Elizabethtown Gas Company

I called [redacted] yesterday, 2/9/16 and left him voicemail to call me back, which he has not done so as of today. [redacted] received a monthly [redacted] ([redacted] energy assistance payment in the amount of $32.28 from 10/13/14 - 10/13/15.  We have not been notified by the energy...

assistance agency if he has applied or been approved for energy assistance after that date, nor have we received any [redacted] payments after 10/2/15.  If [redacted] has applied for energy assistance for the current year, he needs to contact that agency to find out the status of his application. The reason for [redacted]' high balance is that he has been relying solely on the energy assistance payments to pay his monthly bill since at least 2/2014.  The energy assistance payments during the heating season, 11/15 to 3/15 of a given year have been insufficient to cover the amount he was billed.  According to our payment records, [redacted] has not personally paid anything towards his bill since at least 2/2014. [redacted]’ account is eligible for disconnection for nonpayment due to his high outstanding balance; $734.14.  We are willing to place the account on a four-month payment arrangement.  To do so, [redacted] would have to pay at least $200.00 before the account could be placed on the payment arrangement.  The payment must be made by credit card with a customer service representative or with cash at one of our two payment centers.  Our payment centers are located at [redacted] and [redacted]  A credit card payment will incur a $4.95 service fee and the cash payment at our payment center is free. [redacted] can contact our Customer Service Center at [redacted] Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM – 8:00 to pay by credit card and to place the account on a payment arrangement.  The payment center is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM.

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: the proof that they claim the have is a written field note from a technician claiming they locked the meter. I have solid proof that the meter was never locked. They can't even tell if the meter was locked from the street or inside. Either way they have no proof. They are just scam artist that need to be looked into and the technicians need to be fired for falsifying records.
Regards,
[redacted]

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
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.  However, I am still appalled and disappointed in Elizabethtown Gas's business practices.  I felt disrespected by the company repeated putting the blame of me and stating that I should have reached out earlier.  Yes, the company was able to accommodate my needs, but it should not take several phone calls and arguments to get a timely appointment.   
Regards,
[redacted]

Elizabethtown Gas has made numerous attempts to turn on [redacted] service.  Unfortunately every time we have shown up to complete the order, our field service representative was not given access to the gas meter to turn it on and inspect it.  [redacted] needs to coordinate the order with...

the property manager or superintendent so that we can get access to the gas meter.

We have stated several times to [redacted] that Elizabethtown Gas does not provide rebate for Power Vented Water heaters.

[redacted] was informed that based on the information he provided Elizabethtown Gas that he has been living at [redacted] since 2/1/14, he has used 1,934 cubic feet of gas which equals approximately $1,895.42 in unpaid gas charges.  [redacted] has been using the gas...

service in a previous customers’ name since he moved to this address, which have gone unpaid.  In addition, there is an unpaid outstanding account of $1,252.11 for a total balance of $3,147.53. During the complaint investigation, it was discovered that unpaid charges were in the name of [redacted] aka [redacted] and that [redacted] resided at [redacted] during the same time period as [redacted] also informed us that he resided with [redacted] for a period of time at the address that the unpaid balance is from[redacted] was informed that the NJ Administrative Code, which govern NJ utility companies, allow utility companies to collect all balances due to them before service is established and also hold recipients of a service provided by a utility responsible for unpaid balances.[redacted] can contact our Customer Service Center at [redacted] if he has any questions.

The NJ Administrative Code permits utility companies to deny a customer service if they or someone who resides at the same address has an outstanding balance with the utility.  We addressed this matter with the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) when Ms. [redacted] filed her initial complaint with the BPU 6/28/16.  The BPU accepted our reply that we were denying service due to Ms. [redacted] outstanding balance and Ms. [redacted] outstanding balance and the BPU closed the complaint.  Ms. [redacted] was informed by an Elizabethtown Gas Customer Service Center supervisor that a minimum payment of $1,400.00 in secured funds (credit/debit card or cash) is required before service will be turned on.

Please note that my complaint has been resolved. Elizabethtown reviewed my account and adjusted the charges. Thank you for your help.
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.
Regards,
[redacted]

[redacted] was informed by email yesterday and today that we require at least $2,401.29 to be paid before service will be restored* [redacted] was provided a copy of the bills and an itemized statement.  We also replied to the complaint he filed with the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) with our findings and requirements.  The BPU closed the complaint based on our response.  We are permitted to collect 100% that is due before restoring service in accordance with NJ Administrative Code, however we are asking for 50% of the amount due based on actual, recorded meter readings.

