative about it all being lies, she puts the manager on. At this point, I'm crying harder than ever. I pleaded my case and tell the guy that our service was never interrupted. He says that I'm lying and that his guy is telling the truth.

On top of that, he tells me that it's going to cost $100 for reconnection plus a $60 fee for tampering plus the usage of $408. I told the guy that I don't mind paying the usage because that is what I owe, but I never tampered with anything nor should I have to pay a reconnection fee because I never lost service. The manager will not budge and is unaffected by my demeanor. After searching for a new gas company for Houston to no avail, I have to call back and pay the bogus charges.

Today, September 27th 2011, I called because I finally received a bill since ordeal, which was roughly three weeks, and the bill states 350 some odd dollars. I called again and the guy who got on the phone was unbelievably rude. He tells me that the charges are for my unauthorized usage. I told him about the entire ordeal and I also told him that I paid the charges despite their lies. He says that he sees no record of my payment. I just asked for a manager and after a while he comes back and says that they found the payment but that I paid the wrong account. He didn't know what he was talking about. The account was originally in my mother-n-law's name, but after paying the deposit and balance, I asked them to put it in my name; so a new account was created. There should have only been usage for the current month. In the end, I had to fax proof of payment for them to apply my payment to my new account.

Dealing with them has been a nightmare. It hurts so bad to be falsely accused of something completely untrue. Bribing and stealing gas come on now. Even worse, offer a bribe to the guy who still cut the gas off. It would sound more legit to say that we freaking offered a bribe which explains why we still have gas. I swear these guys have the absolute worse customer service I have ever experienced in my life.

For the longest, neither the phone representative nor the manager could even explain why I was saying that I had gas and they were showing no usage; then they miraculously find usage going to my home. I said that if I tampered with my gas then tell me when the service stopped and started again. They couldn't tell me.

I hate everything about this place and wish that I could live without gas so bad.

When I questioned them, we were told that it was an increase due to usage. We explained that for the billing cycle dates on the bill, we were only here for a total of 9 days due to visiting family out of state. Then we get an explanation about the installation of the new "Smart Meter" and that the reason why the bill is so high is because the old meter wasn't reading properly and this one is.

Apparently, they want me to swallow that for the past years, this residence has been running on a meter that has been faulty. And since they have replaced it, I have to start paying almost double of my electric bill. We called and finally got around to talking to the corporate office and they said that they would file a billing dispute and that they would get back in touch with us. No call back, no solution, but I got a disconnection notice in the mail today for the 29th.

I have read so much information online about this company and their practices dealing with renters and homeowners alike. These 'mysterious bill fluctuations' are making me sick. If something isn't done about this, I have a feeling that this company is going to get an angry mob so far up their ** that they'll taste the pitchforks and torches.

It's one thing to have this issue and have someone come out and go over everything and try to solve the issue. It's another to hear someone say, "Tough, pay up", especially when they do it to everyone.

The gas company, Centerpoint Energy, will not adjust their bill. The customer service supervisor, who was the third person I spoke to about adjusting the bill, said they do not adjust bills. She understood that the gas was not used; it was leaked into the atmosphere, but we still needed to pay the bill or service would be turned off.

Why is the gas company so unfair and unreasonable? The water company used common sense and adjusted the bill because of the accidental leak--why is the gas company being SO WRONG? I will tell anyone who will listen to my experience and will absolutely never again put gas in any home I build or buy. Seeing these other frustrated customers, I see I am not alone in getting robbed by this monopoly gas provider.

We had no service by 5:30, so I called again. The representative I spoke with stated disconnection was due to nonpayment. So, I gave her the receipt number of payment; she verified receiving payment and the $2 credit, and stated that the technician is en route to restore service.

While I was on the phone with her, the technician pulled up in front of our home, checked the reconnect order which stated in error that interruption was due to nonpayment. He got out, hung a tag on my door, but did not knock or ring bell, then drove away. Since I was on the phone with Centerpoint, I asked what was going on. The representative stated that it was the end of the technician's work day, and he said no one was home.

Since that obviously was not the case (there were four adults here), she stated he would be back the next day to restore service, but that there would be a $185 reconnect fee which would be waived.

