Complain about a product or service

Laclede Gas Co.

St. Louis

Shannon of St. Louis, MO August 19, 2009

This company continues to be one of the most out of control and uncaring utilities in the entire country. I found out that they are claiming my gas meter is "broken" (same bogus story from MANY other victims) and they have been "forced" to estimate my bill (at twice actual useage). Based on actual readings on the meter, they are overcharging me by about 1000 for a residence with 2 people who keep the heat in winter in the 60's. Even though they owe me money, I was forced to pay them an extorion fee of over 600 to get my gas service scheduled for reconnection. They also say they "sent me a letter" about needing to get in to investigate the broken meter, and I was unresponsive-- well they did, which was dated and delivered THE SAME DAY AS THEY DISCONNECTED MY GAS SERVICE. I guess you need a time machine to deal with these bozos. They also are refusing to adjust the "estimated" reading.

The reports of their exploitation of the middle class here in St. Louis via fee after fee, bogus "broken" meters, etc are legion and probably worthy of a federal racketeering investigation. One of their workers also lied to gain entrance to my daughters residence and sabotaged the gas meter and shut of the service. Since we have had a spate of criminals posing as Laclede Gas personnel recently to gain entrance into homes the same way, this is truly shocking that their own personnel are engaged in the same nefarious practices. A truly evil,out-of-control monopoly that makes the bonus-babies at AIG look like petty pikers. "Going Green" with an all-electric home can't happen soon enough for me, and hopefully eventually Laclede will piss so many people off that they will lose a TON of business. This is one company that NEEDS a government takeover! (Not to mention the recent epidemic of exploding homes in the area, all due to gas explosions, whats up with that?)

Leslie of St. Louis, MO February 18, 2009

In October-08 my gas bill skyrocketed to 793.00, of course I was unable to pay this amount, when I did finally pay, the first week of December, it came to my attention that they had tacked on 410.41 from a gas bill that was in my ex-husbands name. I've been divorced for 2 years, the gas bill was never in my name, however I had to take off from work and go down to the business office and present Laclede Gas with my divorce decree in order to get them to take it off my bill.

I specifically asked for a check, instead Laclede has held this and decided to apply the monies as a credit when they see fit. Now my bill is up to 443.12 which is totally unreal considering that I have a small 2 bedroom apartment. I can not take off every time they send me a bill to dispute it. What is going on with this company that they don't have to answer to anyone.

Micky of St. Louis, MO December 16, 2008

I paid my laclede gas bill all but 47.00, in November 08. When I called to see if they credited my payment, they told me that I have a new bill that was being mailed out for 291 dollars, plus the 47.00 dollars I already owed them. My problem with this company is that they are simply greedy and their charges reflect this. I try to pay my balances in full every month and soon as I pay a ridiculous balance, then the next month it seems like they add on more. There is no way to get around these issues with this company. I use very little gas, keeping my thermostat on 69 degrees.

While this economy is bad for everyone, it seems as though this corporation does not care other than raking in all that they can. My Winter bills for 07 ranged from 1400-1800 for the season, and my thermostat was always kept low.

Lachelle of Saint Louis, MO November 21, 2008

I moved into my apartment in December of 2007. I needed gas service turned on so laclede said they would send someone out. I waited long past the time they were suppose to show up. They sent another crew out and they informed me that my hot water was electric. The only gas expense that I would have would be the heat. I was excited to know this seeing as how gas can get very costly. I was very surprised to see my first bill in the amount of 232 dollars! I couldn't believe it since my apartment is only 400 square ft.

I called laclede and they told me that this was an estimate and if I wanted the exact amount I neede to have a meter reader come out. After about a week a meter reader came out and told me that my reading was very low. I was relieved thinking that this was all taken care of. To my surprise the next month I received a bill for about 400 dollars. I called laclede once more and they told me that they were having trouble reading the meter so they would send someone else back out.

I left town for eighteen days in the month of February. The gas was turned off the entire time I was gone. I received a bill in march stating that I owned an additional 200 dollars. I contacted Laclede yet again and they gave me the same run down. They finally sent another worker and he informed me that my meter was broken. I had to wait another 2 weeks to have someone so called replace the meter. I did not go into the basement with him but he said that he replaced the meter. I don't know how they replace a meter but I was under the impression that they take the entire meter out. When I looked at the meter it was the same meter with the same marker writings on it as before. Nothing looked different to me.

