Complain about a product or service

Lakeland Electric

Rocky of LAKELAND, FL May 2, 2009

This one you will find hard to believe,but I have the records to back this up. To start with I want to say that I am an ex-Iron worker. I'm 47 years old. And due to a near fatal fall off a 4 story building In 1990 My only Income Is a small disability check I get once a month.

With this In mind here's my story about what Lakeland Electric did to me and got by with It. I had placed an ad for a roommate and this was when I meet my now roommate Teresa I didn't know her from the past. Something had came up and I was going to be out of town for a few months and thought It would be a good ideal to call L.E and give them permission to talk with my roommate with anything concerning my account.(Like If the power was out) So I called Customer Service and gave them her Name . This was about 3 weeks before we got warnings of the first of the three hurricane that came though Lakeland.

The last storm left us without power for 28 days.So you can imagine my surprise when I got an Electric bill for 750.00 for the month I was without power for 28 day.I told myself that with all the stress from trying to restore the power lines and all the calls they must have been getting from customer wanting to know when they would have their power restored that this bill was simply a mistake.So I called L.E.customer service about the bill and reminded them that my area had not had any power that whole month I was told In a very bitter tone that someone would come and reread the meter.I got a notice In the mail stating that the bill would stand as Is.So I went to the downtown office to complain and was ask to leave the building or would be escorted out.

Needless to say I was forced to pay this bill.But this wasn't even the story that I said you wouldn't believe,but I needed to tell you the whole story.So i held out on paying the bill and they shut my power off. feeling defect I payed the 750.00 bill and to add salt to the wound they made me pay an extra 150.00 on my deposit saying I was a high risk.

( NOW HERE'S THE REAL MIND BLOWER) After all of this about a week later I got a letter from L.E. telling me that the person who's name I added to my account ( MY ROOMMATE TERESA ) has an outstanding bill with them and because she was living In my home and using their service that I was now responsible for her bill of 900.00 and they would make payment arrangements In the amount of 225.00 to be added onto my monthly bill for 6 months stating that If a payment was missed my power would be turn off.I was really starting to think that maybe I was on candid camara.Again I protested and In doing so refused to pay yet more money to them that I did not owe. And again I was disconnected and I swear I was forced to pay this money. And all out of my little disability check. a bill that had been made 3 years before I even meet her.

Please someone tell me this isn't legal and tell me how to make them right this wrong It has eat at me for over 5 years.Someone please at least tell me If I should just let It go or If I should fight.( NOT A LOT OF FUNDS TO FIGHT WITH) Either way thanks for your time.

Jennifer of Lakeland, FL February 18, 2009

My electric bills run anywhere from fourhundred to seven hundred dollars a month. That to me is insane. Just last month My 3 children and I had to go without electric for a week and a half because they will only give you a extension once every 3 months.I just called them and let them know I paid three hundred on my six hundred dollar bill that is due The rest is due on the 24th could i extend the other three hundred until the 27th.

They told me no i can not get a extention until next month so now we will have no electric again for 3 days. That to me is so unfair. People now a days need help and they act like they are gonna go broke if thay give you a little time to pay your bill. Someone needs to step in they are treating us customers [badly[ because they knoe they can get away with it. I think it is a real shame.

Well the consequences are that My children and I will again be without electric. This is twice in two months in a row. I think it is so unfair. I mean i even payed half the bill already and they still will not work with me.

Steventhompson of Lakeland, FL December 16, 2008

Lakeland Electric is owned by the city of Lakeland. It is unregulated by the state. It is mismanaged and I was told that they could charge us any price they wanted because they can. I pay .14 per Kwh and they pay between .06-.08 in Tampa less than 15 miles away.

Lakeland Electric is a monopoly and we are forced to pay for their mistakes. On top of that revenue from the power company is used to pay for city services and parks, etc. However, many of their customers live outside the city limits and don't benefit from Lakeland City serivces. This is taxation without representation. My bill in the summer is about 630. It is insane.

This company operates by it's own free will where other utilities are regulated. They are killing their customers.

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