Complaint Review: TECO Tampa electric

 Have I got a nightmare story about Tampa electric? I moved from N.Y. to Tampa Fl. 6 months ago. They tell me in spite of my good credit they need a $250 deposit. I explain to the women that I feel that is an unreasonable amount to request for a deposit, that my N.Y. deposit was less than half of that. The women said you are not in N.Y. anymore and without the $250 deposit you will not get electric.

So I search for another company only to find out that electric companies here are monopolized, there is nowhere else to go but them TECO, unlike other states. Not long after paying their $250 deposit my nightmare began. The bills consistently arrived late and when I contacted them, they claimed it was the post office, so I took my complaint up at the post office and they asked if I had problems with other mail besides the electric bills, which the answer when I thought about it was no.

So to be safe I decided to send larger amounts in so I can work off the overdue balance since I kept receiving their bills late. About 4 months later late January I receive a bill for $28.00 so I figure Ill let it roll into Feb. and make a large payment and work off my overdue balance. Well I did not get any other bills yet and then on Valentines day Feb 14th I get a disconnect notice I was shocked , but what was more shocking was the disconnect notice which I received in the 14th of Feb was back dated and said my electric is scheduled for disconnect on the 13th of Feb.

It totally didn't make sense. They had already closed by the time I got to my mailbox on Valentines day So early the next day Friday morning 8am I contacted them . They told me a total of $90 was due and I said no problem Ill pay larger amount as I always due and work off the balance. Then she tells me its too late as a truck is in my area and my electric is already scheduled for disconnect and there will be disconnect/connect fee. I thought at first she was joking. I owe a measly $90 bucks that and Im willing to pay immediately and there determined to shut my electric off and charge me for it.

Now how crazy is that so I explain to the lady that I have a 3 year old special needs child that has bronchitis and as prescribed by her doctor needs to use a nebulizer 3 times a day which is runs by electric as well its extremely chilly and have the heat on and shes under the covers and not well. Also shes on a special diet and all her foods need refrigeration that this is detrimental to her health, Again another shocker she states thats not there problem and that I should of thought about that before I decided to be late with the electric bill.

I than asked her how silly she sounds we are talking about one time lateness and for 90 bucks and the fact that the only bill I received in the last month was for $28.00 and that the disconnect notice was backdated which I received on the 14th of Feb in which stated cut off on the 13th that this is absolutely insane and I never in my life have dealt with such an unprofessional company let alone a multimillion or possibly billion dollar electric company. I asked what is the quickest way to pay and she told me Amscot so I hung up on her to  Immediately run over and pay the $90 I did not pay additional funds figuring they were going to try to steal it and put it towards a disconnect fee.

I get back from paying at around 9:15 am and low & behold a white pick-up is parked in my driveway and he's disconnecting my electric.    In my 54 years of life I have never had this happen it was beyond bizarre. Even when I showed him the $90 is paid he said he has to call the company in order to connect and when I told him about my sick special needs daughter in the house, he expressed no interest what so ever. I insisted he reconnect immediately or Im calling 911 that a childs life is at stake here that this is a very serious situation this is not cable TV or internet service This is electric a necessity .

He actually laughed and challenged me to do it so I did and blocked his truck in with my car so he couldn't leave. It was crazy I couldn't  believe this was an electric company I was dealing with all for 90 bucks as well they rushed over early in the morning to cut my electric on a Friday  knowing the soonest turn on would be Monday. The cop showed up and after I explained everything showed him documentation of payment and my daughters hospital records and IEP disability records even he could not understand it either. He told the guy to immediately turn the electric back on that the bill is now paid, but the guy told me I will be charged a $150 connect fee.

I became angry so the cop told me to move my vehicle and let him leave and take it up with the electric company. Well that was a waste I was on the phone with those lying scheming company until 4pm that day, I spoke to over 6 different people and so called account managers who told me over & over they will not remove the $150 fee and when I told them I refuse to ever pay that and plan on filing a complaint with the Fl. District attorneys office they all but laughed and firmly told me that they do not accept partial payments and if that fee is not paid in full along with any electric balance they will immediately disconnect.

She also added to my amazement that my original deposit of $250 is being reassessed and most likely will be raised significantly. How crazy is this company, how can they get away with this. Is there no laws protecting customers from this sadistic company is there any place else to turn to for electric? Would it be worth my efforts to file a complaint with the district attorneys office as probably nothing can be proved? If anyone can suggest anything or has experienced a nightmare like mine maybe a class action suit can be filed. Email me (((email redacted))) to join in and do something to fight against this company getting away with this kind of possibly illegal activity.