Southwest Gas Corp — Service Transfer Refusal
I am a handicapped senior citizen.
Due to the economic and unemployment situation in this country, I have been unemployed for 15 of the last 26 months and subsequently I have been forced to go on Social Security, and have lost my home as I can no longer afford the mortgage on my low, fixed income, the total of which is less than my mortgage payment alone.
I have had to find a rental home and in so doing I am trying to get my utility services transferred. Southwest Gas, with whom I have had open accounts since they first came to Tucson in the 70s, is refusing to transfer my service unless I travel 40 miles to their offices, to show some desk jockey my "identification". I assume they are afraid some 'fraudulent person' will be paying my monthly bills instead of me. This despite the fact I have an open account with them currently at my former home, and have had for many years.
I refuse to bend to this absurd requirement, incurring not only a loss of several hours of my waning lifespan, but the cost of fuel for this trip at almost $3.00 per gallon, neither of which SWG has offered to credit to my bills.
It is already unfortunate that these utility companies have the monopoly on services that allow them to treat their customers, whether new or like myself, 30+ year customers, like second-class citizens. What my Social Security number, my Driver's License or my Passport have to do with residential gas service escapes me. Perhaps as we grow more and more toward the totalitarian govt, run by the corporations, each company will issue its own "ID" badge, so we can prove that we are entitle to be blessed with the honor of paying their exorbitant fees for basic human services. "May I see your 'papers' please!"
With complaints rolling in from the management company and the rental homeowner, about the utilities still being in the latter's name, I am being told the SWG is telling these people that "your Social Security number does not match what they have on file". What my social security number (which is NOT supposed to be given to anyone but employers or lending institutions) has to do with my current service account is beyond me, let alone why this or any other private information about me is being shared with these callers! They must have high-ranking 'SWG ID Badges' that entitles them to private and privileged information about other customers.
In trying to resolve this issue over the phone with SWG, I get a recorded message stating, "you will NOT be able to speak to a representative. Please use our online services at www.swgas.com."
Below is the latest email communication after filling out their online request for transfer of service.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Not only have I replied to this absurd request multiple times, but I have also sent you a picture of my drivers license. The fact that SWG is sharing information about me with a realtor and/or the owner of my current residence, is a violation of my privacy and is not acceptable .
I am a current customer, Acct Number [protected].
I did not, nor do not need "identification" for this account, so just switch addresses. I have requested a shutoff at the previous address and a transfer of service.
I am the same person who has had accounts with SWG or TG&E since 1975! The person you bill every month, without having to show ID for the honor of paying you!
I see no reason why I should have to drive 40 miles on my time and gas money, just to prove to you who I am, so you can continue to take my money. This is absurd!
Have your man came to my door when he reads the meter and I will show him my identification!!
I am a handicapped, senior citizen. If you are refusing to turn on my gas service, I will contact the Corporation Commission, AARP, PCOA and the local media, to let them know that
a current SWG customer with accounts dating back 35 years, to when SWG first bought out TG&E, is being refused service becuse I won't drive 40 miles just to show some desk jockey my driver's license! Should make a good story on the 6PM news!
I will not pay any further invoices (including the latest $101.30), until this account is transferred, as has been requested multiple times since March 1, 2010. Any charges at the service address, after the requested shutoff date of 3/22, will be disputed. If you do not shut it off, I will do so myself and lock the meter.
When and if you decide to turn on my service, I wish to apply for the low income residential discount!
Thank you for your continued lack of cooperation in this regard.
J. Douglas Noyce, Sr.
----- Original Message -----
From: SWGAS-SAZ SWGAS-SAZ
To: doug.[protected]@runbox.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:23 PM
Subject: Re: Doug Noyce [protected].
Dear Doug Noyce,
Re: [protected] <- (I have no idea what this is, as it is NOT my account number)
Thank you for visiting the Southwest Gas Corporation web site to request service at 10 W. Forrest Feezor St.
In order for us to provide you with natural gas service, we ask that you bring acceptable identification to your local Southwest Gas office before your service request can be completed.
Acceptable Identification:*Social Security number *Driver's License *State I.D. Card *Military I.D. * Passport *.
You can find your nearest office location on our website, www.swgas.com, by clicking on 'Contact Us', and follow the links for your service area.
