CenterPoint Energy
reviews and complaints

I live at 650 Southwood Drive Opelousas LA. I paid my bill, in full, and paid an extra fee of approximately $45 to have my service turned back on SAME DAY. Today, I got another bill for $125 which I paid online using my debit card. Despite this Billmatrix claiming to post my payment immediately NEITHER PAYMENT HAS BEEN POSTED ALTHOUGH MY MONEY HAS BEEN TAKEN. Now I am told that Centerpoint won't turn on my service until October 3rd. This is horrible service. I never got a bill before my service was cut off and when I pay it, in full, plus and an extra charge to reconnect PLUS another fee to reconnect on the same day, Billmatrix/Centerpoint took all of my cash and failed to post any payments despite having taken my money.

In October of 2021, i purchased a new build from the builder - at the time oc closing I was given a Center Point Energy bill to pay - I made the payment using the account number on the bill - I called Centerpoint to let them know that I was the owner and transferred the account to me. I set the payments up in my US Bank bill pay - I made monthly payments 11/2; 12/7; 2/1 and 2/15. In March I got a disconnection notice and immediately called both CenterPoint and US Bank - Centerpoint informed me that when the service was transferred to me the account number was also changed - I had no idea that the account number was not tied to the property address. Since March 11 - I have been working with Centerpoint to correct these misapplied payments - they have no customer follow through - it is up to the customer to call back every 10 days to check on the status - each time I'm told that they didn't get the information - even though I have confirmation that the fax has gone through - or they want some other piece of information - they don't call and tell you or ask for it or send a letter - they close the case!

Center point energy has a monopoly on the natural gas service and NO care for the consumer! The principal of the facts are there is no customer service here at Centerpoint and we have no choice but to comply with there shoddy service! Interesting that today on my 10th call even a lead said "if you fax in ...I hope the remittance department can get this fixed for you"...That's very sad when employees are that optimistic with the service!

Accident date 7/26/2022 @11:50 am. 18-wheeler knocked down power pole and some lines. Centerpoint removed some of the pole from the street and pushed some of remaining pole into the ditch in front of my property DeSoto St and DeSoto St. The poles still remain in ditch. I have called customer service and they do not seem to know how to handle this situation. Also, the old pole had a streetlight. The new pole does not have a streetlight. I have reported this to Adrianna Esparza, and we still do not have a streetlight. I just need this resolved. As of September 1, 2022, still not resolved

I have been calling so many times asking to get my gas back on

They kept telling they haven’t received the permit from the city

So I have called the city and they said they already send it .I have babies in my house and I need to get the gas back on

Why center point is not doing anything to fix the problem this is so ridiculous this should be immediately taking care of it

Please elevate this complaint to the highest level of customer support. Thanks.

Dear Customer Service Manager,

I have been a CenterPoint customer for more than 15 years, and have paid each statement on time. Now I am being treated by CenterPoint like if I was the worst customer CenterPoint has.

I had to change many auto payments accounts to opening a new checking account, and the only one with problems is CenterPoint’s.

First call: On early this month I called CenterPoint to help me change bank account information for auto payment option due to closing the account I had used for 15 years. They walked me through step by step and concluded the call thinking it was ok.

Second Call: I checked the account a few days after the change and CenterPoint did not take the payment from my bank. Called CenterPoint again and went through the same step by step double checking and making sure all information is accurate.

Third call: A few days later CenterPoint failed to take the payment from my account for the second time, and blocked me form using my checking account for payments. So I called CenterPoint again to complain and went through the same step by step double checking and making sure all information is accurate, but could not pay because they had blocked me, “for numerous failed attempts to take payment”.

Each time CenterPoint failed to take a payment from my bank account CenterPoint assessed a fee of $20. After complaining they credited only one of the two, because their “internal policy” states that they would only grant such credits one occurrence per year. I understand this policy if I am responsible for none payment. This case is different.

This is a single problem/occurrence that has generated multiple fees, even after double and triple checking all data was correct and begging to be registered in auto payment. Yet, CenterPoint blames me, the customer, as if there is no error on the part of CenterPoint.

