Complain about a product or service

Consumers Energy

marc of oscoda, MI October 3, 2009

It all started when I moved in my new appartment duplex my fiancy and my friend at the time I was number one on the head of house hold and the bill was in my name and they called me and said that my friend chris owes them around 718.00 or so and chris never told me that he owed them .. and I have had consumers power before on two different address's and never had to pay anything extra and they told me that I had to pay a 240.00 deposit to get it all in my name cause at that moment they put it in chris' name Chris Flanagan." because he owed them money from the past. and they refused my name even though I'm head of house hold and at the time i didnt know that chris owed them money until they told me .. well its stayed in chris name and he had a child so they just sent the reg bill to my address from jan. to now oct 1st. reg bill of this address been paid on time and in full .

the thing is chris moved outbecause I kicked him out because he could no longer pay his 3rd of the money for rent and bills and then I tried to get my landlord's keeperto get him off my lease and to write a letter of dismissal to consumers power which is nt still done and by mistake in the beginning she accidentialy put chris for head of house hold when it was really me because she did a full back ground check on me and I passed with flying colors ..well now as of 09/30/09 i got the bill for thismonth andiit was reg 33.18 plus 718.94 of chris's old bill on this bills which they told me that will never happen because they knew that chris hadnt lived her since april2009 and as of oct 1st I finally got to chris to talk to them after I talked to consumers power I finally got it in my name but they are still making me pay 240.00 deposit which i know for fact that I had two other addresses i had with consumer energy in my name before always paid on time as ussual but they want thier st\upid deposit 240.00 or they shut my electricity off and thats no fair when I ve been unemployed with bennifts they want me to spend a deposit when I ve been paying the bill on time since ofdecemberm 2008 til nowand still am I am forced to pay this deposit and my big opionion is that they just want my deposit to invest it and get more rich off my money and then when they done they going to pay it baCK IF THEY EVER DO plus some intrest and at the time they going to make alot of money off my deposit which is illegal and thast where it comes down too I gave them the proof that chris hadnt live here since april2009 and they stil wont go after him for what he owes to them.

so I m jus a guy that pays my bills on time and trying to make it whil my x friend chris is running away from his responsibilty an that consumer energy wan even accept small payment of the deposit so I dont mess up my other bills and now they wnat the whole deposit .. I am so mad at them that i even have a friend that use to work for them as a manager and she told me that what consume energy did to me is wrong and that they shouldnt make me pay a deposit of 240 because I had previous addresses with consumer power in my name and never was late and she is 100% sure that they cant charge me that deposit even though i get back when they decidee to with some interest but now I see that all that consumer wants is my deposit so they can get rich on investing my money.. for their bennifit .. as they told me on the phone that my old addresses that I lived at doesnt count that their new policy is newcomers to consumers have to pay a deposit thats why I know they just want to invest to get richer... thats my complaint and I hop what goes around comes around they will get punished one day for their illegal actions ... well i know that they want my deposit so they can get richer ....

Viral of Novi, MI September 11, 2009

CONSUMERS ENERGY SUCKS !! I recently moved to a new apt and i never had an account with consumers energy and unfortunately that is the only service provider for Gas in that area... So i called consumer enegery on sept 2,2009 to start a new service for the start date sept 6, 2009. The customer representative told me that someone will be calling me the next day and get my details like my SSN, Drivers license no..and thn thy will give me a confirmation no. I never got a call back from them..so i called them on sep 8 and they said that it is not 5 business days yet and beacuse it was a labor day weekend thy did not have enough staff ...so i asked them when can i expect the call and they replied before sept 10.

Today it is sept 11 and i did not recieve a call yet..so i called them back ...and today they say that my service was already started on sept 6 and that if i do not fax a copy my ssn, Drivers licencse & lease agreement by sept 14th my service will be stopped...i really got pissed off when they said tht...i asked thm tht u were supposed to call me which u never did and now u r going to cancel my service if i do not fax my details...how the hell would i know tht thy already started my service... not only tht...thy were being so rude on the phone..when i asked the guy today he said i don't knw ...i am not responsible for tht ..i am just saying what it shows on my account... he said tht in a very rude way...i felt like saying him to go flush himself in a s**t pot !!! Consumer energy sucks big time !!!

Todd of Warren, MI September 11, 2009

I rented a house in Roseville. After moving out, I received notice that I was being backbilled 400.00 because no-one had bothered to come out and read the meter. They send a year's worth of estimated bills. I bought a home and my wife needed to build credit, so she turned on the gas in her name. 3 months later, they take my past due amount and attach it to HER bill. We werent married when I supposedly incurred this "back-bill". So I contacted Consumers Energy and nobody had an answer, they said I just have to pay it. I called the Utilities Comission and they werent able to do anything about it either.

