- Report: #717316
Complaint Review: Consumers Energy - Lansing Michigan
Reported By:
Rob -
Portage, Michigan, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Consumers Energy
One Energy Plaza Lansing, 49201 Michigan, United States of America
Phone:
1-800-477-5050
Web:
www.consumersenergy.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Consumers Energy Meter change leads to high "corrected" bill of $1072.28! Lansing, Michigan
After a recent meter change,Consumers Energy has sent us a "corrected" bill of over $1000.00. We have been paying our bills on time and in full,whether estimated by the utility company itself or actual readings by their representatives.
Upon our inquiry, we were given different reasons with inaccuracies like "this is a bill for gas only that we have not been paying since the meter stopped working in 2007." Then there is another person saying"its an estimated bill that has been corrected." According to Consumers Energy's website,their estimated bills are from a highly sophisticated system that estimates bills by comparing with the usage of electric/gas in the past 18 months.When we have been paying according to their sophisticated system's estimation,how can the same system estimate customers utilities usage twice?
Furthermore,when the company's representative says that our meter was not working since 2007, why did it take the company four years to realize that and change the meter now? Without warning or giving us notice to be prepared for a lump sump amount or that the faulty meter replacement will become our responsibility,Consumers Energy expects unsuspecting customers to accept such charges without questioning them.
They want to give us a discount for a small amount off of this recent corrected bill and that it be paid within six months! We have paid in full whatever estimated bills we have received or those that were actual meter readings.We have not been given prior notice of a faulty meter for which we'll be responsible to pay a corrected bill. The company has numerous complaints on-line against it's unfair practices and may have gone unchecked by Michigan Public Service Commission who regulates Consumers Energy.Who do consumers like us turn to when things go under the radar?Having a monopoly should not mean to manipulate people.
Upon our inquiry, we were given different reasons with inaccuracies like "this is a bill for gas only that we have not been paying since the meter stopped working in 2007." Then there is another person saying"its an estimated bill that has been corrected." According to Consumers Energy's website,their estimated bills are from a highly sophisticated system that estimates bills by comparing with the usage of electric/gas in the past 18 months.When we have been paying according to their sophisticated system's estimation,how can the same system estimate customers utilities usage twice?
Furthermore,when the company's representative says that our meter was not working since 2007, why did it take the company four years to realize that and change the meter now? Without warning or giving us notice to be prepared for a lump sump amount or that the faulty meter replacement will become our responsibility,Consumers Energy expects unsuspecting customers to accept such charges without questioning them.
They want to give us a discount for a small amount off of this recent corrected bill and that it be paid within six months! We have paid in full whatever estimated bills we have received or those that were actual meter readings.We have not been given prior notice of a faulty meter for which we'll be responsible to pay a corrected bill. The company has numerous complaints on-line against it's unfair practices and may have gone unchecked by Michigan Public Service Commission who regulates Consumers Energy.Who do consumers like us turn to when things go under the radar?Having a monopoly should not mean to manipulate people.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
kazoo resident
Kalamazoo,Michigan,
United States of America
How to make a formal complaint
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, June 20, 2011
We are from Kalamazoo in a dispute with CMS and now with the MPSC concerning a tale that is too long and aggravating to go into a lot of detail about. I am asking for those of you on this board to please contact the MPSC(517-241-6180) or (1-800-292-9555 for MI residents) and file your complaint. Then, call the gov's office and file the same complaint! We have been told that the MPSC actually has limited ability to force CMS to do anything! They answer to the gov's office(517-373-3400). Why do we have a toothless regulatory agency? That's a good question that a Gov's office assistant we spoke with is going to look into. It begs the question- what recourse do the citizens of MI actually have if CMS is defrauding them? And, one could argue it is fraud if they advertise and promise to deliver efficient and reliable energy- but ignore problems with the delivery that could be costing their customers thousands of $ each year. Apparently we are the only people to ever contact the Gov's office about these kinds of problems. I'm not sure if I buy that, but if you do it and then let us know- then I guess we KNOW we aren't the only ones.
It's really easy to ignore a small handful of complaints, something CMS are old pros at. When it's coming from the Gov's office, a larger group and hopefully a news article or two it gets harder to ignore. We are working towards a formal complaint in front of a judge- so please contact us with your tale. We won't divulge identifying info., but each complaint helps us to know exactly what systems need fixing. We welcome contact from people who have had similar issues.
mr. rik
miami,Florida,
USA
I never liked "estimated" usage
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, April 14, 2011
I never liked estimated usage, I think its a sham. And sounds like it is.
I would definitely fight this one, but if you need some quick satisfaction, you could always make sure that quite a few other meters in the area need to be replaced too. If ya know what I mean.
