Nicor Gas Reviews

I have kids. It’s going to be 40 degrees tonight. I can’t cook, bake, wash or dry clothes, take a hot shower or even a warm one, and we don’t have heat! I explained this all to them and all I got was, "Sorry, we don’t have to legally turn it back on for 5 days!" I hope NICOR goes out of business. They are a bunch of scam artists! I don’t understand how it can be this cold and ALL appointments and ALL technicians are busy for the next 5 days! I am so glad I pay my hard earned money for NICOR gas to overcharge me and turn me off, then not turn me back on for 5 days and thinks it’s appropriate!!! Karma, people, karma.

So boy was I shocked this morning when I realized that our gas service had been disconnected. I called customer service and they seemed just as surprised as us. Then after 5 minutes on hold, they informed us that it happened because they couldn't gain access to inspect our meter which unlike most is located inside the house. Which is nuts because my wife is home everyday with small children and we were all home this morning when they came to shut it off. So we then ask them to simply come out to do their inspection and turn it back on. They told us (after another 5 min hold) they couldn't come out until the 10th. 3 days, really, right when the weather is getting cooler not to mention cooking. The supervisor, Scott, who was quite rude simply told us that's all they could do and that we would have to be available from 8 am to 5 pm on that day. He went on to say that he did not have a supervisor and there was no one else to talk to. He was very flip and condescending.

As others have stated, what good does it really do to complain about a monopoly? I don't know but I refuse to sit by and say nothing about these jerks.

I then filed online a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission. I got a response from a very nasty NICOR woman stating that all she needed to say was that she sent me a disconnect notice. Currently switching over to electricity so I will not need NICOR again. I am sure they do this to make more money to reconnect.

Wrong!!!! I took pictures of the work through the long process but that wasn't enough. They claim my driveway was old and they would not correct the mess they left. I had my driveway sealcoated last year. I took pictures all through the mess but that wasn't good enough. They said I had to file a claim. Which I will do. They claimed they would come out to sealcoat where the tractor marks are on my driveway. I could go on and on. However, I will not back off from this issue and if need be, I will hire an attorney. NICOR, YOU NEED TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT.

But I entertain the idea and log in to my account to see a balance of $553 and the last payment they deducted was in Nov 2012. I was extremely shocked, and I see that somehow, someway, I was not enrolled in auto pay anymore. I checked Comed, and was fine there. So there had to be some problem or whatever, that I was kicked off auto pay. However since Nov 2012, I was NEVER once notified of my past due balances. There were no emails, mail or automated phone calls about my extremely past due account or anything about being disconnected. So sure enough, I went outside to check my meter and there is a lock on it. There was no warning or anything saying that they put a lock on it.

I called and made my payment on Saturday, all automated hoping it would at least be turned back on Monday. I called first thing Monday morning only for them to say the only time they can come out is Wednesday between 8 - 12 and someone over the age of 18 needs to be there. These people really do not care about people at all. They don't have to "reconnect" anything; they only need to remove the lock. I told them no one will be there as my wife and I work and there's no way to be there during that huge time frame and I will turn on the pilot.

As a monopoly I don't expect them to care about "customers" but to deny people gas for this length of time after they have been paid is sad and pathetic. The crap service tech couldn't care less and talked like a damn robot: "Sorry... sir... this... is... all... we... can... do." This company blows chunks.

I called the next morning. Nicor stated they’re unsure of what happened and I must pay the entire balance due prior to sending someone out to reconnect. Not to mention it could be up to 5 days before someone can come out!!! I'm extremely dissatisfied with this Monopoly of a company and if there were any options to change companies, I would strongly do so. Nicor needs to update their website to reflect all balances due... Everything else is on there. Why wouldn't disconnect and final notice information be posted to the accounts?

Citizens Utility Board have following.: "If it hasn't given you proper notice (mailed eight days before the date of disconnection, or posted on your door five days before disconnection); when the temperature is below 32 degrees or expected to fall below that within the next 24 hours and when disconnection would mean the loss of your heat; on any day before a weekend or holiday when temperatures are expected to fall below 32 degrees;

They have committed something, to my understanding, illegal, and if anyone in the household has consequences, or house pipes freeze and burst, I am holding Nicor responsible.

