My complaint:
We signed up for Center Point energy Electricity and Gas on 02242022. In an attempt to pay through my credit card I overpaid by about $300.00. I made an Inquiry and the finance department through one of its officials acknowledged receipt of the excess payment and promised to refund the money.
However, it was not returned. I made several demands and got several promises but it was never returned. I contemplated an action but abandoned it in my effort to build a rather mutually friendly customer relationship. The company started deducting the money from their subsequent services.
I had covid in the month of June 2022. I could not pay my bills. So I was late in the payment for my gas bill. The company wrote me demanding payment due of the sum of $99.97 on or before 07272022. It however cut my gas on 07252022. I called and was told I was supposed to have paid the amount due, $66.00 on 072222, and the current due of $33 on 072722. What caught my attention was the 0727 date.
All other companies granted me some reprieve including my mortgage company. Center Point Energy’s contact person told me that I must pay $20.00 as a reconnection fee. I had to pay a hundred dollars [$100.00] before it sent its technician who came to reconnect me.
This month I got a bill of $170.00 out of which, the real service consumption according to Center Point Energy was $33.00. I have paid $50.00 and would with every sense of responsibility and respect ask the authorities in the interest of good and smooth customer relations to waive the other fees or penalties for me as I relented in filing claims when it withheld the excess money I paid into its account by mistake.
Suggested solution:
Please waive the penalty fees for me just as I waived a would-be meritorious action against CenterPoint Energy for withholding the amount overpaid by my mistake.