We are sorry about hearing of the difficulty [redacted] is having establishing gas service.  She can contact our Customer Service Center at [redacted] and we will reschedule her appointment for gas service for tomorrow Tuesday, 11/18/14.  Our Customer Service Center is open...

Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

I apologize for the difficulty [redacted] experienced scheduling her gas service termination.  The supervisor she spoke with 8/16/16 was able to provide [redacted] the date she requested and will contact the appropriate department to make sure it is worked during the time the leasing office...

is open.  We will review the information we have on our public website to see if enhancements can be made to provide customer information as to when they should contact us to schedule a service order.

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:the responsibility lies with the gas company and also the debt is with the gas company. Document from the gas company for the negative item to be removed is needed.
Regards,
[redacted]

Informed [redacted] his March bill generated on 3/11/2016 and his Autodraft enrollment was setup on 3/16/2016. The first billing cycle it skipped was the April billing cycle. I also informed [redacted] the April bill confirmed the Autodraft enrollment and notified him to pay the bill and the next...

May billing cycle will be automatically drafted.

I spoke with [redacted] and amended the service order and provided her with a sooner service order date.  The service will be turned on 9/28/16 instead of 9/30/16.

We are sorry that the negative entry on [redacted] credit report.  The credit reporting bureaus remove negative information based on law and he should contact them to discuss the matter.  [redacted] unpaid balance from 3/6/13 was reported to [redacted], now [redacted] on...

5/8/13 and his payment was reported to the credit reporting bureaus after he paid the outstanding balance 2/17/14.  [redacted] may want to contact the collection agency at [redacted] to discuss this with them.

I just payed $600 to them to remove a hold on the account. I have 3 children who are all very sick and my house is at 50 degrees and they won't turn my gas on until January 9th. I have already had to hospitalize my 10 month old for a lung infection and high fevers and they still don't have any simpathy to help me out. I shouldn't have to sit in a cold house till January 9th with sick kids ! These people have no consideration but if it was them they would have it turned on right away !

Review: On october 1st I moved into my home. I set up services with elizabethtown gas and thought that was the end of it. A month down the road the previous owner of my home called to let me know that Elizabeth town gas was still billing her deceased mother for gas usuage after I took posession of the home. I called elizabethtown and told them that I occupied the premises since october and whatever balance you billed the previous owner pls move it to my acct. they said no problem its done. Months later Elizabeth town decides that they are going to void all the bills they sent me and send me 1 bill with all the usuage charges from Oct 1st to March 2nd with a credit of all the payments that I made thus far. I get a bill in the mail that stated that I used $835.64 worth of services minus the payments that I made which amounted to $562.75 which left a balance of $272.89 according to my calculations. Elizabethtown proceeds to send me a bill in the amount of $363.30. That makes absolutely no sense!!! I call to dispute it and told them that they are billing me twice for october service (remember the previous owners balance from oct to nov was transferred to my acct. which I paid) I called several times, spoke to 4 different ppl that told me they would take care of it and nothing has been taken care of. They are still billing me for the previously paid amount.Desired Settlement: stop billing me for october usuage since I paid it already!!!

Consumer

Response:

Please note that my complaint has been resolved. Elizabethtown reviewed my account and adjusted the charges. Thank you for your help.

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: I have been in my apartment since May 1. I have made multiple appointments and took days off of work to wait for someone to turn my gas on. There is an issue everytime the appointment day comes and I still do not have gas in my apartment. I've called customer service for help and they are not being very helpful. Now they are trying to tell me I have to wait another month to have my gas turned on. The field rep never called or contacted me in any way, but he told the company that he had to reschedule because he could not access the building.Desired Settlement: I should not have to wait another month to have my service turned on. I need service ASAP.

Business

Response:

Elizabethtown Gas has made numerous attempts to turn on [redacted] service. Unfortunately every time we have shown up to complete the order, our field service representative was not given access to the gas meter to turn it on and inspect it. [redacted] needs to coordinate the order with the property manager or superintendent so that we can get access to the gas meter.

