The United Illuminating

Review: On February 20, 2013 I sent a fax to UI's credit reporting department regarding my credit report. My credit report shows 3 open UI accounts, all with balances, and I only have one that is and was open at the time. On February 28, 2013 I received mail, via [redacted], stating that I needed to send more information along with copies of my three credit reports. On March 8, 2013 I sent a second fax with all of the information that UI requested of me. On March 19, 2013 I received a second piece of mail, via [redacted], from UI. In the letter, they state that they have reviewed all three accounts that I provided and the credit file has been updated to show that the accounts were all paid in full. They then go on to state that they have sent an electronic request to the three major credit reporting agents informing them to update my credit file and that the process could take up to 90 days. It has been just over 18 months and I think I have given sufficient time for the reporting agencies to update their files. These blemishes are the only ones on my credit report and drastically decrease my credit worthiness and credit score. I would really appreciate this matter being cleared up as soon as possible as I will be trying to finance a large purchase in the very immediate future.Sincerely, [redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like my credit reports updated to show that two of my three UI accounts are closed and have been closed since April 28, 2009 and January 15, 2010 respectively. I would also like the areas where it says 120 days past due removed due to payment arrangements being made with UI and me not breaking those arrangements.

Business

Response:

I looked into this complaint. It appears that [redacted] had contacted the Company in 2013 to dispute derrogatory statements on his credit report. At that time the negative reporting was not removed due to valid reporting in 20019 from a payment arrangement I have sent a request for our Collections Department to remove any negative credit reporting from all of his accounts. Normally the Company does not remove valid credit reporting, however in this case, there is a long record of on-time payments and also serves as a gesture of good customer courtesy for [redacted]. Thanks, [redacted] tel# ###-###-####

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: I had an account with United Illuminating back in 2008. I called to cancel the account when I moved out. I was only in the rental for about 2 or 3 months. Years later I checked my credit report and I see the account was not canceled. When I tried to inquire to United Illuminating about the account last year, they advised me the account was sold to a 3rd party collector and there was nothing they could tell me. I asked to provide documents on the account, and they could not do that either.After this, United Illuminating continues to incorrectly report information to my Equifax and Transunion credit report. They are reporting a balance instead of the charge off. AND they are reporting that I made a late payment in July 2012!! I tried to cancel this account 3 months after I had it, and moved out of their service area completely. Because they are report this erroneous information, I am not able to secure a mortgage. With a late payment showing in the past 2 years, they will not qualify me. All of this after they denied to give me information because they sold the debt and refused to send me the information on the account including the payment history!!!I believe the only reason they are reporting wrong information is because they never canceled the account properly, and are holding me accountable for it. On top of that, they are purposely reporting a wrong payment history to cause harm. I tried disputing this via Equifax, and they said I have to go through U.I. U.I has been no help because they say they sold the debt!PLEASE HELP!!!!! I am getting nowhere!!Desired Settlement: I want this off my credit report. I called in to cancel this account and nothing was done!! If they refuse to remove this, I want full proof of the account. I want the documents I signed, along with how long the account ran for. I have proof that I moved to an area they do not service 3 months later. My attorney has advised me request all payment history, as well as the debt collector the account was sold to, along with when it was sold to them, along with a reason a debt verification was refuse

Business

Response:

I have worked out a resolution with the customer. Thanks.

Review: Good afternoon,

My name is [redacted]. I am in dire need of assistance. I have submitted several call and emails to United Illuminating to no avail. I currently am showing 2 accounts in negative standing on my current credit report. I had an account for [redacted] in [redacted] that was in good standing and on the payment matching program and energy assistance program through [redacted]. I move on October of 2013 to [redacted]. Instead of switching my account over, ** kept that account open, but transferred the entire (unpaid matching portion of my bill) to the new account. They took me off of the payment matching program and told me I was no longer eligible. I did not understand this. The billing representative advised my that ** would work with me on the bill. My online account was only linked to my old account so when I was making payments they weren't going through. ** accepted me for a financial hardship and eventually set me up with a payment program of paying $88.00 a month. I was not advised that I would be reported negatively to any credit bureau, furthermore, 0 calls were placed to me warning of disconnection or past due billing. I did pay the amount that was asked of me every month. Finally I had to wait to be re-approved for the energy assistance program. I recently called ** and a lady on the phone that was very rude and aggressive with me was advising that on the bottom of the bill in very small font, the bill lists "actual balance" but on the top right in large bold font it states the amount due is $88.00.