Well, our bill this month (July) was $23, I paid $35 and we have no gas once again! The $185 reconnect fee has been reinstated, and now they want a second one.

I have no intention of paying either fee for their error; is there any recourse?

It seems that a company would want to schedule this so it could be done in one trip but since the cost of sending someone else is of no relevance when it can be passed to the consumer. Anyway, it's midnight now and I guess I can go to bed and call them and the public service commission tomorrow. What a crappy monopoly service. But what can you do with a utility. When I need new appliances, I will replace with electric just to get away from their service.

We had to cancel our plans to wait for a technician who never showed up. Even tho two customer service representatives said that they would come. I stayed up until midnight then I had to get up at 5:00am to go to work doing landscaping on a 105 heat index day. I can't take off to meet them tomorrow so I guess a hot shower when I get home is out of the question. My 13-year-old was horrified by thinking a large black man was breaking in on her and our two large dogs barking wasn't stopping them. When she called me, I had to coax her into looking outside to see if there was a utility truck. Thank God, there was.

Desired settlement: I would like for the $45.00 service call fee showing "inside trouble" on my billing statement dated 06/20/2011 to be credited back to my account since I did not have or report inside trouble, only a power-outage in the neighborhood. Customers should not be billed for a service call fee when reporting a power-outage in a neighborhood or on a street.

When I went to the website to retrieve the billing information, I was unable to because the history was deleted. I have been with this company for over 20 years. I am a single parent and can ill-afford to make such a payment this large to restore my services. I think this is a huge error on Center Point Energy’s part and would like assistance. It is unheard of for a company to not bill a customer for over 2 years and then expect a balloon payment.

The one time I let the gas bill go (an honest error), they waited for the temperature to go up and shut me off. My bill was due today, the 29th. It was my fault. I did not open the bill to see it was a shut off notice that was due on the 24th. All of this happened because I owed $35.59. So now they tack on their service charges of $60.00 for the shut off and reconnect. I am paying $30.00 a visit for about 15 seconds of work. How is that fair?! How would it be fair for low income people, the elderly, or someone with an infant?! If they are late with their payment, how is it fair to charge double the payment due for disconnect/and reconnect fees? CenterPoint has a monopoly here in Houston.

I thought monopolies were a thing of the past. What happened to free enterprises? The government broke up ATT, didn't they? So, how is it that the energy industry gets special treatment? Oh yeah, I'm in the great state of Texas. The CSV person told me "I have to be here tomorrow from 7 a.m. till...garbled. “Till what?” I asked. The person said: “From 7 a.m. till,” and then garbled again. Once again, I said, “I'm not getting that. From 7 to what time?” Then, she told me, "From 7 a.m. till midnight.” Till midnight, I will lose a full day’s pay! It’s like there's a lot of money in this economy that a person can pay CE's fees plus lose a full day’s pay for this. I am self employed and this is going to hurt the checking account.

A couple of times they would say that they estimated the charge and not actually read the meter. They must have been ripping the customer off for a long time but I came to notice when they send me a bill for $480 which turned out to be $150! Other two instances also the mistake was always that if it has gone un-noticed, the consumer would have paid more, much more! The error is always penalizing the consumer, that the charges are always outrageously higher than the actual usage never the other way around. I don't check it out unless if there is an obvious overcharge.

I have a feeling that myself and most of the consumers of this company might have overpaid several occasions when the charges are not verified (or checked the meter reading).Unfortunately, there is no other choice for the consumer because this is only gas company operating in our area. I really wish some law firm should file a class action law suit against CenterPoint Energy for this high way robbery that is been going on for so many years (at least past 3 years when I started verifying the meter readings). I have all their original and re-billing invoices for proof. This month, I have not yet complained and holding the bill for some lawyer to come forward to sue this company.

So they decided to disconnect us while we're in Florida for an overdue amount of $29. We promptly paid them this amount + $19 to get us current. When we returned, no hot water. Now they require $62 reconnect and a $125 deposit to restore service. Unfortunately, we don't have that money until payday. So me, my wife and 11-year old are supposed to go without heat and hot water for 7 days, then whatever time it takes for them to get out to turn it back on. It's getting cold at night here. I really wish Centerpoint isn't the only provider of gas in Houston. Their extortion seems illegal.