Today I checked my account CenterPoint appears to have neglected to set, or let me set up auto payments ignoring my multiple requests! Why? This is outrageous! And they have now frozen my checking account and require extra fees to use a credit card. This all of their making.

Let’s make believe that there was an error or typo on the first attempt, what are the chances that after 4 more calls double and triple checking that there will be a second error or typo? I can guaranty you: none. One fee is enough for anyone to make sure all data checked and accurate. Like I said before, I went through this exercise with another 8 or ten accounts without a glitch.

I have been CenterPoint’s customer for more than 15 years, and have paid on time each statement.

My first bill CenterPoint failed to take payment in June was $37.53, and fee was $20.

My second bill in July was $31.80, and fee was $20. I paid both manually on July 25th and continue to complain about the wrongly applied $20 NSF fee.

On 7-31-22 I got an email (attached) stating that sated that I owed $20 (that I was complaining about, and should have been put on hold), but “If you are set up for automatic payments, your payment has been sent or is already scheduled, no further action is needed.” Based on this email I did not take any actions.

On 8-5-2022, again the auto payment failed even though

A) I had registered in auto payment, and

B) Bank information is correct due to having successfully paid two months manually.

On 8-7-22 I got another email stating that “Your payment of $20.00 was due on 08/05/2022 for account [protected]. If your payment has been sent or scheduled, thank you.”

The current statement now shows a third $20 fee generated for “late payment”, of an NSF fee charged in error? Which I am still contesting.

My request for resolution is that:

1) CenterPoint fix the auto payment issue, FIFTH REQUEST.

2) Credit all wrongly charged fees and

3) Reinstate the courtesy once a year fee credit, since clearly at this point the only issue has been CenterPoint’s auto payment system is not working.

I will pay the past due amount of $20 in protest, just to avoid further generation of wrongly applied charges to my account.

I hope that a fair and just resolution is reached, per my request above.

Regards,

Esteban Piva

[protected]

Account Number:

[protected] - 9

I filed a claim for restoration on my back yard on 8/10/22, one week after workers for the company repaired a gas leak in my yard. I have been referred from claims to restoration and back to claims. Today, 8/22/22, I made my fourth call and left a message for a call back. I have never been contacted by anyone from CPE to come to my home to look at the damage. There is still a large hole next to the manhole in my yard. The areas from my gate, where the equipment was driven, to my back fence, is muddy, flooding when raining, and uneven to walk on throughout the yard. I have a 13 year old dog that has to go outside in the middle of the night and it is unsafe for me to be there in the dark.

When can I expect this to be resolved? Can I be reimbursed by CPE if I have a landscape company repair the damage?

Claim # 275 485 93

I have pictures on my cell phone. If you would give me a number, I will forward them to you.

So just sent your private company you think you can get away with murder well that was my brother and it's not happening I am getting every media Source I can involved and every person I know and I know a lot of people personally know people from Duke Energy and I personally know senators and congressman this will not stand and my family has a great loss that you all can't even hold up for that you know was your fault

On April 7th I had a seasonal visit scheduled for May 25th at 2-8pm. On may 25th by email at 8:30am I was informed it was rescheduled for June 22. I called them at 10:40am on 5/25 and they said it was weather related. The fact that they couldn't get me in sooner was appalling but what was I to do. They rescheduled for June 22nd. On June 22 no one showed, I called at 3:11pm (the call lasted 12 min 53 seconds) and 5:06pm (call lasting 5 min and 40 seconds) both times they said management would call me back. I am still waiting on that call. Then on July 6 at 9:56am I was told it was rescheduled THAT day,7/6 from 2-8:01pm. He showed up.

On July 7 I had a drier inspection visit scheduled for 8-12p on July 29, on that day at 4:12 pm (I have the email stating that time clearly beyond my appointment time) they informed me by email it was rescheduled and was then told that day by email at 5:08pm it is now for august 1st for 8am-4:02pm.

