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Tacoma Public Utilities Reviews (21)

Thank you Mr [redacted] for providing this paperwork I will contact MSB today in regards to this dispute I will follow up options after that contact Thank you again, [redacted] H [redacted] Operations ManagerTacoma Public Utilites Customer Services

Please find the response our response to the customer, emailed on 9/16/ If the customer has any additional questions please feel free to contact our office at 253-502- I should also note that we mailed a dispute form to Ms [redacted] on 9/16/ We received a mail return on 11/2/with the dispute form indicating that we had an incomplete or incorrect forwarding address Dear [redacted] ***, Thank you for contacting Tacoma Public Utilities Customer ServiceWe have received your request for dispute forms for Account # [redacted] # [redacted] StSSpanaway, WA We have requested to have our support services team mail you the dispute forms to the forwarding address on file at [redacted] *Tacoma, WA If you decide to proceed with the dispute forms, please note that the turn around time for the dispute once initiated is a very quick time frame and it#s important to ensure the forms are returned to our office as soon as possible Otherwise, if you would like to come in to the office in person and fill out the forms in-house, you are welcome to do so as wellWe are located at S35th StTacoma, WA Our lobby hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:am to 5:pm If you need further assistance, please contact us at 253-502-8600, Monday thru Friday, 8:am # 6:pm Respectfully, Lisa Customer Service Representative Tacoma Public Utilities

Dear Revdex.com, Thank you for giving Tacoma Public Utilities’ Customer Services department the opportunity to review Mr [redacted] concern I am happy to report that a supervisor, KW [redacted] spoke to Mr [redacted] on February 10, regarding his concerns They discussed how our dispute process works once an account has been submitted to collections and the supervisor was able to confirm that no adverse credit activity, such as credit bureau reporting or collection agency fees, had occurred on Mr [redacted] balance in collections Mr [redacted] remitted payment in the amount of $to Municipal Services Bureau and on February 14, The same supervisor left a voicemail for Mr [redacted] confirming that our records reflect a zero balance and that no credit reporting would occur on the balance submitted to collections I believe that this matter has been satisfactorily resolved, if Mr [redacted] would like to discuss this matter further he is welcome to call us to discuss this matter further

Thank you for your helpTPU has informed me they will start my account and I have already paid the past due starting from the sale date 12/10/Confirm [redacted] Please close this Best***

RevDex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Mr. H [redacted] was able to recall the account from MSB and removed any applicable late charges.Sincerely, [redacted]

Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID *** I had previously contacted MSB twice to dispute these charges I received a letter back from MSB detailing all actions from TPU to include verifing the debt See attachment above I am not sure what MrH*** is referring to by saying I have not initiated a dispute with MSB I thought I already did that by calling MSB back in September I will call MSB tomorrow and have them initiate another dispute and will make it clear to them that I wanted them to send the account back to TPU
Sincerely, *** ***

Good afternoon,
In researching this account we have determined that Mr*** has not initiated a dispute with our collection agency, MSB. We would highly encourage Mr*** to file a dispute if he feels that his charges were not billed to him due to TPU error. This is a
reason we would recall an account from our collection agency if there was a TPU error in his address. However, until he submits a dispute through MSB, and that dispute is determined valid, the account is serviced by MSB per our contract with that company
I appreciate that it can be frustrating to work with a collection company versus TPU. However, by partnering with a third party with expertise in collections for accounts that go unpaid after closure, we are able to limit expenses to other customers and focus our staff on providing great service to our existing customers.
Should Mr*** have any other questions, I would highly recommend he contact MSB, at https://www.msbselfserve.com
Thank you,*** H***Operations ManagerTacoma Public Utilities Customer Services