Both Ms. P. and supervisor Ms. R. were very strict in saying that there was no way that they could send someone back to my home. I know it is not their fault that it was cutoff. But if I can pay all that money to get it restored by the time that they want it restored, then why can't I get the customer service that I deserve as a long time customer? Ms. P. was not that rude, but the supervisor Ms. R. was very rude. She didn’t even want to hear what I had to say. I work in customer service and I know from the experience that there is always a way to help out a customer if you want to. Evidently, they did not want to. As Ms. R. so bluntly put it, Center Point has me **, because they are the gas provider for my city. So, whatever they say goes and that is not right. I needed hot water to take a bath because I have a job that demands me to be at my best in appearance. I could not do that because I was unable to get my job clean. It is hot as hell outside and my family and I needed to take a bath. I hope that this complaint is taken seriously.

I have no other options for gas and they can make me do whatever they want if I want gas service. This is unbelievable that a monopoly exists and the company has no heart! I’m not remaining delinquent, but now I am forced to comply or have no gas. I was treated horribly as well. I was explained the same information over and over as though I did not understand. I also was spoken to in a diminutive manner. I have never been dealt with like this and if it were possible I would switch my provider no matter the cost.

I called CenterPoint's Office for reconnection and found that I am responsible for a $60 reconnection fee and a $105 deposit is now due to get reconnected. Of course, the phone techs were conveniently unable to waive anything for any reason, regardless of a good history with the company. To add insult to injury, after paying the reconnection fee, I was told that the service tech will be by anytime between 8 in the morning and 8 at night.

That someone has to be home for reconnection. They will give a narrower window for their appointment. Now I am incensed with this last act of consideration from CenterPoint, who by the way, has no competition in the Natural Gas arena in my area. I would love to bill them for my time which is equally as valuable as theirs. If I had an alternative, I would take it over this ** for customer service from CenterPoint Energy!

A month later my husband receives a copy of his driver's license record in the mail from CenterPoint saying that he lived at the address so the balance would stay on his account. Again, the old account was in my name, not his. We never disputed that we lived at that address so what they provided was not sufficient in our opinion. Again we contacted CenterPoint and asked for a copy of the past due bill and was told the same thing. The only thing they could tell me was the dates of the bill. I explained that we no longer lived in that house during the dates on the bill and that I would gladly provide copies of lease agreements as proof.

I also remembered that when we were vacating the house I had to call CenterPoint several times just to get our service disconnected. The first time I was told that I had to call back closer to my move out date. The second time was the disconnect and the third was to confirm that my disconnect request had been received. Of course now they are not able to locate these phone calls. I was told that I had to fax my lease agreements in by 5/24 in order to avoid being disconnected. I faxed them several times just to make sure that they received them.

I called on 5/25 to confirm and was told that there were no notes in the computer yet but that it normally takes about 48 hours to be updated. I called in 5/27 and was told that they still had not been received. The rep suggested that I fax it to her and she would make sure the credit department received them. The rep even called to confirm that she received them. On 6/16 I still had not heard from CenterPoint and because it was after hours I decided to send in an email. Today 6/19, I received an email stating that a decision was made on 5/27 and I owe the bill. It said that someone also contacted me on this date which is not true. I just need someone to please help me get this resolved. All I am asking for is a copy of the bill. If it is during my residency at this address, I have no problem paying for it. However, I don't believe I should be expected to pay for something just because someone says I do. Dealing with this matter has added stress and taken time away from work and family.

I got off the phone and called them. I got the same response. I started crying just thinking of her being in the cold house all night and probably all day tomorrow too. She is like we all are and that is she does not want to leave her house to go to a motel. And she did not have the money. I spoke to Mrs. D. Mrs. D was nice until I told her that I have paid the gas bill and if they will not turn it on then I can just go cut the tag off and do it myself for her. Oh, she did not like that at all. She got very firm about I cannot do that. I want to know if I paid the bill for my mother, why I have to wait for so long. It was like talking to a broken record.

So here I am so far away and beside myself. How can one company have so much control over your life? Because they own the gas, they can say who can have gas or not. They can say who can have heat or not. It is just not right. CenterPoint has "no customer service" at all. I didn't think they could treat elderly people like this. There should be a law about this. She could catch a cold or get pneumonia. What are they thinking of?