Review: I WAS PLANNING ON MOVING OUT OF STATE, PRIOR TO LEAVING I SCHEDULED MY SERVICE TO BE STOPPED THE DAY AFTER I LEFT, I CONTACTED THE GAS COMPANY AND PAID MY LAST BILL BEFORE I LEFT THE STATE. I FORWARDED MY ADDRESS WITH THE POST OFFICE AND WENT BACK ON THE GAS COMPANY WEBSITE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE FACT TO SEE IF I HAD ANY UPDATES AND SAW NOTHING. I CHECKED MY CREDIT REPORT AND SAW A COLLECTION FOR $250! I LOOKED THROUGH MY OLD UTILITY ACCOUNTS AND SAW NO DELINQUENCIES. IT WAS UNTIL I LOOKED THROUGH MY OLD ACCOUNTS THAT I DISCOVERED I HAD A BILL FROM ELIZABETH GAS CO. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY TURN OFF NOTICE OR COLLECTION NOTICES VIA MAIL OR EMAIL OR ANY FOLLOW UP FROM THE GAS COMPANY STATING I HAD AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE.I AM NOT DEBATING THE VALIDITY OF THE DEBT, AS IT PROBABLY COVERS THE FEW DAYS BETWEEN THE BILLING PERIODS WHILE I WAS STILL AT THE HOUSE.THIS COLLECTION HAS HIT MY REPORT AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES ON MY REPORT. I HAVE SPOKE TO A BILLING REP AT THE GAS COMPANY WHO SAID THE COLLECTIONS SHOULD BE DELETED AFTER I PAID BUT IT HAS BEEN OVER 90 DAYS NOW, STILL NO REMOVAL.

IF THERE IS NO RESOLUTION I WILL BE FORCED TO CONTACT THE STATE UTILITY COMMISSION WITH MY LOCAL STATE SENATOR.Desired Settlement: I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF THIS COLLECTION IS REMOVED FROM MY CREDIT REPORT, AS IT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL

Business

Response:

We are sorry that the negative entry on [redacted] credit report. The credit reporting bureaus remove negative information based on law and he should contact them to discuss the matter. [redacted] unpaid balance from 3/6/13 was reported to [redacted], now [redacted] on 5/8/13 and his payment was reported to the credit reporting bureaus after he paid the outstanding balance 2/17/14. [redacted] may want to contact the collection agency at [redacted] to discuss this with them.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:the responsibility lies with the gas company and also the debt is with the gas company. Document from the gas company for the negative item to be removed is needed.

Regards,

Review: There is an outstanding account that I am not aware of and ETG is trying to get me to pay a balance before they will turn back on my gas service. I have sent them proof of identity and they still want more proof of my social. The are saying that there is two ss associated with my name. I have provided the lease, passport and given my SS #. They will not turn back the service until a balance of $3,025.00 is paid. They are trying to associate another bill with my name.

They tell me that an account was opened in 2011 closed in 2013 but they kept supplying gas to the home and want me to pay for it because I was there at the time. How can you bill some one for something that was closed. Gas service was turned off December 14th 2015. How can the billing department be this careless then blame the customer? This is a monopoly. Elizabeth Town Gas is the only supplier in my area. I have two small children in the home.Desired Settlement: Bill me for the usage of October 2015 thru now and restore the services on a payment plan.

Business

Response:

[redacted] filed the exact complaint with the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU). We are addressing [redacted] complaint with the BPU.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: now Elizabeth Town Gas is changing the story to "Meter Tampering" because they can not provide the proper bills. Aurora stated that the paperwork is only kept for 6 years and the bills for 1 year. The only proof they can send is a letter they sent to the collection agency. When I claimed that it was not suffice she claimed that the meter was tampered with.

Regards,

Business

Response:

We are a state regulated company and are obligated to prove what we state. We have records stating we locked the meter several years ago. The meter was turned back on by someone other than one of our qualified field service representatives. This is considered meter tampering. [redacted] is claiming she just moved in. Our findings state otherwise.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: the proof that they claim the have is a written field note from a technician claiming they locked the meter. I have solid proof that the meter was never locked. They can't even tell if the meter was locked from the street or inside. Either way they have no proof. They are just scam artist that need to be looked into and the technicians need to be fired for falsifying records.

Regards,