Complaint: ***I am rejecting this response because:First, it has yet to be established that I entered an invalid routing numberIn fact, my most recent conversation with customer service suggests that a technology error for TPU is at least as likelyGwen indicated that the routing number entered belonged to a *** ** *** check card from Washington State, not an actual checking accountI have no *** ** *** account at all, and I did not attempt to pay the account with a *** ** *** check card or anything of the sortOn two occasions, Gwen has read portions of routing/checking numbers to me that I allegedly enteredAlthough TPU has suggested several possibilities, each time confident that THIS was the number I actually entered, none of the number sequences read back to me are at all similar to my actual routing or checking accounts, which makes me skeptical that I entered a number incorrectlyWhy would there be so much confusion in TPU's systems about that number I entered? Ultimately, my primary complaint here is--and has been--that you need to provide me some confirmation that I actually entered an invalid number and no technological glitch on your end is responsibleI think this is a reasonable request, especially given the confusion on TPU's end about what number was enteredIn case that a glitch is incorrectly triggering a fee, I want to know this so that I can make other payment arrangements. Regarding the offer to waive the fee, no such offer occurredYour notes are wrongGwen told me that no action regarding the fee could be taken until "we got to the bottom of this." She told me this twice, both in the initial phone call (before I filed the complaint) and again after I filed the complaintDuring the first call, I waited on hold for minutes for you to get to the bottom of thisIn the second call, she said that you would get to the bottom of the issue this morningI continue to wait nowI accept your offer to waive the feeI will happily pay what I owe for utilities once this is resolved, and I've never indicated otherwiseI asked about paying the fee over the phone and I was told that paying over the phone was not possible (due to privacy concerns)If you record your phone calls, you can listen back and see for yourself. Lastly, I find it dubious that you incur $in costs due to an invalid routing number for an electronic checkOne can download an application from the internet that allows free transfer of money from one checking account to anotherNo cost for the applicationNo cost for processingEntering a routing number incorrectly incurs no fee from these providersI understand incurring a $fee for overdrawing an account, but not for entering an invalid routing numberPlease provide examples of other utility companies that operate similarly, where online payments with a mis-entered routing number incur a $feeI'm very interested to know what other companies operate this way. Sincerely,*** ***

Complaint: ***I am rejecting this response because: Is TPU really this disorganized? How could they have sent the dispute form to the wrong address on file when they sent us a bill to the only address we are living at? On top of that, the account was closed with a paid in full bill on OCt by I assume the person who bought our old house Does no one communicate over there? This is a perfect example of a lousy company with piss poor management and employees. Sincerely,*** ***

Good afternoon,
Per your request for clarification:
1) On October 7th the power account for *** *** ST S was paid in full. It was paid through the escrow process 2) TPU does not consider the charges erroneous and therefore they were quoted and paid as part of the escrow process. Ms*** (the account holder) voluntarily signed an owner guarantee on 7/8/2015 in which she agreed to be accountable for all charges of her tenant. In exchange, we waived the tenant's deposit (a deposit would have paid off the charges in question.) I understand that it can be frustrating to pay for meter equipment due to a third party, but the meter was tampered with and therefore required servicing. Again, these charges would have been paid by the tenant's deposit, but there was no deposit as Ms*** voluntarily agreed to pay all charges of her tenant.
These charges have now been paid through the escrow process by the new home owner. Any requests to dispute these charges would go through the new owner as they would be the one refunded in the event of an error of assessment.
Thank you,John H***Operations ManagerTPU Customer Services

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
The owner refused to allow access when I called an electrician when I lived there and TPU did not want to help when I called for help. I lost thousands of dollars due to the cross wiring and think you guys should invistehate for the sake of other tenants. 
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Good afternoon Ms. [redacted],
The concerns that you have shared (that there might be cross wiring between the two units) requires access to the units themselves to investigate further.  While TPU has the right to inspect its meters, all wiring after the meter is the property of the home owner/landlord.  We would need access from the current tenants and an understanding that we would be disconnecting their power.  If cross wiring was found, it would be the accountability of the owner/landlord to ensure an electrician identified the specific circuits and rewired them.  We would still be happy to assist in cutting power to the meters (with owner permission) if you would like to pursue this further with the owner/landlord.
Thank you,
John H[redacted]Customer Services Operations Manager

Dear Revdex.com,
 
Thank you for giving Tacoma Public Utilities’ Customer Services department the opportunity to review Mr. [redacted] concern.
 
I am happy to report that a supervisor, K. W[redacted] spoke to Mr. [redacted] on February 10, 2017 regarding his...

concerns.  They discussed how our dispute process works once an account has been submitted to collections and the supervisor was able to confirm that no adverse credit activity, such as credit bureau reporting or collection agency fees, had occurred on Mr. [redacted] balance in collections.
 
