Complain about a product or service

Progress Energy Florida

TobieAnn of New Port Richey, FL September 24, 2009

I was shut off the other day for being behind on bill. BUT I have been paying on the account as early as last week and other payments prior to that.I was not notified that I was in risk of being shut off . That's not the best part...after speaking to 3 different people and I get a so called supervisor who tells me my service was actually turned off 3 weeks earlier and apparantly we have been STEALING unauthorized electricity. That my husband or myself illegally reconnected the electric and tampered with the meter. WE ARE FURIOUS!!! I have no problem with paying for usage. BUT to be accused of something I did not do!! No one came to my house 3 weeks ago and disconnected me. AND on top of the 40 dollar reconnection fee, They want me to pay another 83 dollars for the investigator they sent to find out why we still have service. AND they have a 450 dollar deposit on my account. Every person I spoke to was nasty. I am still working on proving we didn't touch the meter AND that no one came to disconnect before the other day. I just found out today, that Progress did the same thing to my friends son just a few weeks ago. Best part of that...Her son hadn't even moved in to his apartment yet, but was accused of illegally turning on the power for the apartment. Something very fishy going on here and I plan on getting to the bottom of this!!!

Charles of Winter Springs, FL September 23, 2009

Last year we had problems paying our bills. We ended up giving Progress Energy a 420.00 security deposit. Starting in November of 2008 we started watching what we were doing and paying by computer to Progress Energy. Since that time we have paid on time and made sure we stayed caught up with no problems. We just lost our house and moved into an apartment. We got charges for the move, and were told that they could only credit our account 85.00 of the 420.00 . Because we have children and plan not to move for quite awhile, I'm looking at them making interest off our money for the next ten to fifteen years.

Then on top of that, when I called to set up the disconnection and reconnect at the new address, they did not do it on time and I got extra charges. The one that gets me upset is that they did not turn it on when they said and now my apartment is charging me 50.00 extra dollars because of that. I did not get it in writing because I called it in. Progress is the only game in town so unless I can get the apartment company to waive it, I'm stuck for 50.00 more dollars that was not my fault.

Besides having them make money on my money for years to come which seems like a rip-off. I wish there was options, but there is not. And, because my wife called in the orginal start with Progress when we moved to Florida, they will not even speak to me about it, only my wife. In times like this, large companies like Progress making it harder is not right. But I'm afraid there is nothing that can be done. Good customer service and community relationships mean nothing to Progress if it costs them money. They have nothing to worry about, where else can we go? If there is anyway to get back more of the security deposit sometime it would be great. As far as the fifty, I'm afraid the apartment complex we moved into is I'm sure my only chance for help. 50.00 lost, and 335.00 which Progress makes interest on, not us.

Eglantina of St Petersburg, FL September 22, 2009

We have been having many issues with this company since a long time ago. They have been overcharging us by changing their energy and fuel rates occasionaly for very short period. Only in about two years, the rates have changed five tmes. Now the rates in my bill are: 5.56900c for 1000kWH; 6.56900c for over a 1000kWH; and the fuel charge: 5.60000c for 1000kWH; 6.60000c over 1000kWH.

i have not calculated the economic damage, but it has been a very stressful situation every time the bill comes. Even we have contacted them too many times, never got the right answer.

Brandi of Holiday, FL September 14, 2009

I have had Progress Energy for 5 years. I have never broken a payment arrangement. I have never bounced a check. I have never been disconnected for nonpayment. However since Progress Energy's rate hike, my bill is higher than normal (duhhhh) and now since my bill averages higher than my deposit (made 5 years ago) they will no longer let me make payment arrangements or extensions on my bill. WHAT?!?! Is this some sort of joke? They hike their rates up and tell you that your bill is too high to get an extension in THIS economy? I only get paid once a month. SHAME on Progress Energy!!

Customer "service" agents just read from a screen, telling you that their rate hike was approved by the utility commission and bla bla bla. When you ask to speak to someone who can actually do something about it, they tell you that no one can. Then they just sit there . . . Are you kidding me? Is there NO ONE who can do something about this ridiculous company raping single parents and other hard-working Americans trying to stay afloat and feed their children? Hmmmm, I'll bet the executives and higher ups at Progress Energy don't have to make payment arrangements on any of their personal bills. How NICE for them!

