coned ripoffs
keep getting estimated bills
lame excuse for not reading meters
writing letters to congressman
Wondering If My Letters Had The Effect
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
October 9, 2008 5:54pm CST
Many discussions ago I was complaining how high my electric bill had gone up. You have to realize I live in a studio apartment, during the summer I only had ONE fan going..I have NO air-conditioning. I turn lights out when I'm not using them, so virtually sitting in the dark...LOL. I rarely have my TV on, blah, blah, blah. I was looking at my bills from last year at the same time period and they were in the $50 to $60 range and ironically was using more electricity as I had three fans going on during the summer months. So I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden my electric bills have been in the whopping $90 near $100 range..like WTF?
Don't ask how many times I was complaining to my electric company. The whole "problem" lay in the fact that my electric bills were estimated...but not only mine but everyone in my building..still the people that live right next door who have two air conditioners, ceiling fans, and a larger apartment were paying only $10 more than me.
So I kept complaining, and complaining and not getting any satisfactory answer save being told that the reason why everyone's bill in my building were estimates for the past four months was due to the fact that the jerks were claiming that a meter reading couldn't be made due to "hazardous" conditions near the meter room. Like huh? What dangerous or hazardous conditions..oh, yeah maybe there was a piece of paper on the floor and the meter guy didn't want to walk on it...LOL Even my super couldn't understand what the frick was going on. The one time I complained to the electric company CONed..I indicated that maybe a meter guy wasn't even coming to read the meters...yes I was a bit sarcastic with them.
So getting fed up, I wrote several letters to my local Congressman...and now I'm wondering if it had any effect, for lo and behold just about all day today a ConEd truck was in front of our building and doing a lot of work...for awhile the electricity was completely shut off in the entire building complex.
I guess only time will tell if any of the work done by the Coned folk will have an impact on my bills and maybe given credit for all those estimated over charges.
Anyway...did you ever get fed up with a service...especially a utility service where you just knew you were being screwed big time? Did you complain to them about it? And if you did and didn't get any satisfaction...did you go over their heads and contact a local politician about it? Did it get any action?
As a by and by..and sort of off topic but related to CONed...some months ago here in the NYC area, a woman was walking her dog...the dog rubbed it's body against a electric pole and was electrocuted from live wires that were hidden inside the pole. The poor dog died in the woman's arms in a flash...when investigations took place, CONed flatly denied any responsibility that it was there fault even though it was THEIR electric line. This is about the fifth time something like this happened to a dog in the NYC area and each time CONed denied responsibility. No wonder I can't stand CONed...good name as it has the word CON in their utility name
5 people like this
15 responses
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
10 Oct 08
Ah pye I believe this is their way of overcharging you. There is no real reason why Con Ed doesn't go in there and actually read the meter. You keep fighting them on this and they are suppose to give you retro active credit if you have over paid.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Oct 08
You better believe I'll complain again if I don't see overcharged credit being given to me...besides the Congressman, I'll write the Public Advocates office. Near a hundred a month for electric charges is WAY too much considered the size of my apt. and the amount of electricity I do use.
1 person likes this
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
10 Oct 08
How about a hornet's nest on the meter?
In my area, the guy comes around & reads the meters once every other month. Even though I am on balanced billing for both electricity & gas, I did not even know about it until while I was walking my father's doggie when he was down for a visit, he was walking with his special pad, & had a set of binoculars.
He stopped to pet & play with the doggie, & I asked him about the binoculars. He mentioned that it was because one of the houses had a hornet's nest on it, & he used the binoculars to read the meter so he would not have to get too close to it. When I asked him which house it was, & the told me which number it turned out to be the one corresponding to my house. I did not tell him that it was my house.
When I went down the rest of the way so the doggie could take care of business, the meter man was well past my house, & my father took care of it the next morning when it was still cool. First he sprayed it with some bee & wasp & hornet bug spray, & then removed the soaked nest & we just put it out with the rest of the garbage.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Oct 08
LOL---that was smart thinking of the meter guy to have those binoculars...if there WAS a hornet's nest or anything dangerous to be considered hazardous to the our meter guy, I don't think he would have the smarts to do that....Our meters are in the basement of the building..mmm...maybe there was a huge behemoth spider near by and made a web around the meters?
