[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
First Choice Power Complaint - Horrible Billing And Business Practices - Electric Company
Electric Company - Complaint
TEXAS -- CAUTION-AVOID First Choice Power!!!! IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THEM- GET AWAY WHILE YOU STILL CAN.
I have been with them now for almost a year and have had consistent issues with additional fees and late charges because of the way they structure their billing system.
They charge additional fees for paying by phone or at a payment center but when I pay by check, Even when I send the check the SAME day I receive the bill, they don't process it in time and I am charged a late fee. When I call I am told that they take 7-10 business days to process your bill. When I told them that I received the bill that day and it won't make it within the 7-10 day window. They said they cannot be responsible for the short comings of the US Postal Service, Then offer to have me pay by phone for a small additional fee.
I have requested to have the billing period extended, and they REFUSE, saying that this is what they do to all their customer and offer the phone option for an additional fee.
I'm in a year contract or I would have left after the second time this happened. When I called last month to complain I was told my contract expired in May. Today when I called to complain and try to cancel early without cancellations fees, I was told that I had to cancel on the first of this month. Since I didn't call on the first to cancel my service with them, I am now reinrolled for another full year. If I want to get out now I have to pay $150 fee, eventhough I honored my original contract. They say they sent out a notice about this in December. I never received this letter and told her that I was told last month I couldn't leave until May. She repeated that they are not responsible for the short comings of the US Postal Service- yet I am?!?!? They can't explain why the person last month told me May. They say I heard it wrong.
I have asked for a supervisor only to be told that she was and if I wanted her supervisor, I needed to call back Monday. But she wouldn't tell me who to ask for. I left my contact info and said I wanted them to call me on Monday.
I will report this to the Utility Commission if I don't have it resolved by this week. This is very poor customer service at best. I feel it may even qualify for cramming, but am still trying to resolve it with the company before I take further action.
Bottom line- WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY!!!!
I have been with them now for almost a year and have had consistent issues with additional fees and late charges because of the way they structure their billing system.
They charge additional fees for paying by phone or at a payment center but when I pay by check, Even when I send the check the SAME day I receive the bill, they don't process it in time and I am charged a late fee. When I call I am told that they take 7-10 business days to process your bill. When I told them that I received the bill that day and it won't make it within the 7-10 day window. They said they cannot be responsible for the short comings of the US Postal Service, Then offer to have me pay by phone for a small additional fee.
I have requested to have the billing period extended, and they REFUSE, saying that this is what they do to all their customer and offer the phone option for an additional fee.
I'm in a year contract or I would have left after the second time this happened. When I called last month to complain I was told my contract expired in May. Today when I called to complain and try to cancel early without cancellations fees, I was told that I had to cancel on the first of this month. Since I didn't call on the first to cancel my service with them, I am now reinrolled for another full year. If I want to get out now I have to pay $150 fee, eventhough I honored my original contract. They say they sent out a notice about this in December. I never received this letter and told her that I was told last month I couldn't leave until May. She repeated that they are not responsible for the short comings of the US Postal Service- yet I am?!?!? They can't explain why the person last month told me May. They say I heard it wrong.
I have asked for a supervisor only to be told that she was and if I wanted her supervisor, I needed to call back Monday. But she wouldn't tell me who to ask for. I left my contact info and said I wanted them to call me on Monday.
I will report this to the Utility Commission if I don't have it resolved by this week. This is very poor customer service at best. I feel it may even qualify for cramming, but am still trying to resolve it with the company before I take further action.
Bottom line- WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY!!!!
Comments:
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2008-03-09:
Your best bet will be a formal complaint to the utility commission. Call them and follow up in writing. First Choice Power should provide sufficient time to receive, process, and apply your payment if you send a check within 5 business days of receiving the bill.
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!