I am a medical professional, making it home for these large times are hard but I do it and ask others to change their lives to allow me to make those timings. When no one shows up MULTIPLE times and no manager calls me back after being told they would twice... WHAT is going on?

my lights went out due to a transformer blowing 24 july at 5 pm i called from 6 until midnight and got no service turned on my son and i began to look for a hotel finally a crew came from greenspoint area said that could not fix it and left at 1 30 am 2 trucks arrived WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ENTIRE SCREW UP THE WORST AND MOST IMCOMPENT SITUATION i hear erick sweeney is manager over MY area

I have paid for Home Service Plus for over 20 years. I went online to set up my account to make an appointment to have my dryer looked at as it was not heating up. Website gave error messages that were wrong, but I finally got my account online and set up an appointment (this was on a Monday and the earliest opening they had was on that Friday). I booked the next available appointment, but on the day of the appointment, crickets. I went online to check my account, but there was a message that my home service plus part of my account said "access pending" and I could not find anything about my appointment being booked earlier in the week. Called and found out my appointment was CHANGED to Tuesday of the following week! NO COMMUNICATION to me regarding the change and I will be out of town so I cannot keep that appointment. CANCEL YOUR SERVICE PLUS! It's better to just go with someone with a local company. For as much as I've used my service plus compared to what I've paid in, I'd rather go with someone local and RELIABLE.

I wish to file a complaint against one of your employees. On July 14th between the hrs. of 4pm to 7pm a CenterPoint employee arrived to deal with the gas leak where AT&T had cut the underground line in my back yard. He chose to make very inappropriate comments to my wife. His first comment was "hey you ready for me yet" with a look that made her unease. His next comment was to say " i can come in your house and check things out" with the same look. At this point my wife said could just please do your job and stop the gas leak. She asked for his Name or ID. he refused telling her she doesn't need that. All she was able to get was his truck # 2110. I arrived at 7pm to find that no one opened the house to vent the gas smell or give her any advice. Although he did tell her to take our dog that was on a leash and put her in the garage that would have been saturated with gas do to the water heater in the corner. In a situation that is already very stressful to have to put up with borderline Sexual Harassment undermines the quality your company is trying to portray.

Yesterday work was being done by Center Point at a house across the street from my house and the workers used my front yard as a parking lot and used a bobcat on my property and now I have big ruts in my yard and I would like to have this fixed. There was no reason for them to be on my property in the first place.

If these ruts are not eliminated it will present problems when I need to cut the grass.

I don't understand why because my complaint isn't long enough to get it resolved! If nothing is done I may have to seek legal advice as to how to proceed further.

July 5-11, 2022

I have been trying to get my gas line repaired. Dig co dug it up and broke main service line. No gas to meter. Several attempts to re-connect. Customer Service all lies and stories . No-one at Customer Service can schedule anything or knows what is goin on. Example your records states technician came by on 7/6/22 at same time 3 calls recorded that day about service. Why do I need a meterman if no gas. Dig co cut line then buried it and did not say anything (SECRET) How do you run a company when nobody knows what the other side is doing? At least 60 calls to CenterPoint check records. Now new charges and different type re-connection.

Requesting a call from a supervisor. I would like to submit a complaint on how we have been treated as customers. We opened our case on 13 Jan 2021 to have a gas line dropped and connect to natural gas and to date we have NOT been connected to natural gas.

The miscommunication is horrible. Im unsure if it's the customers service representatives with lack of knowledge or just out right lies. I have spoken to 5 different reps receiving different information each time.

Again, I state we started on 13 Jan 2021 and as of today we still do not have a metor. Please have someone call so we can resolve this unsatisfactory matter.

We were told Centerpoint would handle everything. Now after 18 months and several calls that I had to make we are being told that the customer has to contact city hall request and pay for the inspection and permits and then CALL Centerpoint BACK so then your company will bring out the metor.

It has taken over 18 months for someone to tell us this and that is after I requested to speak with someone else other than a representative. Im not sure if this is the correct thing because we have received so many different answers/information.