It also stated that the deposit could be waived if I sent them a letter of credit from a previous utility company. Since my utilities at my old address in Louisiana were always paid on time, I contacted my old company LUS and asked that a letter of credit be faxed along with my account number to Center Point Energy. I also asked that a copy be faxed to me at my office. When I received my copy, I faxed it again and I mailed it. I called Center Point Energy to see if it was received, but all of the customer service representatives said they do not have access to the fax machine and that when it is received it would be noted in the system.

So I went ahead and faxed it two more times to be sure. Easter weekend is coming close and my family decided they would come visit. So I went out and bought $273 worth of groceries, which were all later spoiled because when I returned home from work on the Thursday before Easter Friday I had no power. Not once did Center Point send a disconnection notice.

I called Center Point's office and was told that because my letter of credit was not received, they disconnected the service. I asked why they could not call to notify me that they "so called did not receive it". The representative told me they do not send disconnection notices for new accounts when the disconnection is occurring as a result of a deposit that is not received or waived by a letter of credit, and the only notice sent is when you receive the deposit invoice in the mail. This really upset me as I called several times to check if it had been received and I faxed it numerous times, my old utility company also faxed it, and I mailed it.

So after seriously yelling at the customer service representatives and speaking with a manager they were able to find my fax but it was never entered into the system. Of course they apologized and when I asked when would my services be restored, they said that first my letter of credit would need to be approved and that can take 3 -5 business days and then they would reschedule my service to be connected which could take up to an additional 5 days. I was then forced to switch to TXU Energy who had the service on by that Monday and did not ask me for a $310 deposit.

So when I moved to my new home in 2008, it turns out that Center Point is the only provider of Natural Gas Service. I unfortunately had no choice to use their service. I signed up and was never asked for a deposit. For 12 consecutive months I had never been late or been disconnected. Recently, I was out of town for a period of 3 weeks, so unlucky for me my bill came while I was away and when I returned on Monday January 25, 2010 I checked my mail and saw the bill and went online to pay it while I was at work. The past due amount was $49.86, but unfortunately for me Center Point Energy already scheduled a disconnection for that same day. I returned home to find my gas services disconnected.

The next day on Tuesday January 26, 2010 I called Center Point Energy to find out when my services would be restored and the representative told me I would have to do the following things before my service could be restored: 1) Pay my upcoming bill that would be due on January 28, 2010 in the amount of $124.00 (Keep in mind that it is the 26th and this bill is not even due until the 28th), 2) Pay the $20.87 Disconnection Fee, 3) Pay a $62.00 Reconnection Fee, and 4) Pay a $150.00 Deposit.

Now considering the $49.86 I already paid that was past due plus all the current fees they are asking for, Center Point Energy would like for me to pay a total amount of $406.73 to restore my service. Now if they were just asking me to pay the new bill and a sensible reconnection fee I could probably have dealt with that. But I think that the disconnection fee is ludicrous, the reconnection fee is a rip off, and the deposit is just cruel. Especially since I asked if the reconnection fee, disconnection fee, and deposit could be paid in installments since I'm already a customer and wasn't late before, but they still said no. It all has to be paid before they can do anything.

I complained but it did nothing even the fact that I had paid on time for the entire year that I was with them meant nothing. I told them that I have a 17 month old son, but they still insisted that all these fees be paid and I call them back when I have it. So even more unlucky for myself and my son we have had no hot water, heater, and I am unable to even cook. The part that is most painful is the fact that for the past five days the temperature has been in the 30s and 40s. I totally understand the fact that Center Point turned off the gas because they want their money and I didn't pay it on their schedule. But knowing that the weather is extremely cold and making it near impossible for one to restore their service is the problem that I have. I am a single mother and maintain my home and take care of my child with a single salary which isn't much, might I add. I have always paid my bill with Center Point Energy and had this one unlucky point in time where I forgot to pay it on time and now I can't get service because I don't have an additional $406.73 sitting around the house.

It is obvious that Center Point Energy treats its customers this way and feels it's okay to leave them in the cold because they feel that we need them and will have no choice but to find the money to pay them their ridiculous fees. The sad part is that many of us cannot pay their senseless fees and sit without service for months on end. I don't see my service being turned on anytime soon. It will take me two paychecks to be able to pull the deposit, another paycheck for the reconnection fee, and possibly another two pay checks to cover the disconnection fee and my new bill.