Sincerely,
Customer Assistance
Southwest Gas Corporation
471-2
>>> <doug.[protected]@runbox.com> 3/22/2010 10:18 AM >>>
Customer Contact Form Information
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:
First Name: Doug
Last Name: Noyce
Address: 10 W. Forrest Feezor St
City: Vail
State: AZ
Zipcode: 85641
Phone: [protected]
Email: doug.[protected]@runbox.com
Account: [protected].
SSN: 4745
Subject: Customer Service
Division: Southern Arizona
Comments:
I have been trying to get gas service turned on in my name for 2 weeks without success. My realtor tells me that SWG says my SSN does not match my name. SWG has no problem billing me every month for my current service without my SSN. Why are you talking to my realtor, but not to me? I cannot get through to SWG by phone so I need someone to call me ASAP! [protected]. Thank you
J. Douglas Noyce
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I have had a very similar experience with Southwest Gas. They are crooks.
southwest gas is crooks same problem here and i am ready to start a community lawsuit against them and demand the monopoly be terminated
Unbelievably horrible customer service. I have been paying the gas bill on my parents home, left in family trust to my sister and I for 1 year. I have been in and out of the hospital since Dec 2nd. Due to a problem with a family member raiding the trust account - that I have been putting money into to auto bill pay this account - I had to close the bank account and open up a new one. I have been shut off - not for nonpayment but because of SW G's terrible customer relations and outdated requirements in their horrible billing process (all the other utility company's just changed the account name or said not to worry - just pay the bill. No problem.) I had a serious head injury on Jan 1st and have been trying to resolve this with a very rattled brain. I am ill, I have no heat or hot water, Yesterday after trying to deal with the rudest most poorly trained customer service rep, I asked to speak with a supervisor - she REFUSED to let me and REFUSED to give me her name. My caregiver stepped in to help and finally got a supervisor who said they would get service reconnected that day, yesterday. I have been up since 5 AM in cold house, in terrible pain and still struggling with the head injury and I am appalled at the lack of compassion this company has shown. I STILL HAVE NO GAS! I have received nothing in writing and can not believe this company is allowed to treat their customers as they do. All this frustration because I am trying to do the right thing. I called them told them that I would no longer be using the same account numbers for bill pay, have sold the house will be moving March 1st and would they please tell me how much I owe, change out of auto-bill pay and bill direct. If I didn't have the head injury and family members who thought since I was in the hospital they could raid the account I realize this situation would be different. But this is life - my life and SWG has added more stress at a time when my stress level is already adding to my medical problems. Is there anyone in that company who cares? The control issues this company has leave them unable to properly handle billing issues. This should not be the customers problem. Any time a staff is as non cooperative and poorly trained the problem lies with the top management and the atmosphere they are creating. Trust no one, create impossible billing "rules", show no compassion, be so afraid that you won't give your name to the customer, give no credit for customer loyalty and let ill people freeze! I'm sure it is a horrible place to work. I have worked in call centers, I know what I am talking about. This is a major problem. When I move I will make sure it is all electrict as that utility company made this process so easy! I am sorry for all of us who are ill, elderly, disabled and trying to deal with a very disfunctional firm.
HA - Having problems meeting my bills I was consistently late paying my gas bill in the winter when the furnace was running but I always paid. I received a letter indicating that I needed to pay a $300.00 deposit to continue service even though they always got their money. I called and of course was met with the typical customer service, mentioned in other posts, and was informed that there was nothing that could be done. So at that moment on the phone I told the guy that I'd like to to discontinue my service as of that moment which left the customer service rep. speechless. He questioned my decision and pointed asked if I was aware of whatt appliances in my house required gas. I informed him that I refused to do business with a company that treated their customers in such a way. Again he questioned my decision at which point I informed him that if the gas service to my house was not turned off the following day that I would be contacting the attorney generals office and then I asked for his first and last name. This was followed by silence and then a quick transfer to a supervisor what was ready to make a deal on the deposit and allow $50.00 payments over 6 months, which would have kept me as a customer if we could have started there in the first place. I refused and asked for my service to be shut off which the supervisor began scheduling. The supervisor asked how I was going to heat my house and water which I explained that I was going to replace the current appliances with electric. He questioned the reasoning due to the initial cost to which I replied, "at least I won't being doing business with your company. My gas was shut off the following day. The following week I called southwest gas and asked which part of the gas line I was responsible for if a leak were to occur the customer service rep indicating all lines from the meter to the house were my responsibility and the other side of the meter was theirs. I then instructed the customer service rep. that I was not a customer and required that they remove their equipment from my property or they would need to sign a lease for storage. Yep, off to the supervisor again, I explained that the gas meter sat at the back of my house and was in the way of a remodel I was planning and they needed to move it to the easement or remove it all together. A few days later a crew showed up had to dig a hole out next to the street to shut off the gas and cap it and they removed the meter. By the way, my electric bill is less than whatt I used to pay for gas and electric combined and have easily recovered the cost of the hot-water heater and currently recovering the cost of the heat pump I installed. HA!