It will be 2 weeks without gas and this is the 4th day since I paid my bill off. I called every day to see if they had any sooner appointments and every time I call, they say they have a shortage of techs. Today I saw a Nicor truck on my street and asked the guy since he was over here, if he could turn my gas on. He told me 'no' and to call the office. I called and the cs rep said they are on a tight schedule and they cannot turn on the gas without an appointment. What a bunch of crap! If they are so short on techs, why can't they hire more people? There are definitely people looking for jobs! They are making enough money off of us where they can afford to hire more techs! So many people out of employment right now and they can't hire more techs? That is just so insane!

It is Thursday and my house is 40 degrees! And I have to wait until Tuesday? Someone needs to do something about Nicor. I can't believe they can get away with this. I realize this is not only happening to me. I see that there are the elderly, disabled and people with small children in the same situation! It's sad that we only have 1 company that can provide service. I have no idea if this will help, but I will be contacting the media. Maybe someone can get Nicor to change their ways.

Today, October 7, is the fifth business day. So while I was at work, my mother called and was told that Monday, October 10, is the soonest they could schedule reconnection. I called back and talked to Scott, ID #**, who also said that Oct. 10 was the soonest he could reconnect. He refused to give me any other contact in the company who could help me and that he had no immediate supervisor.

It is wrong that Nicor has no competition and treats customers with such a lack of competency and with total arrogance. If we had been told we needed to schedule reconnection a week ago, we would have done so. If we have another option, within city limits, to provide heat and hot water to my family, I would do so. But I have no choice but to wait on Nicor and their bureaucracy to get around to providing service.

If this is a person who is a construction coordinator, I do not think he doing a good job and Nicor should beware of this. Both my neighbors will confirm this complaint. Because Todd told us we be on line with Nicor by September or October of this year, will did not sign contracts with propane companies. I had HAV contractors out to my house to quote me prices for converting from propane to Nicor. I have owned three businesses where I had to quote prices and never heard of such a thing like this happening.

In August 2010, my gas suddenly got cut off for no explicable reasons (I had always been current on my bill). I called and the person was totally confused. I was put on hold for ages and then I was told that it was from 2006 for a $3,000 outstanding bill. She told me to fax my current mortgage papers together with the divorce decree from 2006, which I did. This did not get resolved until the end of September 2010 (my family spent six weeks with no hot water).

Finally, some supervisor named Cheryl in the Naperville office called to tell me that I was "unsuccessful" in my appeal about the outstanding bill but that she could put me on a payment plan. I was to call back on the 800 number and set up the plan, which was to be $270/month. I immediately called the 800 number and was told that I had to put $900 down in order to get on the 24-month plan. I told the person to please contact Cheryl concerning the arrangement. I also tried contacting her, to no avail.

I proceeded to pay Nicor the prearranged amount through the spring, at which time, I was already three weeks late on one payment. Incidentally, I was laid off one week before Nicor cut my service off in August 2010 so I was making those payments while supporting my family of three kids unemployed. Nicor called last spring, threatening to cut my service off again. I once again spoke with Cheryl and she said that it was because I was three weeks late. I told her that I had lost my job and had since caught up again so she put me back on the payment plan.

Since that time, I have not missed or been late on a payment. But last Monday (August 22, 2011), I received six calls from Nicor, leaving no voice mail, and calling from a ** number so I did not pick up, thinking it was a telemarketer. I finally picked up and the woman told me that my balance was $2,000. I explained, once again, that I was on a payment plan through the Naperville office and she said, "Okay."

My service was just cut off again this morning, August 24, 2011. I am raising three kids and now have an elderly father living with me and this is absolutely ridiculous.

The other day I noticed the money had never been taken out of my bank account, and I received a letter from Nicor stating I was going to be disconnected in about a week if I didn’t pay the balance in full. So, I immediately called; the representative informed me that they wouldn’t reinstate my payment plan, and since I was late I had to pay the balance in full before the shut off date.

Now I'm sitting here waiting for a supervisor to call me, in the designated 24-48 hour time, which I am quite sure he or she will give me the same response as the original representative has.