maureen of saintpetersburg , FL August 25, 2009

how can progress energy shut off power to a woman who has a statement from dr that survival rate is less than 24 hour on oxygen also the lift chair and hospital bed bill averaged 500.00 owed 2 months a woman lives in ahome for 49 years and hasnt established when i placed my mother in a nursing home i went thru agency after agency and when i shut the account down like i was told progress energy said i would have to come up with another 600.00 deposit it felt like extortion it was the worst 5 weeks of my life i am a caretaker of a paralized woman which meant i couldnt work where does a person go these laws have to change when they put money over the lives of human being and these agencys churches give money to why isnt it there for the needy dont know how many times i was blown off to 211 they just pass the buck i had to go to the upstairs office of urban league after being turned away numerous time he actually got some wheels turning funds are available on first only no one answers phone and on the next day we booked over 500 appts never 399 0r 501 stop passing the buck were are allready having our minds murdered by the corperations enough is enough

jorge of dundee, FL August 19, 2009

progress energy ripping me off. I am sending my complain below to everyone who well listen. Dear consumer.I recived a letter from the progress energy on 7/19/09. thats said this. dear customer: Subject Your Recent Estimated Bill.Progress energy florida strives to provide you with reliable service and accurate billing. However,due to data transmission problem,We have been unable to read your electric metter. As a result, an estimated meter reading was used to generate your bill for the past three months. If you are able to provide us with your current meter reading and would like a new bill. Or if there are extenuating circumstances, Please contact us.

So we did on the same date the letter came.And they told me that if the meter is not working they well charge from last year bill. If they can see the meter numbers how could the charge for a bill with out seeing the meter numbers thats very wiere. I f they dont"t have number how could they charge. They trying to cover then self for the error they made.Is not fair what they doing to everybody in florida everybody has a complain with progress energy.I paid my bill last year and it was for almost 265.00 dollars.And thats what they want to charge me again for a estimated. A meter that they didn't see the numbers how can you sent a bill if you don"t have a number meter. You can not sent a bill with out the meter number.Is a rippe off

kelley of HENDERSON , NC July 30, 2009

I was on the equal payment plan. I pay the same each month. I was sent a letter last month stating that if I was late on my payment I would be removed from the payment plan. I received my bill an dit was due 7/3/2009. I went online and paid my bill on 7/3/2009 as it was due on that date. On 7/10/2009, I received a statement saying I was late on my payment, therefore I had been removed from the program. I called Progress Energy on that day and was advised that "it is general knowledge" I should know I would be taken off the plan. I asked if I was notified of terma and conditions, he said no, it is "general knowledge".

I asked why I was taken off the plan when I was not late. The payment was made on 7/3/2009. He stated the payment did not post until 7/6/2009 due to the holiday. I asked why have a due date on a holiday? He said it was "general knowledge: to pay ahead of time when I knew it would be a holiday. I pay my bills on Friday, the 3rd was a Friday.. He stated I should have paid ahead. My arguement is I was not late, I paid on the due date.. He said he could not grant me an extention and I would have to wait 12 months before I can be placed on the plan again. I cannot afford to pay amount of bill in full, that is why I was on the payment plan.. My lights will be cut off on 8/6/2009 due to the fact I cannot pay the entire amount of 260.96. I have two small children, however they do not seem to care.

Lawrence of Holland, PA July 29, 2009

Progress Energy insisted on my providing them with my Social Security number in order to start electric service in a rented townhouse on behalf of my daughter, an NCSU student. I explained that I would not give them that number but I could provide other information. They were going to hang up when I asked for a supervisor. After several minutes the same person said the accounting department would take my drivers license number and state instead of a SS#. It is clearly illegal to insist on a SS# for electric service and I want them to cease and desist this activity.

Joel of St. Petersburg, FL June 25, 2009

Somehow the eBill account that I had setup to pay my bills automatically was setup with the incorrect account #. I received a letter stating that I had been removed from the eBill service and was not eligible to enroll for one year, and was now forced to pay by cash, money order, or cashier's check at one of their Cash Advance pay stations. I had tried to prove to them that the account # they had on file was nowhere near any account # i had or ever had, and that a mistake had been made and I was now paying for it. I explained that I really prefer, insist actually, to pay all of my bills via ebill, and having to pay cash was an insult and an huge inconvenience. The call center supervisor I spoke with said there was nothing anyone could do for one year, and they refused to accept they made a mistake and correct the issue.

I am irate with the lack of attention, service, or empathy I received, and the utter refusal to help me, a customer, rectify an issue I had nothing to do with. I can easily prove that I have no bank account with the account # they have for my account, and my bet is that the old tenants information was somehow slipped into mine.

Karen of New Port Richey, FL June 12, 2009

In 12 years, we have payed our bill on time, lately we are haveing finacial trouble and the electricity was turned off two times. We are up to date with our payments, but they are threatening to shut our power off if we do not pay them an extra 510.00! We just barley make the payments alone. I have an autistic son at home, who does not deal well with all this. Can they do this? Eventhough we are up to date with our payments?

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