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Duke Energy review: additional deposits 16

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2:18 pm EST
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My husband and I have been customers with Progress Energy since March 2009. We paid a $380 deposit to have electricity in our name at the home we're renting. We moved here from another state and therefore their reason for charging this deposit fee. We paid our bills each month on time via their website. In August, we both we're let go from the company we moved here to work for. We got behind on our bills (of course) and set up a payment arrangement with Progress Energy. The bill was for $475.00. The payment arrangement was to pay $275.00 on Monday and then on Thursday of that week, we would pay the remainder. The $275.00 was paid as promised on that Monday. On WEDNESDAY, I was sitting at home and the electricity went off. I waiting for several minutes to see if it were a power surge and nothing happened. I called Progress Energy and picked the "report power outage" option. Once connected to a live agent, I was informed that I was disconnected for not paying my bill. I informed this person that payment arrangements were made and that the first payment of $275.00 was paid on Monday. He did see the payment of $275.00, but saw no payment arrangements. He did see where I had spoken with someone, but no notes. I asked to speak with a supervisor who was extremely rude and told me that this wouldn't have happened if I had paid my bills on time. She suggested I go an pawn something to get my electricity turned back on. That is exactly what we had to do. We had to pawn our T.V. set to come up with the other $200.00. To add insult to injury - - - we received a letter from Progress Energy yesterday stating that since we didn't pay our bills in a timely fashion, they are charging us another $105.00 DEPOSIT! Can someone please explain to me how this company is able to practice business like this? It's the MAFIA!

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Tia81
Clearwater, US
Nov 30, 2009 8:45 am EST

I moved here from Ohio last year, they charged me $270 deposit, and I was renting a 1 bedroom apartment approx 850 sq ft, and my monthly bill was always above $150. How is that possible?
They shut off my power on my birthday and once I couldn't pay on a Sunday because I always carry cash, monday morning at 8 am the guy came out to shut off my power, as I was on the phone with them saying I am on the way to pay my bill, they shut it off anyways, had to wait 8 hours to get my power back on, the food in the fridge got completely ruined, and I am a mother of a small child, making very little money, and they just didn't care, and in addition they charged my $40 reconnection fee. (FOR SWITCHING A F**G BUTTON?)

Wonder why they are the only one in the area, why can't the other company in Tampa extend their services here?

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satof
US
Jan 19, 2010 5:33 pm EST

Progress energy tacked on a 350.00 deposit to my bill stating that I could not be late or have power shut off within a year. Is this legal? Where are the action groups in this state? I have to scrape to pay the bill now.. and I use a minimal amount of electricity. How do they expect another 350.00. This is insane!

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Rugerman
US
Jan 21, 2010 1:34 pm EST

Same thing is happening to me. I had my account since 2004. We are going through financial difficulties and paid late a few times, now they added some $250 for a deposit, just when we are struggling to pay all of our bills. It’s incredible.

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Suzanne Weber
Winter Park, US
Feb 02, 2010 9:04 pm EST

Last month my power bill was $230. This month my power bill was $850. Credit Card companies alert you if something is wrong, so does the water company. I'm sure my next months bill will be a lot lower. I'm happy to pay the whole bill, all I want is for the bill to be extended over atleast three months. However, I have spoken to multiple employees of Progress Energy who have all informed me that is not possible! This is ###!

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dashingsolo
Fern Park, US
Mar 25, 2010 4:19 pm EDT

I went through a similiar experience. I was living in a house with a mother in law suite outback seperate from the house. I paid deposits on both meters totaling OVER $650. . I lost my job and was not even told that they were going to charge me another $650. They simply added it to the new bill without explanation. All I saw was a huge increase in the bill. I told Progress Energy "enough is enough" I am moving, itemize BOTH bills for BOTH meters. They inturn charged me two turn offs and a turn on Total $120., raided my security deposits and are now holding me hostage with over $600 in charges, What can we do as consumers? I sent an official complaint through the state and was contacted by Progress Energy that all was fair and legal from a well versed and tenured employee. This does not help consumers or the state of Florida.

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Notreallyhappy
Crystal River, US
Apr 12, 2010 6:26 pm EDT

Numerous times my bill has been out ragiously high! Three months in a row its between 150-200 and then it randomly jumps up to 250 even when Im home even less and turning the lights off. I think they need to change their prices according to the ecomony... thats 1/3 of my rent and Im not even home half the time!

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BillyThe
Loveland, US
Apr 12, 2010 7:01 pm EDT

"Outrageously" is one word, not two. ###.

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Concerned Pastor
Altamonte, US
May 15, 2010 5:57 pm EDT

We have been faced with same problum. We have beenwith progress energy for 20years. We had a oversite and we had the power disconnected at our home for non payment. We called and right away had it restored. The next week we got a letter that they wanted additional 762.00 deposit. We were SHOCKED! We said there is no way we could afford this. We paid the next bill but we did not have the deposit. They shut off our power for not having the deposit. They would not restore it until we paid it. We are pastors of a local church and we do all we can to make it and help the other families in our church. We all are striving to get thru this tough time and now progress energy wants to make it even harder. They know that they can because there is no where else to go. We have no choice but to pay them. We had to borrow money since we have not only our family, but other church memebers living with us. Then we get a notice at the church as well. That they are adding a another 636.00 deposit to our church account. This is crazy! We can not allow this to continue. What are we gonna tell our people when they come in and there is no power here. I am so upset that there is nobody that can help us. Nothing we can do about this robbery. We entered into a agreement with the first desposit when we started service, but this we did agree too and we have been manipulated into having to pay it. Please somebody help stop this.