Mr. [redacted] remitted payment in the amount of $22.39 to Municipal Services Bureau and on February 14, 2017.  The same supervisor left a voicemail for Mr. [redacted] confirming that our records reflect a zero balance and that no credit reporting would occur on the balance submitted to collections.
 
I believe that this matter has been satisfactorily resolved, if Mr. [redacted] would like to discuss this matter further he is welcome to call us to discuss this matter further.

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: it shouldn't matter if I don't live there anymore. I had records sent to me that proved my electric bill was 2x higher than the lower u it for the three years I lived there. I want an investigation started.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.  Mr. H[redacted] was able to recall the account from MSB and removed any applicable late charges.Sincerely, [redacted]

First, I apologize for the delay in responding to this concern.  An invalid point of contact was listed for our company.  In looking at the account it appears that services are no longer provided to this customer at this address so we will be unable to resolve this concern.  Should...

a concern of this nature occur again, TPU has troubleshooting steps so that tenants can determine if cross wiring between units is a possibility.  If necessary, TPU can disconnect power at the meter to determine if services/power has been turned off in the other unit.  Again, we would be happy to walk through these steps if a cross wiring concern is present in the future.  Thank you,
John H[redacted]Customer Services Operations Manager

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to respond to the customer’s concern.First, I apologize for the long delays Mr. [redacted] received in relation to this service charge.  To remain in compliance with varies consumer protection requirements our staff has limited visibility into the...

financial data customers enter into the online bill payment system.  However, we were able to confirm that an invalid routing number was entered on 8/17/2015 when Mr. [redacted] scheduled his 8/20/2015 payment.    As this error lead to the payment being rejected we assessed a returned item fee of $20 to recover the costs associated with returned items.    This is a common practice at utilities and many other companies to ensure that costs incurred as a result of the customer’s account not being available for payment are passed on to the customer.Second, it appears that we were not clear in our explanation.  Again, I apologize.  To be clear, we did attempt to collect this payment with the banking information supplied by Mr. [redacted] and that payment request was declined.   Finally, the notes indicate that we did offer to waive this fee for Mr. [redacted] due to the delay in being able to explain the exact reason it was assessed.  A delay in explanation is not typically considered a valid reason for waiving this fee, however, it was offered and would have therefore been honored.  The only condition for waiver was for the customer to still make the payment.  We accept payments directly over the phone without fee, so Mr. [redacted] had the opportunity to make this payment during any one of the referenced phone calls.  As of this response, the payment has not been received. If there are any additional questions or concerns please let me know.Sincerely, John H[redacted]Customer Services Operations Manager

Thank you for your help. TPU has informed me they will start my account and I have already paid the past due starting from the sale date 12/10/2015. Confirm [redacted]
Please close this.
Best[redacted]

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to our mutual customer’s concern. First, I apologize if the service received did not meet Ms. [redacted] expectations.  I can and will review the call in question to ensure that either the call reflected the courteous service that TPU expects or...

that the appropriate next steps are taken.In terms of the account, Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) does utilize a collection agency ([redacted]) for servicing its collection accounts.  That is why the collection agency collects a service fee as the work of processing collection account payments is solely theirs.  While I appreciate that Ms. [redacted] preferred to work with TPU on her account, the account in question is now serviced by [redacted].  If the customer is unwilling to pay [redacted] directly we can collect payment for them at TPU and transfer the payment to [redacted] for processing.  However, this would not reduce the amount of payment required. Customers can dispute if there charges are valid with [redacted].  If this dispute identifies that charges were assessed in error, [redacted] can resolve the issue by clearing those charges or transferring the account back to TPU.  Again, this dispute process would be completed with [redacted] and the dispute process is outlined in the Customer Service Policies at TPU.  It is my hope that this addresses the concerns Ms. [redacted] had.  Sincerely,John H[redacted]Customer Services Operations Manager.

Thank you Mr. [redacted] for providing this paperwork.  I will contact MSB today in regards to this dispute.  I will follow up options after that contact.
Thank you again,[redacted] H[redacted]Operations ManagerTacoma Public Utilites Customer Services

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