Tecon Water Company Shuts off water service to make disconnect and reconnect fees and doesn't have enough phone lines to take calls Dallas Texas
Tecon Water in Henderson County Texas shuts off your water just a few weeks after non-payment. Ironically, they charge BOTH a shut off AND reconnect fee. In addition, near the time of shut off, it is literally IMPOSSIBLE to get through on their 800 number.
Apparently, they have only one phone line. After not being able to get through for THREE days, I called the corporate office. They informed me that "call volume is heavy, so you'll just have to keep trying". I immediately asked what would happen if I can't get through. The answer was "your water will be shut off, and you'll have to pay a shut off and reconnect fee". I then asked for a fax to send credit card info to make a payment. They refused to give me a fax number to do so.
IT IS IN TECONS BEST FINANCIAL INTEREST TO HAVE BUSY PHONE LINES!!! THEY ARE A MONOPOLY AND DON'T CARE WHAT THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH! This borders on illegal!!
M
Mabank, Texas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
M
McKinney,Texas,
U.S.A.
THIS IS NO JOKE
#3Author of original report
Sat, July 03, 2004
Travis-please reread my earlier comments. I agree with your statement "I can't imagine why a company would terminate service...". I not only couldn't imagine it, but couldn't believe it. And yes, if I paid my mortgage late, I would keep my house, because the mortgage company can't "disconnect" a house, so your example is not a good analogy.
Please note, I do pay my bills. My point is that Tecon's practices not only represent poor customer service, but are truly unfair and monopolistic. I have spoken with several other residents in the area who have received equivalent treatment.
Finally, it Tecon wouldn't be so quick to turn off water (while making it difficult to pay-i.e. the telephone issue, no web payment capability, etc.), Tecon wouldn't need to expend such resources.
Travis-thank you for your comments.
Travis
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Your Joking Right?
#3UPDATE Employee
Wed, March 24, 2004
"they shut your water off only after a few weeks of non-payment" You have got to be joking with me, I cant imagine why a company would termintate service for something as trival as not getting paid for the service they provided. Perhaps you should not pay your mortage payment for a few weeks and let me know if you get to keep your house. As far as getting into the water company, you should know that you get a bill every month at the same time of the month, perhaps you should try sending your payment in like other people when they get a bill. As far as the disconnect fee and reconnect fee, we have to pay people to turn your water off and on. Perhaps you would have a lower bill if people would just pay in the first place.