Sally of Chesaning, MI September 3, 2009

In 2008, my husband and I started to build a house. We called Consumers Energy to hook up our power. They ended up hiring an independant contractor to run our power line underground because they were to busy and we had already waited a few month's. We did not use any power until September. I started calling Consumers Energy in January of 2009 because we had not yet received a bill. They assured me they would look into this. Long story short, after several calls I never received a bill.

In July, they sent an investigative tech to our house to see why we were not getting a bill. He explained that because an independant contractor did the work, we somehow "got lost in the system". He assured that he would fix everything. On Saturday Aug. 29th, they shut our power off. No bill, no shut off notice. When my husband called they explained that they did not know where to send the bill. He said to call back on Monday because they could not do anything about it over the weekend. They did not even know who I was on Monday because my account had the name of Kelly M.

I talked to several people and nobody would help us. Mu husband was called a thief and a liar and was told to pay the bill and they would turn our power back on. I then went to Saginaw on Tuesday to pay the bill only to be informed that I did not have a balance. Imagine my frustration. So they direct me to a wall full of phones to call yet again and to tell my story for the 20th time.

Finally, I find a tech who does a little investigatin. She informs me that I have two accounts and my bill is going to the wrong address. After several apalogies, she tells me this is their fault and we will have power restored that day. They are going to credit my account for any inconvienience this has caused.

I go home and wait all day for my power to be restored and surprise-no one comes. I keep calling and they tell me they have no record of having shut it off. I want to pull my hair by then. So they next day, I call again and again no one knows anything except Tara the tech who helped my on Tuesday. She finally gets my power turned back on at 12:30 on Wednesday.

Besides the inconvienience of having no power for 4 days, I lost food in my fridge because the generator (which cost around 10.00 a night) could not keep it running adaquately. We would have to shower and do laundry at our families houses, we had to eat out every meal for 4 days, I had to waste gas money and time to drive to Saginaw to pay a bill that I never payed because they did not have a balance for me.

Holly of grand rapids, MI August 20, 2009

I have a problem with Consumers energy. I used to live at my boyfriend's sister's condo she bought. After two years, her fixed rate mortgage went up 1000. Nick and I paid her 500 a month for rent and the other bills combined, including our electric bill. We were forced to move out because she was so late on her mortgage payment that the house was going into foreclosure. She waited until it was too late to let us know. We weren't the only ones living at the previous address.

When we moved into my current apartment, I never knew she didn't pay the consumers energy bill. So now, almost a year after being at this new apt. I just received a bill from consumers energy for 771 and some change for the past due bill she never paid, for the condo she let get foreclosed, and the bill there was never in my name. I don't understand how they can legally transfer someone else's account onto mine in this new apartment when I was paying her for the bills at the condo.

When I spoke to customer service they were very rude and told me that's a problem between her and me now because since we shared the same address at the time that I'm basically the unlucky co-signer for her bill and I get stuck with it. I just turned 20, and I have been living on my own for three years and have never been behind on bills. I am very responsible and I've never been late with consumers so why am I stuck with this. I just need help, I don't know what to do.

Tina of Waterford, MI June 29, 2009

I purchased my home in July of 2008. My eldest son lives with me and he attempted in 8/2008 to have consumers power (CP) bill put in his name; however, was instructed to bring in numerous documentation that he NEVER did comply with. In late Jan of 2009 I obtain a bill for nearly 1400.00 which was related to when I resided with my mother in 2004.Basically, the charges were put in my name from 2004. In addition, this bill has both my son's name and mine present upon the bill.

In Feb of 2009 I submitted a complaint with MPSC in which no resolution occured when having dialogue with the CP billing supervisor and I then requested a hearing. I was never granted that hearing, continued to receive shut offs and therefore did make additional payments which totalled 608.00 just to prevent shut off. Well, unaware that when I obtained the bill with my son's and my name on it the account number pertaining to the address was changed. Payments exceeding 608.00 are on the previous account in which consumer's energy currently refuses to credit my current account, even after providing proof of payment from my bank to consumers energy.

I did request another hearing with the MPSC and again, no representative nor MPSC has given me the opprotunity to present this case in court. I have a utility company that put a utility bill in my sons and my name without permission, charges occuring at my current place of residence for another individual's debt, the inability and denied my basic right to present this case in court, refusal to refund or properly credit my "current" account even with consumer's energy being provided proper documentation regarding this matter(the accoount numbers changing on this address really did a number), denial of any payment arrangement or collaborative effort to resolve this matter with Consumer's energy showing up today to shut off my gas. If there is anyone that can provide me insight on how to obtain relief from this situation, I would be very grateful.