I've been recommended to hospice by my Palliative Care doctors. Cancer on both ovaries, inoperable with 2 myeloproliferative neoplasms (slow leukemias) caused by military chemical and biological contaminants from Camp Pendleton, a Superfund site. I am to pay $701.00 by July 2nd or they will disconnect. I get very little disability per month and my husband gets paid on commission, selling cars. Could you help? I have called several times to resolve this by asking to speak with the supervisor. They said that I should get a call in 2 to 3 days but there was no callback to even try to help me resolve this issue. I was at Loyola, the breast surgeon did the test and another tumor is found in left breast! They will disconnect my gas on July 2nd unless I pay $701.00. Or, I must speak with supervisor! I've been trying to, between cancer center visits.

My father is 60 yrs old, he reads as well as my 5-year old and doesn't know how to write a check, yet alone decipher through billing matters. We've sent them all the information to show that several people have owned the property since we lost it in foreclosure, and that we've been at our address for over 20 years.

They have not attempted to look into the matter or send a separate collection bill for this amount. They tacked it on our current active bill. This isn't the first time they've attempted this. They tried this in 2009 and we sent them the same information and the amount was removed.

As time continued, I noticed a pattern of my supervisor deliberately discarding my work or delaying in submitting it to the proper departments in a timely fashion when I emailed them to her for approval. I began collecting emailed proof of my report submissions to her and proof of her refusing to approve my reports for days beyond the due date without a reason, and then her stating that she had no idea where my reports were. This treatment of deliberate work sabotage continued for several months and I spent months collecting documentation of this through emails and other written submissions.

Approximately six months after, a black supervisor was hired and my supervisor was to report to her directly. When we asked why she was brought in solely to have one person report to her, she responded that she was brought in to bridge the gap between our supervisor and the field employees.

From the time I began, I also noticed other inequalities within the department. The white males were afforded company credit cards and other privileges that the minorities were not. I began to question things like why it was necessary for me to submit my work for approval to my supervisor and not my counterparts whom started working for the company around the same time I did. I also began to question why the white males within the department were receiving promotions and pay raises and not the minorities.

After several attempts to seek help from management and being ignored, I decided to choose a different route. After months of collecting work sabotage documentation and confirming my suspicions of unequal treatment, unequal pay and alienation, I decided to speak up by contacting the Nicor Ethics Hotline, an internal ethics reporting hotline (which is disproportionately used to fire blacks).

Immediately following an interview with two white employees in HR and my supervisor, out of the blue, the black supervisor (who was new to her position) was called in to handle this. What happened was a sad depiction of what some black people will do in order to please their perceived superiors. A few days after, I was placed on PIP and immediately fired. I had never had any history of write ups of some sort.

I decided to file a charge with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. After submitting all my documentation, having the parties at Nicor admit to the charges during the fact-finding conference, and having Nicor's attorney withdraw from the case the next day after the conference, somehow, the IDHR investigator ignored all written evidence and confessions and dismissed the case.

The investigation by the IDHR was held and the witnesses contacted by the IDHR were the same three perpetrators whom the charge was against. All witness I named were either not included in the report or refused to talk. Now, I have no idea (neither did my attorney) how it is that the IDHR is using the same person the charge was filed against as a witness to confirm no discrimination took place, but they do.

In conclusion, it is my belief that Nicor offered some sort of compensation to the investigator in exchange for a dismissal of my case. I do not regret for one minute my decision to fight for equality and stand up to the ugliness of discrimination. It is sad that in 2011, we are still subjected to the same injustice and inequalities that this country was founded on. The sadder truth is the number of minorities who are willing to turn on their counterparts in order to save themselves.

In early Nov 2010, when I called to have the gas turned back on, they said they never turned it off and that they would have to take a meter read to start service. It would be 10 days before they could come out. After the 10 days, we went to try and start up the furnace, since it was now Nov 15 and the temp was dropping below freezing. In the meantime, we received a letter stating they would not be responsible for any damage due to gas being turned off.

To our amazement, they never turned the gas back on. In fact, they argued that the system showed it was never turned off. We hired an HVAC company to come and make sure there was no gas coming into the building. Yet another cost to us. In fact, this HVAC company took photos of the gas line with the lock on it, so no gas definitely was coming into the building.