The government needs to force Center Point Energy to allow other companies to service Natural Gas just as they have done with electricity. I know that all the electricity providers do go through Center Point at the end of the day, but they usually are a lot easier to deal with. My son is sick and has a cold and also suffers from asthma. The current temperature is 38 degrees outside.

Here is a small story about it. I live in a small 2-bedroom house. Many times I got very high electric bill from my agency and I also change so many times, one to another. I thought may be the agency is high but that was not the problem.

Last year, I lost my 220 connection and my heater, AC, hot water, and stove was not working. I called the CenterPoint. They sent me a worker. He told me, “You have a problem with your 220, which is between the transformer and meter and that is underground. That cost you at least 3500 dollars to do that.” I got shocked and I said I don’t have that much money, not even a job in these days. He left and sent me 40 dollars extra charge in bill. I still don’t have any 220 coming in my home. And still, I have no hot water, no stove, no heat, and no AC. And last month I got 954 cent bill from my agency (Just Energy).

The first time when I saw the bill, I was shocked. I sat in car and started driving. I hit the curve and bust my tire. I came home and thought before I didn’t have 220 and 110 will be gone too because I can pay this much bill. Then, I thought, why am I getting that high bill? I could sleep all night and the next day, I called Just Energy and asked them what this is. Why is the bill so high? We have nothing to do with that but that really doesn’t make any sense. It’s a way high bill.

I contacted CenterPoint Energy. I explained to them about my bill. First, they said, “I don’t know. Whatever the reading is, we send that to your agency.” Then they said, “Okay, we will send someone to read the meter.” I told them the meter is new. You guys change the meter. Also before, according to you guys, the meter is slow and not making enough money. Then, what happened now? Anyway, they sent a worker and took reading of it. The worker said, “They don’t come to read the meter. They just measure and go.” He said the reading is not right. Anyway, it’s a long story. I am waiting for another bill, but here I would like to request for any kind attorney to consider this mater. I am in a very bad situation. Please help. It’s not just me. There are more people who are suffering from this kind of situation. I hope that you would consider this. God bless you.

Second: When the price of gasoline a year ago or so was $4.00+, they established a cost adjustment fee. Gasoline price is not anymore that much but the adjustment stayed as is. For my residence, it's $0.89187 per CCF; for rental property, it's $0.83250 per CCF. Why is there nobody from customer service people who knows but again there is no answer from somebody who knows!

The gas cost is also different? For my residence, it's $0.89187 per CCF; for the rental property, it's $0.83250 per CCF. It's the same, nobody knows, but there is no one either to answer those questions. If you ask them where their office is to find somebody to talk and complain, there is no answer either. In total, the gas cost difference is: for my residence, it's $0.93787 per CCF; for the rental property, it's $0.9049 per CCF. Why? Again, it's the same answer which is actually no answer!

Well, my gas was cut off yesterday evening, no knocker...nothing. So I had called Centerpoint, the electronic voice said 61.08 plus $20.00 reconnect fee. But being that I wanted to speak to a person, I had to call back. I finally got through to a person and was told 157.00 and that our service wouldn't be reconnected until Tuesday. Today is Thursday!!! 5 kids, 2 adults, no hot water for 6 freaking days!?!?!?!?! The guy, can't remember his name said there was no way they could make it out here until Tuesday. Grumbling, I got off the phone called and made the $157.00 payment, plus an additional 2.95 Bill matrix payment fee.

I called Centerpoint energy back with the confirmation code and still pretty ticked off that my service wouldn't be reconnected until Tuesday. Then by the lady I was speaking to with the receipt number, she tells me that I can pay an additional $35.00 OVERTIME fee for them to reconnect today. But through Bill Matrix of course. They have to have that additional $2.95 ya know! But I had to do what I had to do for my babies!!! So I called, made the payment to Bill Matrix and then called Centerpoint back. They couldn't give me a time of when someone would be here, but someone has to be here! Good thing I have no life outside my house... ya right!