1 person likes this
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
10 Oct 08
Wow KrazyKlingon you took me way back with that song...
Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock ’n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
...
2 people like this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
10 Oct 08
If more people were willing to contact the congressman, I dont think they would be so quick to take advantage of us all.HURRAH FOR YOU FOR STAYING ON THEM.THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
If I don't get any satisfaction you bet I'm going to contact my Congressman again, and maybe even the Public Advocate's office here. They haven't heard the last from me...LOL
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Wow that sucks, having to be charged that way. Electric & gas bills are high enough without having an estimated bill. It really makes me wonder how my meter reader reads my meter and it is in the basement, and he has never once had to get in there, but I will find out soon enough, as the Nimo guy is coming on Monday to look at the gas meter for some reason and I have to let him in. Though my bills have always seemed fair, except for the taxes they add on.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Our meter rooms in the building are in the basement too, but during the daytime it's left open by the super so one can have access to it
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Oct 08
pyewacket my I hope that means you will be getting smaller electic bills once coned is through with your apt building.
we had some unusal electric bills once a number of years ago, and foundout via enough complaints that a part of the next door neighbor';s apartment electric bill was being charged to our apartment because at one time half of our living room and the second bedroom had belonged to the apartmentnext door, but then they rebuilt our apartment a nd included part of the apartment next door. anyway it all came out that we were paying way too much and the guy next door hardly anything, so they came bye again and reread both meters and lo and behold our next bill was just half of what it had been.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I was once told by a neighbor of mine who used to live here that too, if a person has the right know how, anyone can "tap" into your electric line..and phone, even gas usage...so in other words they are getting a free ride while you're paying THEIR bill
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Hey pye! My least favorite untility company! They don't
take responsibility for anything! I have complained to then
over and over about the increased bills and I also don't
use airconditioning and they use the same damn excuses for
everyone. How the hell do I know what they see when the
read the meters? I am there with them? Do I know the
difference between the actual reading and the estimated?
No of course not and neither does anyone else because the
meters are locked in basements that no one has access to.
The think they are so slick! The are a frigen monopoly!
It's not like we have another choice of an electric company
to use! Who are we going to get our electricity from? They
just keep screwing us over and making up excuses and pissing
us off and there isn't anything that anyone can really do
and they know that! Hope I don't get your discussion deleted
for all the expetives! I just hate that company for all the
bad things they have done, like killing poor defenseless
little doggies and lying to all their customers!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
I don't know what electric company you have, but yours sounds like a winner too. Yes, they have a monopoly, since each area of the country has it's own major company and no others you can have, so unless one wants to sit in the dark and not have electricity they have us by the balls..well you know what I mean..LOL Even if I were to read a meter, like yikes would I know what I was reading? Nope
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
If I don't get any satisfaction, I'll write to the Congressman again (poor guy...LOL) and maybe even the Public Advocate's office here.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Oct 08
Did your dad get any satisfaction and things done as a result of his writing?
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Wow.
Well, Pye...I've written to our state's reps, local politicians, etc. before but not usually for personal reasons or local stuff. Mostly for big votes and...activism.
But Geez. I guess it shows us that there's quite a few companies out there that're perfectly willing to swindle their customers if they think they can get away with it -- and we wonder how we got to this economic situation! But service companies especially...sheezus, that's the worst thing.
I'm glad there's a chance now, that your bills could go down, Pye. I'd love if they did, because you deserve some stability with electricity!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
The Congressman's representative was really instrumental in helping me out get my SSI benefits reinstated when they were suddenly cut off...how or why I got the inspiration to contact him I'll never know...but with the representative's help I got my benefits back in only a month's time....a Guinness Record I believe knowing how slow SSA is
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Although I haven't had problems with the utilities departments, I have had problems with the cable company. We started out with a bill of $35. a month, then $45, then $60 and finally I got a one month bill for $80 and I hit the roof. I refused to pay it and when I went to their office they tried to tell me that the regular monthly price was $40 and they were starting a new policy where you paid that months bill and the next months bill...I don't think so...I pay for what I use that's it. It was canceled that day.
