Lately, more and more company are not giving correct information. In this case its FPL that has misinformed me each time I have called. I will admit to my own mistakes and part. But I don't feel I should suffer if I call an FPL rep and they give me incorrect information.
I recently turned on their service. Because service was still on as I called to change to my name. I was able to get 1/2 discount on the deposit if I signed up for automatic bill pay. I incorrectly signed up, thinking the online account would do it for me. But it didn't. So I admit that I am to blame in the beginning part.
Before my lights were shut off I get a notice. And called FPL, but because it was late. I received the automated system. Which it notified me I had 12 more days to do the other 1/2 of the deposit. Complexed by this I call the next morning to inquire about the supposed discount I was getting.
long story short I get all is ok, but it wasn't supposedly a discount just a "small hold" till you can get the full amount. Which I now have 11 days to do it. Well its only been 4 days since that call and I'm with out light. I call and don't get any help except that now I can't get the discount of the automatic bill pay and have to pay the other 1/2 of the bill as well as a reconnection fee to get my lights on.
I tried getting some sympathy and an either an extension on the discount or the other 1/2 payment and all I got was no's. I guess them having the monopoly over Florida. They don't have to have any heart for people. Even during or post-recession.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Hollywood
Titusville,Florida,
United States of America
Drizzle
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, August 17, 2012
I agree that FPL in this economy is not operating on a customer service oriented basis. I received a shut off notice the next day after my bill was due. There was no outstanding balance at that time. I had made arrangements the prior month and kept those arrangements.
I absoutely call this chain of business harassment!! The following is a chain of the account transactions since; July 12, made arrangements on the past due account, July 20, pd. $202.91, July 26, The current bill is due, I receive a shut off notice on July 27, to pay by Aug 3, I pd. the bill $164.67 on Aug 3, now I'm current. The next bill is due on Aug 26, I received a Deposit Bill Statement on Aug 13,
I must come up with $276.00 by Sept 12, or my service will be shut off, the other option is for them to take the utlity bills out by automatic payments.
I realize that in normal circumstances that they must have some guidelines to operate their company. I've had my service for 21 years and it has never been shut off. Yes in the last few years I've received a few shut off notices, Due to many extenuating circumstances.
Including my husband had open heart surgery and 6 months later a pace maker. Our medical bills are stacked and our medications is over $150 a month. Not to mention we are now senior citizens but not quite, 55 &59 we have always pd. our bills. Now FPL wants us to come up with a deposit that we don't have.
madisonsi5
port charlotte,Florida,
USA
Dizzle you are kidding yourself!!
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, December 03, 2010
I am responding to Dizzle, first of all I can't believe you have the nerve to berate the poster for their English, since, as I read you were an employee of FPL not an English major.
Now to the subject at hand, you may have been an employee of FPL, but since you no longer are, I am going to assume you left either due to the large payout you were given, the fact that you were fired or that you were just not happy with their politics of the way they ran their business.
The fact is FPL collects large deposits from people who obviously are already struggling to pay their bills, and it is for their future bills that may or may not be late for the next 14 months or so before they give back the deposit, Personally I feel FPl is a very greedy company, as if they needed a deposit 2 months bill is a ridiculous amount.
You state that FPl gives a generous amount of time to get the deposit, but maybe you don't realize that for many people 30 days is not a lot of time when there are other bills to pay, and it is not as if power is a luxury when you have children or health issues or live in Florida in the middle of the summer.
You advise that Enjeru83 should be complaining to the Florida Public Service Commission, but as a consumer I understand why he is making his complaints about FPL, since that is who he is paying his bill to.
FYI your statement that they will grant extensions for good reasons is totally bogus, I took the liberty of calling FPL just to get information on extensions for deposits and I was told they give you 30 days 1/2 of deposit in 10 days the rest within 30 days so for an average homeowner in this economy that is not much of an extension, and as far as you saying the company has a heart, the man I spoke with told me he and everyone in his department were all supervisors who would not work with any payment plans for any situation, so where's the heart in that, the employees in the connect research dept must make a great salary to all be supervisors and maybe thats why FPL has to be so greedy, maybe you dont realize that many of FPLs big salaries are not disclosed for a reason, and that there are approximately 460 workers who make over $165,000 a year, really what can they possibly do that makes them worth that much money.
I am a college educated individual and I ran a multi-million dollar business and even in great times I never would be greedy enough to take money out of the company just so my customers would have to pay a larger bill.
That is the problem with America these days the greed is still out there and they greedy will step on anyone just to get their just Dues or what they believe they are owed, if these executives took a pay cut the companies could afford to hire more people and not pay their employees minimum wage and there would be less people on public assistance.
So Drizzle next time you make a rebuttal you really should check your facts.
Dizzle
USAPay Your Bills
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, September 02, 2010
I really can't understand a whole lot of your comment because it's such terrible English. As a former employee of the Florida Public Service Commission, the government entity that regulates FPL, all I can tell you is that FPL has a right to do this. They have a right to require a deposit. You can imagine the amount of people who don't pay your bills, so they are covering their asses.
Sounds to me like they gave you a generous amount of time to pay your deposit. They have a right to retract any discount that they have provided you on a deposit if you default on paying the deposit while using their services. They showed a sign of good faith, and to me it seems like you should have done the same.
FYI I was in constant contact with executives from FPL everyday and they are always more than willing to grant anyone extensions in less than extenuating circumstances. I can't even count how many customers they did that for per day. In fact, I can't remember one time when they denied someone an extension without an extremely good reason. They extend a courtesy as long as you fulfill your obligations.
Not having a heart is not a rip-off. If you have any complaint about the laws, you should be complaining about the Florida Public Service Commission, not FPL.