Now we had to set up yet another appointment for someone to come out and turn it on, and it would take yet another 10 days. It was now 11/30/10! They said the tech came out and left, stating no one was there to let him in to turn on the gas. First off, the meter is outside; second, our son was sitting in the parking lot of the building waiting for them and we gave them all of our cell phone numbers to confirm a time of arrival. The tech did call our son to confirm he would be there by 10am. Our son arrived at 9:30 just in case and stayed past 11am. After waiting for them for so long, he finally went home.

I happened to call our son to ask if the gas was now on and was told they never showed up. To my amazement, the customer service person told us they were there and left within 15 minutes, since no one was there to let them in--a downright lie! Next, I was told by customer service that it would be another 10 days to reschedule another visit. I about fell on the floor!

I asked what it would take to get someone out there yet that day and was told unless there was a gas leak we would have to wait another 10 days. Of course I told her there was a gas leak and that they needed to head back over there. Now the most amazing part is that the Nicor Gas company is within a 1/2 mile of this building! The customer service rep also informed me that if when they arrived, if there was no gas leak, they would charge me in excess of $500.00 for the visit!

In the end, I had to threaten to sue them, since they lied and had all of our cell phone numbers and we were only 10 minutes away and could have easily returned to let them in. For sure if we waited another 10 days, we would have been facing frozen pipe damage! Now here's the kicker. One of our best friends works for Nicor Gas, and I called him to see if there was anything he could do. He called the tech and told him to go back over there right away and voila! He turned it back on and to our amazement there actually was a gas leak--in fact, a leak they had been trying to fix for several months!

So today 12/31/10, I'm spending my New Year's writing a stupid comment about a company we all depend on, and they still do not react appropriately. In fact, I now have a bill in my hands for $89.54 for service from 10/27/10 to 11/29/10 when we didn't even have gas service then!

I called and yup, you guessed it, they are on vacation today and I'll have to wait until Monday to call and ask why they have charged me once again for service on an (still empty) building that is consuming $89.00 worth of charges each month. Either the gas leak is still not fixed or they just love to get revenue unjustly! My gut feeling is I'll still be trying to clear up this $89.00 matter 6 months from now!

They said it can take 10 days to process a check, no it doesn't! About 7-10 days, but most often a couple days! I am not **! I asked for a supervisor and he was even ruder than the ** that I talked to in the first place! They were not willing to help in any way or try to say they can do their best to help it get turned on sooner! But no, they flat out told me that it's 10 days and that's that! I checked my bank account 2 days later and my check has already been cashed! So Nicor has my ** money and not turning my gas on! ** this company and the people who work for them! I want my ** gas turned back on since they have my ** money!

Also, the management talks down to some people if you do not want to be a robot for them. In other words, if you do not do what they want, then when positions open, you are not going to be eligible no matter what. I know that I have been told things behind closed doors so no one else hears but they have insulted my intelligence and I feel have violated some of my rights as an employee.

I am afraid to even pursue anything for the fear of losing my job. They claim that they are a totally ethical company. They are only ethical to those that they pick and choose. Almost everybody is either married to each other, a sister or brother, a child, uncle, or cousin. They have a policy that says no family members can work in the same department, yet in my department, there are at least 3 to 4 people who are related. Is that ethical? I think not. This is what I mean by picking and choosing and they also will tell employees that they are the only company hiring right now.

They made me so nervous and stressed to the point that I feel I am going to have a heart attack. Also, they have insulted and demeaned my intelligence and have told me on numerous occasions that maybe I will be successful. I have been working for 38 years now and finishing my associates degree and then onto my BA. I have a 26-year-old GM, with this being his only job, how the corporate world works. My own daughter is older than him. When I confronted and asked questions he could not answer me nor did he want to. I feel that they are going to alter some of my paperwork internally; however, I have taken home my own records to protect myself. I am almost 55 years old and it is getting harder and harder today to find a job at that age.

I then asked for other proof I could send them and I was told there really is nothing else and I would need to collect Nicor’s debt from the landlord at the time. I explained that I am not in the collections business nor did I read anything in their terms and conditions that I must collect a debt due to another person’s failure to pay. I then asked the billing rep to send me in writing the specifics as to why they wanted me to send these documents and why they refused to honor these documents.