I had a simular problem with DirectTV...I went online to pay the bill and everytime I'd go to submit the payment the site would close the internet down. I tried twice before I said forget it and I wrote them a check for the $50. A couple weeks later, our account is $100 overdrawn. They cashed the check and took out the 2 online payments. I called them up livid. The woman (she had to be blonde) said they thought I was paying in advance!?! I demanded that she refund the two online payments, I got passed to numerous ppl and finally to one of the big cheese guys...I repeated my demand and he said they would do it immediately. I also told him that I wanted my account cancelled and he told me I'd first have to ship their equipment back...I told him it would be in the trashcan on the curb in ten minutes and if they wanted they could *(&^^(^(*&*$%$% come and get it LOL My poor foster kids never heard so much cursing and filth come out of one person (I'd sent them all to their rooms but I know they could hear me, I think ppl in Canada could hear me LOL). They refunded the money and I never heard from them again.
BTW, the deal with the dogs and the electric poles...I'd be filing a lawsuit for that. That's crazy.
[b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~
**AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG** [/b]
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
11 Oct 08
Oh yes, I have such ladylike language when I get ticked off...sailors would blush if they heard it 
! Thankfully I don't lose it like that very often but when I do...I imagine God must have to cover his ears 
[b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~
**AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG** [/b]
! Thankfully I don't lose it like that very often but when I do...I imagine God must have to cover his ears
[b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~
**AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG** [/b]1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
Thankfully I haven't had to contend with either cable or Direct TV as I haven't had cable in years, but I do remember what a pain in the "a" cable was. I'm glad you cussed out the DirectTV people....mmm..your language must be as gracious as mine when I make mistakes in front of my computer..luckily only my two kitties can hear me...I think...LOL
Yes I hope those people whose dogs got electrocuted would sue..don't know if they ever did as I never heard follow ups of the stories
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
12 Oct 08
i saw a picture once-i think it was in the post?
where con-ed left a standing pole in the middle of a street somewhere in queens after they widened it.
oh i know our utilites screw us.they gave themselves a 22% raise this year already and are trying for another.neverminding the fact they owe me for 6 hours of downtime cause they won't cut the tree branches next door and the lines keep snapping.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
17 Oct 08
would be nice,though i'm not holding my breath.
man,you owe them one dollar,they're right up here.when it's on them?forget about it.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 08
Yes CONed is probably one of the worse utility companies going. They're completely negligent about a lot of things then try to act blameless when things go wrong. Hope you get some kind of refund from your company..also sounds like a winner..NOT
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
14 Oct 08
I have never complained to an utility like that but I have complained to the public transportation system for the handicapped and elderly. As a lot of my friends know I do not drive anymore and ride the handicapped bus. The bus was screwing up and not picking me up or picking me up late so in turn I was late for work. So O went down to the office on several occasions to complain.
We guess what they screwed me once again today. Well technically they say they did not screw me They say "its a holiday and do not start until 9:30" so I was told someone will pick you up at 9:30 10 o'clock and low and behold at 8:30 the bus shows up at my door step honking like a fool like they do.
I already had a ride lined up from a friend and could not reach her. The bus driver was my regular driver and he came out of his way to see if I still needed a ride. Now why couldn't someone call me? They have my phone number they always ask for it every time I call them. My friend had to leave for work early to pick me and take me to work so she would be to her work on time.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 08
Yes teapot I do remember all the problems you were having about that transportation issue and that really sucked how they screwed things up for you today. And yes, I would think it would be as a courtesy to you to call you to let you know when they were to pick you up today
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
16 Oct 08
It's all under the bridge now. I got to work and got my hours in. I hope they do not hold it against me. The driver know I was not expecting him and he did get out of the bus and come to the door. It was nice of him but rude not to call.