The miscommunication and time that this taken is unsatisfactory. Respectfully request that we receive a call from someone with the correct knowledge of how this works and answers for us on how and why this happened

I placed a call on 7/08/2022 at approximately 9:20 a.m. to the Houston location [protected]. The call was answered by a representative named Lorenzo. I tried to explain my need for placing the call (a returned check fee) and that I have never been late or had this issue occur. I explained that I had called last week and was told by the representative that a fee would be waived as a courtesy, but the fee is still appearing on my account, he interrupted me and said, "we don't have late fees". He was rude, abrupt, and short answered. I was never asked for my name, address, account number or any verifiable information. He seemed bothered and irritated to seek any resolve. I asked for his name and decided to make a formal complaint as no one should be treated in this manner. I am a customer of many years and I have never been approached by such unprofessionalism and lack of adequate customer service skills.

I am writing this, so you are cognizant of the issue, and this is not an ongoing issue for customers to come.

Thank you,

Flor Graves

We had a new AC installed by a company associated with Centerpoint Energy. The workers did not mention that we had to schedule an appointment to test the new AC. We weren't aware of this until we received a letter dated June 8. We scheduled an appointment in mid June for July 1. No one showed up today July 1 to help us with this non working AC. We were notified that our appointment was rescheduled when we called them at 3pm. They rescheduled for a week later July 7. They never notified us of this rescheduled appointment. They also expect people to wait between 10am-6pm for the appointment. They expect people to wait ALLDAY. Zero customer service. Truly an atrocious experience with this company.

Had Home service plan with Central Point energy about over 3 years,

Always take advantage of customer, Never show up on the schedule appointments. Make impossible to wait time frame 8:00AM - 12:00AM waiting time. Example spring maintenance visit, only Able to schedule November and do not even show up.

I finally cancel the service because I cannot take it anymore. Still try to charge me even the representative told me "I understand your frustration" "we give you 2 months refund". I receive the bill and still charging when I ask why, was told you cancel the plan so the credit cancelled to. When I'm asking for the Supervisor put me on over the hour wait than told me nobody available, will call me in 3 years I have this approx. 15 times and nobody called me back when I called and ask the explanation why do not receive the call - cannot find any records for the requests. Also when I ask for operator name or ID refusing to give out.

It is very frustrating and disappointing, unfortunately no other provider available to switch or gas energy so Central point take advantage on customers.

I need refunds for all miss services and every single month charges for Home plus service.

Miklos Toth

6327 36Th Avenue N, Crystal, MN 55427

Phone: [protected]

Email: [protected]@gmail.com

I called Spark energy on 6-13-22 to have my electric turned off on 6-21-22. I sold and moved! I am not paying for someone else electric! I have called Spark and they say you at centerpoint canceled my order to disconnect... I am getting the run around. Spark says call you.. You say call spark! I dont care who did what but I need that turned off! And I am not paying past 6-21-22! As I speak to centerpoint, they tell me that new owners had order to turn on electric on 6-21 and for some reason, you chose not to turn into theyre name and just leave it in my name and keep charging me! Without even contacting me to let me know!

I paid my bill 9 days ago and they sent someone to put a lock on my gas line today even though I had a ZERO DOLLAR BALANCE! Ran outside to ask what he was doing and he sped off in his car. Called customer service and they say they don't see that my gas is marked for shutoff nor is it shut off and I have no balance due. Even though he was JUST HERE 2 minutes ago customer service says they went "above and beyond to get someone here within 8 hours because there was no appointments available to send someone back." Above and beyond? That's YOUR mistake and now I have no way to use my gas appliances all day ASSUMING they'll be here in 8 hours? No way to escalate provided because they said are just customer service and we can't communicate with dispatch or anyone else to complain. Let's hope they actually show up!

On Friday 6/17/22 Center point drove a machine in my yard to dig a hole. They wiped out all of my grass . I have been planting grass seeds, new soil and mulch to my yard. Been watering it for weeks everyday and it was growing. Center point took all my hard work away by destroying my yard. There is nothing but dirt now. This is so upsetting to me. They also broke my decorative strand of lights and took them off of my tree and left them on the ground of my porch.