Just want to add to the list of complaints. My gas service was shut off recently, I do not recall getting a shut off notice as mentioned by customer "service" reps. As I was sitting home applying for jobs on the internet, a Southwest Gas technician shut off my gas service & attached a locking device on my meter. I understand that service techs need to do their "jobs" but a phone call or a knock at the door would have been appreciated, to let me know of their intentions. Instead of sneaking around and attaching a lock on my meter. If the common courtesy of advanced notice would of been honored, this letter would not have been submitted. Now I have to waste a whole day for a technician to turn my gas service back on! What took a technician 5 minutes to do, now takes all day! So I had to call to schedule an appt & pay my bill, not a problem. The problem arises when you get to talk to a "rep" so robotic & terse they ask if they can "help", (what a line) with no results, all empty promises, supervisors are the same. That is why i am submitting this compliant here, maybe something will come out of this.When my appt was set for 7am I committed the whole day to this appt, making changes to accommodate service. 12pm rolls on by, still no phone call or technician, I decided to call to find out what is going on and when to expect an E.T.A. Same old garbage! they tell me that they will have somebody out by sundown! NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! to any standards!!! but it seems to be ok with southwest gas! If they ask me "what can we do to resolve this" please don't treat me like some 2nd class person!! myself and countless other subscribers are quite familiar with the tactics and procedures you try to impose on us. All I ask is to do is your job! remember where your salary is truly generated from! You all need to treat your subscribers with respect! not B.S.!!!
Southwest gas has their employees climb fences to shut service off. They did that to me. There's something wrong with that picture? Just because the meter is in fence line does that mean they can trespass? What if their employee fell and injured themselves, would they want to sue me for trespassing ?They also extorted $300.00 deposit from me as well after being a long time customer and paying their bills
Heh, at least they climbed your fence. The jerk who was supposed to switch ours on had a key available and permission to enter. He snuck up around 5:30 PM and left a "no one home" note on the door and snuck away. Something about "not being allowed to enter after dark if no one is home".
That's very interesting, seeing as the note AND MY KEY were on my counter when I came out of the bathroom.
I've paid up everything, so I'll switch it on myself, thanks jerks.
I had a similar experience. .. I paid my bill by check which posted and cleared. A few days later I received a check from them in the amount of my recently paid bill. Curious? I called and was assured it was due to overpayment? Ok so I deposited the check... Then days later the meter man came to the door demanding payment of the same amount be paid to him by check then and there or he would have to shut off the gas. As I was leaving for a work trip, I quickly wrote him a check (that I knew would probably vlear before I could put money back into the account and bounce). I thought for sure that this circus payment deal coulf be essily fixed. But no - after speaking to a supervisor who finally hot it said I need only re-pay the original amount In their office. Ugh. I went to repay (again) the bill of $78. The rude woman at the counter was surly and rude and cared little about the entire situation (that they created) and just wanted the payment. As I began to write a check (from a different account mind you) she exclaimed - what are you doing!? - I am writing you a check for the amount I already paid etc (I still had to pay my banks fees tho) - she loudly exclaimed that they couldnt take a check. Different account? Nope. How would I pay future bills came to mind as waiting nearly an hour in line sucked. No reasoning worked - she finally agreed that they would except cash money. Of course I didn't have it on me. Leave ww gas go to back cash check get cash and return. Well by noe I'd spent hoursxand hours and days on yhis and was fed up. I returned to the s w gas office, waited in line for the same surly mean rep and told her I got her cash. I then gave her $78 in unrolled pennies. Plus 2 cents more so would be sure to have gotten my two cents about this whole stinking mess. Yes it telt good!