1 person likes this
@littleowl (7157)
•
11 Oct 08
Good on you Pye for writing to you congressman hopefully now the matter will be resolved...my gas company are looking at my gas bill now and have passed it over to the financial assistance hopefully they will clear the debt and I'll be able to start afresh..one good thing has come of that as when I rang them they said they wouldn't cut me off as they can see I'm trying to pay a bit of here and there plus the form has been handed to the FA dept..that was one relief am waiting now for my elecreic bill to come in but am like you very frugal with electic so hopefully it won't be much..the state are now paying my water bill as I can't afford it so they take a bit out of my benefit..at long last at least something may be done..but still find it so hard to beleive how stupid your suppliers of your electric have been about your bill and that it has taken this long for something to be done about it..bb littleowl
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
If I still don't get any satisfaction though and still get outrageously high bills for my electric company I plan to write the Congressman again and even the Public Advocate's office. I'm wondering too, if I should write to SSA about getting my benefits raised...our benefits are raised once a year..about $14 more...big deal...I need to itemized my SSI benefits against my bills and prove to them of the higher cost of living.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Oct 08
I think most electric companies try and pull the wool over our eyes. The way my electric supply works is through a meter, and basically I have a card, and I put money on the card and then put it into the meter and I get my electric. Well it costs a fortune to keep it going, and I had my bill through the other day and when I looked at it I saw that I was nearly £200 ($349.04) in credit. Now that is a lot of my money spare that they have, and I want it back, but I cannot get it back. What I have to do is give them a meter reading and they are supposed to adjust it so that the spare money is then used up by me through me putting less on the meter. Only they NEVER adjust it, I give them a reading and they never do anything to the meter, so that amount keeps building up and I am paying a fortune, so I shall be giving them some grief if they do not sort it soon especially with winter coming in now and darker nights etc!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Oct 08
That's so weird....I would think with all that credit that it would be due you and you wouldn't have to pay a cent for awhile. Your electric company sounds as lovely as mine....NOT
@paulad718 (1)
•
11 Apr 10
On April 5th 2010 Con Edison came to read my meters.I have to take a day off from work for Con Edison to read my meters because they are inside, so some times I am not there to let them in. I call in the meter readings and when I receive the bills in the mail, the readings are accepted by the """COMPUTER""" or rejected and the nice letter from Con Edison lets me know it.
On April 5th 2010 Con Edison came to read my meters. When I received the bills,I received an estimated bill on the meter which I started a new account. I have not contacted Con Edison yet thinking Con Edison will correct this.
The most you could expect from Con Edison as far as correcting any damage to life limb or property would be an expediting push to Con Edison from your Government, local, state or federal.
I am interested in learning about any suits brought against Con Edison from the injured community.
The """MASTER COMPUTER""" directs Con Edison and any hope of getting a compassionate response is next to nil.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Apr 10
LOL--goodness how did you find this discussion? It's two years old, so my Con Ed issue was resolved a long time ago, and I got a refund for the overcharges in effect so I didn't have to pay an electric bill for about three months
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Oct 08
That's terrible about the dogs getting zapped...
As for complaining, I generally don't. But my friend Juanita sure likes to. Today she found out that because she's disabled and has a disability parking pass, she doesn't have to pay for parking at meters or in municipal lots. She also found out that she doesn't have to pay for an annual on-street parking pass (she has no driveway), so she went down to the parking facility office and tried to get reimbursed for the months that she's had the disability pass. They would only reimburse her for the time from when she asked (today), but she sure made a big stink about it. Then she went to the disability office to inform them, so that they could pass on the information to other disabled parkers...
(The free parking thing is different in each community, so if anyone has a disability parking pass, they should check with their municipal office to see if/where they get free parking.)
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Oh I'm always complaining when I need to...heck I KNOW I'm being overcharged. Good for your friend...glad she's a complainer too.
1 person likes this