DON'T THESE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOO!?!?!? They charge you an arm and a leg for everything. My bill was only 94.40 (Summertime, no heat, just hot water) and it totaled 157.00 for a reconnect fee. So it was 94.40 (gas) + 62.60 (reconnect fee) + 2.95 (pay it fee) + 35.00 (OVERTIME fee) + 2.95 (another pay it fee). Did I mention that I can't go and make the payment at the actual company, because there isn't a Centerpoint energy or place to make a payment anywhere near. The closest one is in Lawton, Oklahoma which is about 50 miles away!!!!!

This just seem illegal to me and they are getting away with it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they started charging us to mail our bills to us!!! I know they charge us a stamp to mail our paper checks to them!!!!!!! I'm so livid over this that I am thinking about calling my attorney to see if something or anything can be done! Gas prices are high enough!!! GRRRRRR....

Something that should only be a 4 hour turnaround has to turned into 2 days! That means 4 days without electricity or water!!! Can you imagine that? How can these company have no compassion for families that live out in the country with no light or water and Centerpoint is the electric service in my area so there's absolutely no one I can complain to! I think that this is absurd to treat paying consumers like this. Not one person has apologized to my family and no one even cares that we have no electricity for 4 days!!!! I don't know who else to complain to, please get this to someone with authority in Centerpoint so that they know how their company is effecting people's lives.

I faxed them back on 12/3/2007 saying there was no more income from these companies. I received a letter fron Anoka on 1/7/2008 saying I was denied because they never received the information they requested. I talked to Anoka on 1/10/2008 and was told their fax was not working for a few days during that time. In the mean time I can't commit to a certain payment plan without knowing from week to week what my income is going to be, therefore my gas was disconnected today. I told Centerpoint I have a 19 month baby in our house right now as my daughter is out of town for work this week, and we have him every weekend, and will have him the full last week in January also, and the customer service person told me there was nothing they could do for me.

She said we qualify for the cold weather rule and they would send us out forms to fill out for the 10 percent plan. In the mean time what do we do with no heat and a baby in the house? Will we have problems with pipes feaazing? We are going to contact the Attorney general's office tomorrow and see if they can help at all.

On 09/04/2007, I found a representative from Centerpoint energy in my driveway who informed me that he was here to disconnect my gas service. The bill was being sent to another one of my properties on the other side of my country and I never realized that it was missing when the mail stopped being forwarded. To this date, I have yet to have a single call or a Voice Mail from Centerpoint to the phone number listed on my account to inform me that my service was about to be disconnected. Their answer to this issue was: well, our automated system calls customers but we don't leave a message or bother checking if the calls ever reached you... Seems to me like the system's only designed to deal with intentionally deliquent customers and not to resolve billing issues as is the case here. The reason I am contacting you to place an official complaint is twofold:

1. Monopoly practices (failure to reach a customer to try and resolve issues): Not leaving a phone message (while disconnect notices are being sent to an incorrect address) does not give a deliquent customer a way to know there is an issue with their account and to resolve it. My uncheckered payment history should have been a good reason to suspect there was an issue somewhere... but when you are the only company around, you don't have to deal with customers the way others do, I guess!

2. Racketeering (They want to charge me $70 dollars to turn the gas valve back on). This simply ridiculous!!! Mind you that I owe them a measly $98 and that until 04/07, I made regular payments.

PS: At this point in time, I believe the only gas powered appliance in my house is the water heater, which I will be replacing with an electric one so I no longer have to use the ONLY gas providing utility company. I also want to make sure that you are aware f what appears to be monopolistic abuse from Centerpoint energy. This is soooo ridiculous and could have been avoided had the company bothered to have a live employee call me on the number they had on record, which seems like proper business practice.

Please be so kind and let me know what my recourse is against the big bad wolf!

My boyfriend got home @ 4pm to two notes saying nobody was home. So that's twice they came and twice they didn't call like they said they'd do BOTH times. My boyfriend called to talk to a manager (Susan) and she said she wouldn't be able to send anyone else out today and I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I asked if somebody would call and she said yes. This is right after she said we do not have to call you. I am extremely frustrated with this company and their lack of customer service.

My bills are higher in the winter than the summer, when I finally corner them they admit that on several occasions they do estimate. It is there responsibility to maintain and read the meter. I want to be billed for what I use, not what they think I use.