So I waited and when the next month rolled around it was the same situation. They claimed that they still weren't getting a reading and that I had to be charged by estimation. I told them that my apt is tiny and I only use gas for heat plus I also use a little heater. I went to Lacelde in person three times and spoke with people who never helped me or gave me adequate service. They told me that if I set up a payment plan I couldn't have my bill reviewed and possibly reduced. Since I didn't agree with the bill I didn't set up a payment plan. They told me they would send me a letter that week. It took almost three weeks to get that letter and guess what, my bill was up again.

My bill was reduced by 126 dollars. I stll felt that this was unfair so I pressed in more. They came and turned off gas service in August. I didn't mind because it was still summer and I only needed gas for heat. I decided to take this matter to the executive offices. I wrote them a letter explaining my expericence with their company. The next day they contacted me saying that they needed to investigate the matter.

When they called be back they told me that it had been too long and the information wasn't available any more. She told me that they could reduce it by another 180 dollars. She told me that my bill would be in the 500's. I thought that was okay. When I got my new bill it was 131 dollars more than what she told me it would be. I didn't understand the bill because there were these extra numbers on it. When I spoke with her she said I had been credited the 180 dollars but there was a late fee and cancellation fee. She initially told me that I didn't have to pay the late fee that it would be credited on the bill. When it was all said nad done they only really credited me a hundred dollars. She informed me that I needed to pay 298 to get service turned on and that I would have to pay 175 a month! I do not have the money for this. She said that if I paid them they would automatically turn service on and that I would have to pay the 175 a month. I felt that this would put me in a deeper hole so I asked could I pay at my own accord. She told me no and that my bill had gone to collection. I didn't understand why she was trying to get me to make payments if it had already gone to collection. I asked her if I paid Laclede would those payments me viewable to collection. She said no because they were on a monthly system. I was like okay so you want me to pay you when my account has already gone to collection, and they would have no records of thesee payments? She said yes, I couldn't believe her. If I could get gas with another service I would. I am a very unhappy customer. Laclede gas is a rip off.

It's sad that they are doing people like this especially with the economy the way that it is. I feel that I have been cheated. They have stressed me out!

As of today I am freezing. My gas service is turned off and I can't pay half of the bill, and keep up with the monthly charges that they are asking for. They have been stressing me out for a year now. I believe that I did everything that needed to be done to assure that I received good service. I feel that I was cheated and I do not believe that their worker ever changed my meter. It's an outrage.

Kathy of Hazelwood, MO September 12, 2008

I am on budget billing and my bill went up 100% this month, I called them and they said it was because gas will be going up 30% shortly. This is a joke!

[They] are driving the middle class to the poor house.

Anchaleeya of St. Louis, MO September 9, 2008

Due to the high gas bills resulting from last winter, Laclede Gas has been threatening to come out and disconnect my gas ever since last March. At that time, I had called them and asked them if I could set up a payment plan with them to pay what I owed them in arrears. They had told me that I could only set up a payment plan if I paid half of my bill to avoid disconnection. At that time, it would have meant coming up with approximately 300, which I didn't have and hence why I was calling them in the first place, to see if I could set up a way to send them regular payments to pay down my arrears.

Because I live in an apartment building, Laclede cannot just cut off the gas from the street. So, instead of cutting off my gas, they would just leave a note on my apartment door saying how much I owed. Last month, I owed 419.81. So, in an attempt to at least get my bill down to half to avoid disconnection this month, I paid two separate payments of 100 each, totaling 200. However, when I got my bill this month, the bill read the following:

Prior Gas Balance: 419.81
Prior Other Balance: 173.33
Payment Thank You: 100.00
Late Payment Chrg: 4.80
Payment Thank You: 100.00
Deposit Assessment: 173.33
Charge for Gas Srvc
07-28-08 to 08-26-08: 31.54
St. Louis City Tax: 1.31
Account Balance: 604.12

I didn't understand what the 173.33 Deposit Assessment was that was being continually charged to my account and so I called Laclede to try to get some explanation. From what I think I understood from the girl that I spoke with, she said that it was the fee they charged to reconnect my service. I asked her how they could charge me for reconnection when I never was disconnected in the first place? All they've ever done was to come out and attempt to disconnect me, but they've never have actually succeeded because I've always been at work whenever they would come by. So, I asked her if that is the fee that they are going to charge me everytime they come out to attempt to disconnect me. She said something along the lines that they weren't going to charge me those fees anymore, because it was from last month and the month before. This didn't sound right to me and it was obvious that she didn't understand what I was trying to get at with the fact that they can't charge me for reconnection when disconnection never occurred in the first place. I felt frustrated with the girl and gave up trying to argue with her. Unfortunately, I never got her name.