dave of livonia, MI May 12, 2009

they have to move my meter from my basement to the outside of my home. the first time the engineer came out they said they were going to put in the front of my house right between my 2 mini japanese maple trees.{we all know how much those are}my trees are close to ten years old plus they need to drill through the cedar closet that i have in my basement, i agree with that but state" you need to bring me a check for all repairs that will be needed before any work begins" the woman at the phone number i provided says "we will not pay for any damages to the interior of your home", "and we will only pay for the plants/trees that die" so on april 27 2009 the crew comes to move my meter, i start complaining to them so they call their supervisor MARV, reached at the same number i provided,he comes out and agrees with the crew stating"i dont want to dig by those trees as there is a 50-60% chance we could kill them." them MARV says " we will move the meter to the side of your house{right on the driveway} my driveway is 1 year old plus its dangerous if a car would hit it{are they trying to kill my family?},so i said fine put it there give me a check for 10,000 so i can have my whole driveway redone,plus i told MARV that CONSUMERS ENERGY, the police and the fire depts would be at my house every day to fix the smashed meter,as i would hit it with my car daily, CONSUMERS SOLUTION, we will move it to the other side of your property but have to CHARGE YOU 600-1,000 ,i laughed.

MARV says i must do it their way by next summer or i have to PAY regardless.MARV says they wont do anything that day and he will talk to his bosses to see if he can get them not to charge me and the meter move out coordinator will call me in a few days.last i hear about it till today.

may 11 2009, call the meter move out coordinator to see whats going on retell them my stance and she restates CONSUMERS ENERGY policy,CONSUMERS ENERGY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE CEDAR CLOSET,WE KNOW WE ARE DAMAGING IT,BUT WE WILL NOT PAY,AS FAR AS YOUR TREES WE WILL NOT DAMAGE THEM AND WILL ONLY PAY IF WE KILL THEM. now when you dig around a tree you cut roots and trees die{ even MARV and the crew agreed}.

there are 3 outcomes to this story 1. CONSUMERS ENERGY does that right thing and pays for any damage. 2. i refuse to let them move my meter and they shut off my gas services {am i living in nazi germany?} 3. i resolve this my own way and would need a great defense attorney. any help would be great. thank you very much.

Mary of Center Line, MI May 8, 2009

We received an astronomical bill in the mail from Consumers Energy. We have never been late on any bill before. When we questioned them, they said that bills were purely subjective in the winter and usage was "estimated." They said it was our responsibility to know what our bill should be and account for any discrepancy. We informed them that we did not work for their company, and did not have access to exactly what our bill should be. They then re-calculated our bill and came up with a slightly lower amount.

Stephanie of Grand Blanc, MI May 4, 2009

On March 16, 2009 I received a letter in the mail indicating that my recent meter reading indicated "no gas useage, we can only conclude that the meter is no longer registering". I pulled out all my bills for the past year (thank goodness I keep all records) to see that I've had the same gas charges as normal, nothing low about my bill at all. Consumers Energy came out and replaced my meter without any warning or permission.

In looking at my bills, billing period 12/31/008-01/30/09 my gas usage was 193.94, total bill 310.88, billing period 1/31/09-2/26/09 gas usuage was 151.93 total bill 256, billing period 2/27/09-3/30/09 gas usage 116.16 total bill 224.16. I have also noted that during the billing cycle of 1227/07 - 4/22/08 I was double billed on the start and end dates.

My Mom is a Consumers retiree, so I had her look at my bills. She told me that what they are doing 'is' double billing and they can't do that. It makes sense it is double bill, as there are no other bills showing cycles like this. On 4/9/09, I spoke with Mandy and she advised the same things I'm seeing in other complaints posted, it was a "cold season", give me a break. When I told her about the double billing, she told me "it might look that way, but we didn't really double bill you". I asked her, do you think I'm that stupid?

Here we are first of May and I have been trying to reach someone to work with me on this for two months. No luck, much like all the other posts. I call, leave a voicemail, no return call.

So, I called today, determined I wasn't going to hang up without an answer. I was on the phone for 30 + minutes, transferred 4 times and when I reached Mann (that was the name of the lady), I told her I've opened a complaint case and Claudia Hernandez is my caseworker, but she refuses to call me back. She started telling me "Mam, it isn't that she doesn't want to call you back, we are busy". What? I said "two months" give me a break. She started raising her voice at me, so I requested a supervisor. I was transferred yet again to Monica Fan, guess what, got her voicemail. I left her my home and work number, told her I expected a call back and given I've not received a call back in two months, I was going to file with Consumer Affairs. I will continue to pay my bills, but only for what I have used. I refuse to pay for something that appears to be fraudulent at best.

Larry of Addison, MI April 21, 2009

I had an unexplained 1000 kw jump in my power bill for just one month. Before I retired I held an Elect Lic. I had no appliance changes to cause this jump as far as anything I was running. This all happened after my old meter was replaced with a new electronic one. My wife talked with some other people who have had the same type of problem. I am now looking for other customers of Consumers Power Co. who have had this same 1000kw+ type of jump with no reason for it.

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