I have waiting for assistance from LIHEP for payment of my Gas bill Nicor was aware of this and now have received the payment as of last week. I received the new bill today and NICOR took $39.48 in late charges from my LIHEP payment they received. They were aware of my inability to pay the bill at the time, that's why I requested assistance from LIHEP. I called NICOR and spoke to a Cust. Ser. person Cynthia #434 who was the moist rude and arrogant person I have had contact with in the past few days. Due to my health and financial issues I have had many conversations with snobbish employees who are supposed to assist customers but instead make very effort to piss you off and end the conversation. This will not end and I have no intention of paying this extortion money to this company who plunders the hard working people and those down on their luck in this ruthless economic time of crisis.

Andrij Skyba

I purchased a property in Elgin Illinois that is a foreclosure property and didn't do a home inspection since I knew the bank won't do any repairs anyway. After the closing I called Nicor gas to tell them that I was the new owner of the property and need to connect service. Since the previous owner didn't pay the bill they disconnected the meter from outside of the home and they told me that in order for them to connect the service again it will take up to 8 weeks for them to send somebody to put a new meter. It is winter time and I told them that is impossible to live in a house without gas and all the told me is nothing they can do. I believe this is happening because they don't have any competition otherwise they will take care of the customers like all the phone companies. They know if they don't do what they are suppose to do we move to somebody else.

My gas was shut off back in April 2009 due to non payment. My husband has been out of work for a couple years now. He works part time here and there as much as he can and I work part time. We are struggling just pay our mortgage. It hasn't been too bad during the warm months without the gas because we use very little gas in the warm months, but it is getting cold and my three young children are freezing. I received a letter last month staring if I paid a portion of the unpaid bill ($560.00) and no one has tampered with thelock on the meter that they would turn it back on for the winter months and the remaining balance could be paid in payments. I paid the amount requested and when we called tohave it turned back on they said they couldn't do it because we were on a payment plan a year ago and they only do it every two years so we don't qualify. If I don't qualify why did they send me the letter???? With the economy the was it is it is g etting harder and harder for people to be able to afford things. Look at how many people are loosing their houses and instead of helping Nicore is making it harder for people to be able to make payment arrangements. It used to be one payment plan every six months. Now it's one every two years? Are they crazy? It's not like people are going to skip out and go with someone else we are stuck with Nicor who can do whatever they want anc charge whatever they want and there is nothing we can do about it. We are waiting for a supervisor to call back, but a few years ago a supervisor was useless and when I asked for her supervisor she told me that she didn't have one? Are you telling me that the CEO of Nicor gas called me from their customer service department? I asked if she signed the checks for people at Nicor and she hung up on me. What can we do? I did exactly what was asked in their letter with the promise that my gas would be turned back on. If I had thought for a second that they would not be here to turn on the gas I would have used that money to pay other bills or to go stay somewhere with heat for my kids. I will be filing complaints with the ICC, CUB and BBB.

After receiving a disconnect notice, I called Nicor to ask if I could pay half my total bill (current charges plus overdue amount). The rep told me that I could do this and then took my check by phone payment.

Once I got home that evening, my service had already been shut off. The only explanation I was offered when I called back was that the "rep did not see the disconnection order".

From there, the company agreed to set me up on another payment plan, but still would not reconnect my services for 6 total days - Oct 12.

I explained that I have 2 young children, already coughing and wheezing, and that I was concerned about the flue virus.

I spoke to two managers - one of whom thought that he was doing me a "favor" by allowing my service to be off for 6 days instead of two weeks.

There is no other gas company in the South Suburban area, and Nicor really takes advantage of this.

I am a single parent and I have never had anything disconnected, shut off, or repossessed.

Please help. I really need to have my service restored ASAP. I emailed someone at our Health Department and she directed me to this website.

Thanks

RE: Dis crimination against Senior Citizen

Hello I am writing this letter after feeling very disappointed angry and upset, I have never written against any company but what I going to tell will make you thing WHY WHY.
I called Nicor gas company on 08/06/09 regarding move of the service since I lived in Chicago I did not know much about Nicor company when I call I got customer service rep who refused to acknowledge the address 8461 Gross point RD Skokie, IL exist and told me to provided her with meter #. I told that my parent ages 80 to 88 will moving to this home on 08/09/09. Monday 08/10/09 say about 2:30 pm Nicor person come and shut the gas out, even though he saw box were moving in and my mother was sitting, and cooling repair person was working& I was with carpenter who was repairing my doors in drive way. He did not have a cursory to even mention or have responsibility to call the manager and notify that why we are shutting when these folk are moving in.
Today 08/11/09 I call in the morning talk to nicor rep Matt # 8433 and gave all my information, and I like put gas service on my mother name Hajira Begum who do not speak English . Matt was very help-full, took all the information and apologies and transfer the call to customer credit dept ( where all the fun begin ) the person who answer the phone Jessica # 630-388-3861 ask under whose name the service will be on I gave my mother name, she ask where did she had service befor, e I mention Chicago and gave the address, she came back and ask who she speaking with. I gave my name Syed Qasim, at this point she got very furious and told me that whose house is under the name I mention my name she came back few minutes and told me I had lied and gave false information and that she will NEVER EVER provide me gas service for my senior citizen parents. And that I misled her. I keeping asking what I misled she simply hangs up the phone.
I call Matt again and mention about Jessica & my conservation, he said his hand is tied and he say he cannot help. I call back after few hrs and try talking to Jessica, again she said I am NEVER EVER getting Nicor gas service. She than ask why she cannot speak with my Mother, I told her she cannot speak english, than she ask what language she speak. I told Hindi and if you any person who speak the language I will put her on line, she said no body, and than she said I am lier, and cheater and I will NEVER EVER GAS SERVICE FROM NICOR.
I call customer service and talk to Pam who was very help full, and coordinate between me and Jessica so what every problem we have could be solved. Jessica requested through Pam that she need my SSN #, my Closing paper work of the property, my Driver Laciness, my mother SSN #, her IL state ID, AARP card, and her Medicare card, which will shows that she is disabling person. After faxing all these I was told I have wait 7 to 10 business day to get service
Let me ask where is this lead this to k let me SHOUT LOUD DISCRIMATION AGAINST RACE AND SENOIR CITIZEN. I was told pervious owner had not paid for few months, I wanted to know why they waited till I call me and than disconnect. Even though I repeated request that I had disable senior citizen parents and minor kids ages 6, 7, & 12 I was ignored I was told “I WILL NEVERE GET GAS SERVICE “
WHY because I am not American even though I am 30 yrs in this country went school, university, had business employee 20 people but hey where is JUSTICE 7 to 10 business day so I guess, we will not take shower we will not eat and let my parents sat dirty

I NEED ANSWER WHY JESSICA IS GOD OF THE NICOR COMPANY

WHAT THIS HAD HAPPEN TO YOU WHAT YOU WILL DO
DO THE RIGHT THINGS STAND AGAINST NICOR FOR DISCRIMATION