This company took two EPAY for my monthly bill of $170.04, they charged twice. When I called they said they were not able to credit my account and that I just had to wait and they would credit from my next bill. I found this explanation frustrating. I f they can easily get my money from my check account, they can replace the authorized DUPLICATE PAYMENT FOR THE SAME AMOUNT ... DEDUCTED FROM MY ACCOUNT THE SAME DAY. i WANT FULL PAYMENT OF THE UNAUTHORIZED PAYMENT THEY TOOK FROM MY CHECK ACCOUNT. THIS EXPERIENCE HAVE LEFT ME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THEY SURELY CAN GET MONEY OUT OF MY ACCOUNT BY REFUSE AND ARE HESITANT TO IMMEDIATELY CREDIT MY ACCOUNT. PLEASE FORWARD WHAT DOCS NEED TO BE COMPLETED ... I WANT TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THIS 'UNAUTHORIZED ACCOUNT'. THEY KEEP MONEY, EARN INTEREST AND I SUFFER. THIS DUPLICATE UNAUTHORIDED PAYMENT COULD HAVE CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN OVERDRAFT WITH ALL THE 'FEES AND CHARGES' RELATED THERETO. I AM FURIOUS WITH THIS COMPANY. i HAVE BEEN AN EXCELLENT CUSTOMER, ALWAYS PAID BILL ON TIME AND THIS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT GOOD CUSTOMERS. A MONOPLY, I CANNOT UTILIZE ANOTHER COMPANY.

After canceling a transaction on theirs online bill payment WHICH WAS ALREADY PAID they charged my account twice for the payment I call them and ask them to remove the charge and they told me they could not I ask them to make a note on my account that I will return the second charge and they say ok.I received a notice of disconnect and ask a payment for the return with a fee of $30 FOR RETURN ITEM THAT I WAS CHARGE TWICE FOR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN NOT CANCEL THAT FEE.
Talk about rip off.
Luc

In April I had to quit working because of health problems, so I looked for a cheaper place to live. My son had a friend that said I could rent an aptment with everything included even electric, since he was still fixing the apt, and it really didn't have much in it, to make a long story longer, I moved in everything was going smooth, and then he took off, not a word to me he just up and left, well last fri the progress energy came and turned off all electric, he the landlord I guess had been stealing electric for the aprtments, the man that came out was very nice but explained this man(landlord)had been stealing electric for some time. I said well I would have to go and put my depoist in and 200.00 I guess I owed since 2005, that came to like 500.00 Some dollars and that I have. I only live on a pension and don't have all that much money saved. The progress energy worker told me when he got back to the office he would call, me and give me a total on what I needed to put electric on... When he called me back I wanted to fall over, they want 1700.00 To have it turned back on, because of electric used and a fee for tampering with electric boxes. Why do I have to pay that I was unaware of it being stolen and thought the electric was being taken care of as he said. Now I am sitting here in the heat no electric no a/c and about ready to pass out from lack of sleep because it is like a oven. I feel I am being punished because of some idiot trying to make fast money then take off, I am suffering and willing to pay the 500.00 Something to put the electric back on, and even willing to pay the 1700.00 If I have to, but need time to pay that amount by paying more each month till I can get his wrong duings paid for. All I want is to be able to breathe and able to live thru the summer before something happens to me. You are my last hope I have tried talking to the people at progress energy but they still want all the money up front. Please can you direct me to what to do in order to get my electric back on I feel like a human turkey slowly baking in the oven.

Although I had maintained my account for my rental house in Maggie Valley with Progress Energy for a few years with an automatic payment from my bank account, my tenant changed the service to her name. My attempts to rectify the situation had little effect in spite of a telephone call to Progress and also to the Public Utilities Commission (Nick, March 10th, 866-380-9816). I had to apply for a new account and suffer the associated paperwork/expenses.

According to a Progress employee, the practice of changing accounts to harass ex-wives, ex-sweethearts, or nasty neighbors is both easy and common.

Normally, I do not take the time to complain or share my experiences with companies. In the past, I have felt like all companies have good and bad employees and have understood and accepted the underlying company policy. Progress Energy is different, so I am taking the time to share my experience because I know there are more consumers out there like me whose electricity is about to be disconnected.

I have been a customer of Progress Energy for many years. I have never made a late payment or called to make payment arrangements before today. I recently was forced to close a retail business because of an industry slump so I am in between jobs for the moment. I have already secured a new position, however I do not start work for a couple of weeks.

I called Progress Energy to make a payment arrangement and was denied. The denial, I was told, was based on my deposit, account history, and bill due date. Here are the facts:

The deposit on my account is more than the payment due.
I have never had a late payment after many years as a customer. My bill due date was a less than a week ago.

So of course, with that information in mind, I asked to speak to a Supervisor who could review my account and make a concession.I was transferred to another 'customer service rep' (and I use that term loosely) that said nothing could be done, I was denied a payment arrangement. I again asked to speak to someone who had the authority to review my account and change that decision. Again she told me there was no one else, then told me she would have someone else call me back. I have not heard back yet.

I did a quick search online and this is what I found:

Rates drastically increased in FL and NC in the beginning of 2009. People have been calling to complain that their 'meters are broken.' That is what I thought. I have come to realize the meter is not broken. New rates are that high.

I have found complaints similar to mine where people with otherwise good account standing were denied payment arrangements and were told to 'conserve energy' and asked to make appointments to check the energy efficiency of their homes. Progress Energy has the highest disconnect/reconnection ratio for a power company ever.

My thoughts are as follow:

Progress Energy knows there is a nation wide financial crisis and they are using it to their advantage to generate additional income off people's suffering. If they refuse a customer a payment arrangement, then they can disconnect the electricity and charge additional fees for late payments and reconnection.

If someone does not agree ask yourself this: why the ridiculous rate hikes at a time when its customers can least handle it? Why not make payment arrangements to guarantee uninterrupted power and payment for Progress Energy?

In my personal situation, my electric bill increased by $100. I am a single mom who works outside of the home. I rarely run the air or heat. I have double paned windows and the home is properly sealed and insulated. All of the appliances are energy efficient and the light bulbs are as well.

I am going to type up my experience with the customer service department at Progress Energy and send a written account to Corporate Headquarters, Public Services Commission, local media, and blogs.

I urge other folks that have similar experiences to do the same. I have never taken the time to speak out against anything before but I feel this company needs to feel public pressure to stop its anti-consumer tactics.