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Dominion Virginia Power Disconnect After 2 day lapse Richmond, Virginia
I am writing to report a serious problem with the payment plan structure of Dominion Power. After a long year of job loss (me and 3 children), illnesses (1 child) and a paycut (husband), I struggled to maintain the amount charged for electrical service. I finally was put on a payment plan once the amount due reached $1495! My downpayment was $463 and every month I was to pay $234 plus whatever my bill was for that month. On August 2 I paid the $463 thru their Bill Matrix division and noted on dom.com website that the amount was accepted. Here we are 2 weeks later and my electricity has been disconnected without warning!
I called Dominion and they said because the payment was 2 days late, the agreement was broken and I had to come up with $1495 in order to restore my electricity! No matter who I spoke with, I was told the same thing. There are 9 people in my household (4 adults, 1 teenager, 4 children ranging in age from 2 months to 8 years old). I explained to Dominion that I had a 4 children under my care and could not do without electricity. All I got was a 'sorry miss, there is nothing we can do about that'!
What I want to know is, if it was such an infraction to the rules, why did they wait 2 and a half weeks before alerting us to the disconnect or even why didn't they call to let me know that the payment was 2 days late???? Even more, I could understand it if I hadn't paid what they asked me to pay, but I did.......there has got to be some leeway on this payment plan when the elderly or small children are involved. Everything is not written in stone. I wish I knew who I could contact about the situation.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Anonymous
Texas,USA
They give you ridiculous amounts of time to catch up
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, September 28, 2010
As previously stated, you were given tons of leeway. The company will always wait at least two full billing cycles to even send out a disconnection notice. Those payment plans are very strict and usually a last resort. If you owned the company, you'd understand that they're only going to GIVE you so much before they are required to TAKE.
Stacey
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
unbelievable
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, August 21, 2010
There are FOUR adults in the house and no one could pay the bill or chipped in?? Get real
Your bill was $1495 so it is apparent that you did not pay this bill for many months - The electric company gave you a break - you were lucky - don't pay your bill here you are cut off toot sweet!
You were late and they had every right to turn off your electric and BTW - how can you file a report with no electricity???
No sympathy here
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Not exactly..
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, August 20, 2010
Okay your report title is not exactly what happened.
You were not JUST two days late. You were so late previously that you had to be put on a Payment plan. They gave you a payment plan to get back on-track. Part of that agreement was that you were to pay an amount by a specific date. According to what you wrote here, you didn't even make the first payment on the agreed upon date, but two days later.
Just how much leeway and "exceptions" should they give you? Letting you get to almost $1500 past due and putting you on a payment plan seems like they gave you A LOT of leeway. Not that your situation is not tough. But there are times when companies say enough is enough. But if you are looking for help, look at local charities some may have bill assistance programs to pay for electricity in situations such as yours.