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M. Parker
Largo, US
Jul 30, 2010 6:50 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My mother has had an account with them since 1972. I was living with her as her care giver for last 2 years as her health deteriorated. She passed away this past April, and left me her home where I continue to live. Once Progress Energy discovered she passed, they said I had 2 weeks to transfer the account to my name. Once I called them to do so, they stated that I had to pay a security deposit of $385.00 up front in addition to my mothers bill of $299.00 or they will cut service (in the middle of the hottest July in recorded history), $684.00 I had to pay within 2 days. I informed them that I just buried my mother, and that I had no such funding as I work only part-time at $8.00 per hour and that there's no way I can come up with almost $700.00 in 2 days when I am already struggling just to eat. I asked could they please break the security deposit down into payments over several months. The account rep was EXTREMELY rude and stated " if 1 out of 5 customers had that same excuse, we couldn't stay in business". Their first quarter earnings for 2010 was 213 million dollars BTW, yeah they are really struggling. Well, they did cut my power, and now I sit in a house with no power for the past 2 weeks (I am at a friends house on his PC for those who are curious) and to top off this crap, I was let go from my crappy-[censor] job as it was a temp position anyway and they currently don't have enough business to keep my position. So, I am doomed. Thanks alot PE, you a the epitome of a greed driven monopoly.

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MaggieMae8847
Dedham, US
Aug 30, 2010 1:48 pm EDT

I am fighting with Progress Energy right now about outrageously high bills. The KWH useage quadrupled in my house, which is unoccupied at the moment. All appliances are unplugged, the hot water is shut off, and the A/C is set at 82, which is has been for two years. In the winter, my heat is set at 55. I know what there was an exceptionally cold winter and that the summer has been very hot, but for my bill to quadruple doesn't seem right. Progress Energy will not come out and check my meter unless I pay to have someone come and check the A/C, duct work, and filter, which I had done and paid for in April!

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jesidus
Orlando, US
Dec 18, 2010 2:37 am EST

i moved to my new home on 01/2009 i was a customer of ouc another company for a good 9 years but they do not provide service in my new home .i call progress energy to find out that i needed to pay a 550 deposit to get my service .they stated that my credit required a deposit, which i knew was wrong but i paid the deposit .i called on february 2010 to find out when my 550 deposit will be refunded the agent who took the call told me by december 2010 . i asked her twice are you sure she said yes we hold the deposit for 23 months and the only way to not refund your deposit will be paying with bad check or suspension of your service.i proceed to call today 12/17/2010 to find out about it, the agent who took the call made fun of me told me that i will get my deposit after 24 months and that 12+12=24 as he recall of course i asked for a supervisor explain everything to him he apologized and explain to me that i will get my deposit on july 2011 because in 2 occasions i paid my bill 3 days after the due date .

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Nikki8282
New Port Richey, US
Mar 21, 2011 2:00 am EDT

Progress Energy has outrageous prices on there electric bills.. The first month I had about 100.00 light bill not I have about a 500.00 light bill.. wished they would stop being so greedy and lower the prices not higher them to get more money out of us.. PROGRESS ENERGY SUCKS.. I would not recomend anybody to this company

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Amparo Lago
Trinity, US
May 31, 2012 2:10 pm EDT

I have called Progress Energy 3 times requesting $426.00 refund they had had for two years to no avail. If you call their number there is nothing about been a good customer is all about how you Mr. customer is going to pay for my services. Well, I have paid my bill on time for 23 months. The 24th month posted one day late because it was paid on line on the due date. I want my money and I want it now. Can you help?

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Kym1420
Winter Garden, US
Oct 16, 2012 2:46 pm EDT

To move in I have to pay 550.00 Deposit REGARDLESS OF CREDIT. They refuse to even run credit for the house to lower it!

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Jennysure
Largo, US
Nov 06, 2012 10:29 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Progress get out of Florida
This company is the worst the worst I mean the worst.They charging through the nose.They charge the highest they can on everything.I live in small one bedroom apartment and have been paying 170 a month on budget billing now I get got a bill for over a 1, 000 they are claiming that I unpayed on my bill this year.Where is person on fixed income suppose to get a 1, 000 dollars from I don't even make that much in a mouth. they are impossible and down right awful .Progress get out of state everyone hates you and your crazy prices

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Mikono14
Tarpon Springs, US
Apr 13, 2013 11:21 am EDT

Same story as the rest I have had progress energy since 2009 I put a 210 dollar deposit when I moved in, we'll I always have to pay late I am struggling to get by and it's that simple well on Friday my work have everyone a letter with our paychecks saying they are cutting our pay by 6% nice right and the same day I get a letter from progress energy that they want a 135 dollar deposit on top of the original 210 dollar deposit I am the only one working and I live in a tiny apartment this is criminal to let these big corporations walk all over us from my work to progress energy they should all be locked up this is insane please someone help!

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