I sent them proof this was turned off and explained I also had no problems with my other bills being turned off which included ComEd, Comcast, AT&T, Water and Sewer and Waste Management. What does my lease in another state have anything to do with Nicor Gas other than proof that I was not even living in the State of Illinois, and had terminated service with them? I explained this once more with a customer service rep and had them note the account that I was disputing the past balance and should not have to pay for someone else’s gas bill and that I will continue to pay the current amount as I am billed.

Then the next month’s bill shows up and a bunch of new charges are on the account doubling the month previous. I contact customer service again and go through the same process, this time asking how they can just double the amount owed and where they received these numbers from, once again they tell me sorry for the problems and we will have a billing supervisor contact you in fifteen minutes, still no return call. The problem with a monopoly and corrupt IL execs getting a cash hand-off equals the people getting poor service, why is there no competition? It’s either get screwed or get your gas shutoff! I have read countless articles by people in the same situation and no consequences for Nicor’s poor service and crimes. Yes, theft is still a crime, who do we go to report them? I will be contacting the BBB and sending a letter to my state rep for answers.

Today, 08/11/09, I called in the morning talk to Nicor rep, Matt # ** and gave all my information, and I'd like to put gas service on my mother's name, Hajira ** who do not speak English. Matt was very helpful, took all the information and apologized and transferred the call to customer credit dept (where all the fun began). The person who answered the phone, Jessica # **, asked under whose name the service will be on; I gave my mother's name. She asked where did she have service before and I mentioned Chicago and gave the address. She came back and asked who she speaking with. I gave my name, Syed **. At this point, she got very furious and told me that whose house is under the name; I mentioned my name. She came back a few minutes and told me I had lied and gave false information and that she will never ever provide me gas service for my senior citizen parents, and that I misled her. I kept asking what I had misled; she simply hung up the phone.

I called Matt again and mentioned about Jessica and my conservation. He said his hand is tied and he said he cannot help. I called back after a few hours and tried talking to Jessica. Again, she said I am never ever getting Nicor gas service. She then asked why she cannot speak with my mother. I told her she cannot speak English. Then, she asked what language she speaks. I told her, "Hindi and if you know any person who speaks the language, I will put her on line." She said nobody and then she said I am a liar and cheater and I will never ever have gas service from Nicor. I called customer service and talked to Pam who was very helpful and coordinated between me and Jessica so that every problem we have could be solved. Jessica requested through Pam that she need my SSN #, my closing paperwork of the property, my driver's license, my mother's SSN #, her IL state ID, AARP card, and her Medicare card, which will show that she is a disabled person. After faxing all these, I was told I have wait 7 to 10 business days to get service.

Let me ask where does this lead this to? Okay, let me shout loud, "Discrimination against race and senior citizen!" I was told the previous owner had not paid for a few months. I wanted to know why they waited until I called and then disconnect. Even though I repeated the request that I had a disabled senior citizen parents and minor kids, ages 6, 7, & 12, I was ignored. I was told I will never get gas service. Why? Because I am not American, even though I've lived in this country for 30 years; went to school, university, and had business employees of 20 people. But hey, where is the justice? Seven to 10 business days, so I guess we will not take shower. We will not eat and let my parents sit dirty. I need answer as to why Jessica is god of the Nicor Company. What if this had happened to you? What will you do? Do the right thing. Stand against Nicor for discrimination.

We are without gas for 1 week and 1/2 ....unable to cook food, wash clothes or take showers.

Details: I was notified in writing by Nicor that I had no gas usage. They requested an appointment to exchange our meter. We setup an appointment for Thursday a.m., August 30th. No one showed up. I just learned that they did come out the following day, Aug 31st at 6pm... took apart the meter, left the meter pieces on the ground next to the meter and turned our gas off. I was not notified that they had been out or even that the gas had been turned off. I am now without gas for the holiday weekend, Sat through at least Tuesday because they will not come out to turn it back on until another appointment is scheduled via phone on Tues a.m. We have 3 get togethers this weekend as it is my son's 18th bday and needed to use the oven, shower, etc. I'm being advised by Nicor not to have a plumber or service tech turn it back on because they do not know why it was turned off. We have never paid a late bill of any type to any agency including Nicor. Furthermore, we are on the monthly payment plan so have actually been pre-paying for the higher usage months of the winter season. Do we have any recourse for this? They would not authorize a hotel stay or accomodations of any type.