So, now, I have to come up with 300 by September 18th to avoid disconnection. It's a never ending cycle whenever they keep adding fees to the amounts I already owe. It preys upon people of low income. It's frustrating and feels as if I'm trying to dig myself out of a hole that keeps filling up with sand, getting nowhere. And, the fact that they are not willing to work with me unless I pay half of the balance is not very customer service oriented and is a sign that they are not concerned about their consumers that are trying to be honest.

If they wouldn't have kept slapping on those fees for something that didn't occur, I would have been able to pay them off a long time ago!! I think it's ridiculous when I pay them almost 200 per month for the past few months and my actual charge for gas service is only about 32 and SOMEHOW the bill keeps getting bigger and bigger.

This whole situation has me feeling frustrated and helpless. I feel victimized and taken advantage of. Everytime I think I'm paying Laclede off, they slap me with more fees! I can't afford it! I work full-time. I'm also a part-time student and live on my own. Having no money, with mounting bills every month and no savings is stressful. I worry all the time about how I'm going to make ends meet and what I'm going to forego this month to pay this bill and that bill. And,now, with winter around the corner, I'm afraid that they might actually come one day while I'm home and turn off the gas and I will freeze to death because I won't be able to afford to pay the reconnection fee and everything they say I owe them!

Rhonda of St. Louis, MO September 3, 2008

My gas had been disconnected for 11 months and when I qualified for assistance from HDC, a bid of 1300 was made on my account. I was told by HDC to make a 500 payment, which I did. After 3 weeks of checking with Laclede Gas about the pledge, they kept telling me it wasn't in the system yet. I finally spoke to a nice young lady who told me my gas should have been back on because of the 500 payment.

Well my gas was turned back on but the pledge from HDC was never paid because Laclede Gas told them I didn't have an account (but I did, where did they apply the 500 if I didn't have an account); not to mention I went down to the office on Olive to get the account information before making my payment. Yet I don't have an account. The payment plan was unreasonable jumping from 200 to 400 a month. My bill remained high and was disconnected for 1700.

I noticed that I was being assessed a deposit of 158 per month or more making my bill for one month over 200 (that doesn't include the 200-400 payment plan amount). Thus making it impossible for my bill to ever go down. In the past I've had trouble with them not crediting my payments as well. The new bills are very hard to understand (which I think was intentional).

My gas was disconnected for an amount that could have been avoided if they had not intentionally given false information to HDC.

Harry of Black Jack, MO September 2, 2008

I want to give a compliment to the crew that resodded My front had been dug up in two sections to put new lines in.  The original replanting was not acceptable and several call were made. Finally I finally got a satisfactory from Jerry. The crew came today and in no time it was resodded and watered in a professional and satisfactory manner, will you relay my thanks to Lacledes supervisor on the job.  His name is Dale. Again thanks for a job well done.

Linda of St. Louis, MO August 22, 2008

I reciently recieved my gas bill again. The gas usage was only 45.86. Because I am unable to pay my bill on time, they repeatly add on late pay after late pay. My total bill is 836.81! They have added on a 493.14 to my bill. I have NO idea what I owe and what I dont owe anymore because they keep adding on and on. IF they were not stealing money from us. Id have no problem paying my bill. But because im poor and can't afford to pay a 100 to 200 a month in their late fees, I am getting stuck with their ungodly redicilouis amounts of late pay. This has to be stopped!

The consequences are, I do not have the money so I will loose my gas services because of this new Idea someone had. the Physical damage is I have lost alot of sleep and worried much and still do. I am not a well person at all. I have a heart condtion, it has made me very upset, Im diabetic and I just dont know how much more of this I can take.

Lakeefe of Saint Louis, MO June 3, 2008

Contacted leclede about my bill at one point was over 500.00 I let the rep. know that I had not been using that much gas could they send someone out to check their equipment and to make sure that this appartment meater was being read wright. She told me that the averrage for this appartment is acurate. I exsplained that leclead staff is not accessing the bld. to read the meeter and those averages where not wright.

This past month my bill has rose to 2058 and I have been here in this appartment less that 12 months last month I paid 450.00 trying to do the wright thing but leclead in not assisting me with my concerns about their over billing as if they can do no wrong I will continue to make payments until someone please help!!!!! Unfair.

I did set up a payment arrangement with leclead but because of finacial issues I was only able to send in smaller amounts a couple months prior to last month but I have increased my payments but lecleade will not check their equitment or check to see if staff is reading the meeters correctly or if the meets reading equitment is working properly. Please help!!!

It is very stressful to know that I am making payments and still being threated with the gas being turned off. I have a immune disorder and stress works against me I was totaly disabled at one point. Now I work full time and no longer getting a disability check but still under the care of a doctor. I would not be able to take care of my needs without the gas being on please help.!!!!!

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