I do not wish to be aggressive. Please understand that I am a reasonable person and always make every attempt to pay what is owed of me. I have since made larger payments to drop that amount due down, so my credit report is not reported negatively in an incorrect manner again. I am looking to purchase a house in the near future and this incorrect and unjust reporting is taking away that dream from my family and I.Desired Settlement: I would like for the 2 accounts being reported to the credit bureau's to either be consolidated or for the old account ([redacted]) to be removed completely.

I would like for my current account [redacted] to have the late derogatory marks removed completely. I would like my account to show in good standing with no balances being reported.

The lates being reported on my report are currently:

Account: [redacted]

12/2014 :120 days

07/2014: 90 days

06/2014: 120 days

05/2014: 120 days

04/2014: 90 days

03/2014: 90 days

Account: [redacted]

10/2013: 90 days

03/2013: 120 days

Business

Response:

I am going to have someone reach out to him to discuss the credit reporting and his other concerns. In the meantime, I can speak to the fact that the Company has credit reporting language on its bills, arrangment letters, and the annual "Your Rights" that get sent to every customer. This language does state that any balance that is outstanding greater than 60 days may be reported to the credit agencies and such reporting could harm their credit rating (including payment arrangements). While the credit reporting can be updated to reflect the current state of his accounts, I can not gaurentee that valid past negative reporting will be changed. Thanks,[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: This is not satisfactory to me. I do not need to have 2 accounts on my credit report when my 1 account should have been transferred. I should not have any account at any time showing late. I should have been notified that there was a balance that I was unaware of that was being reported to the credit bureau. A payment arrangement should allow the person to be in good standing if they adhere to it. I would NEVER want to be a part of a payment arrangement that will NEGATIVELY affect me when I pay on time. What is satisfactory to me is to have ALL of this removed from my credit report. I do not wish to speak to any agent on the phone as the customer service from United Illuminating has been unhelpful and lackluster. It seems to be in extreme bad-taste to provide consumers with a payment arrangement option, yet mark them as derogatory in their credit report. This seems to be a bait and switch, to provide consumers with an option, and then use that same option against them.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Unfortunately, if an account balance is greater than 90 days it does get reported to the credit bureaus (CB). Payment arrangements and or hardship do not preclude this from occurring. If there are arrears that are over the 90 day threshold they are reported to the CB's. Our credit reporting (CB) practices are on the monthly statements and the payment arrangement letters. Thanks

Business

Response:

Hello, I have requested that all derogatory credit be removed for the two accounts. He had spoken with a supervisor who advised him of this on 6/30. Mr. [redacted] should be all set.

Consumer

Response:

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

Review: I have repeatedly tried to pay my bill online but the site tells me there has been an error and my payment cannot be processed. I have tried to call but have been repeatedly hung up on. So I effectively have no way to pay my bill, although I am being charged late fees. There is no other way to contact the company.Desired Settlement: I want the company to fix the website, call me, and let me pay my bill, without extra charges for their incompetence.

Business

Response:

I will have a supervisor contact him today at his daytime telephone # to discuss his concerns about customer service and the website. Thanks,[redacted]

Review: Hired a rude unprofessional collection company that didn't need to happen. I agave made a payment every month and there was no attempt to contact me and do not want my bill in collections, especially one that harasses mea nod makes me feel like garbage. I have always paid my bills in full! I have been making payments and have cleared my grandmothers $900 bill up with no problem and I don't need to be hArAssed by ic systems!!!!Desired Settlement: I will make my payments online like I have and there is no need to any collection agency to harass me. Your company did not shut my bill off onto,r, you continue to keep my bill going after I moved and you also never made an attempt to contact. I will be paying you everything I owe and I do not deserve to be treated horribly. I made a $100 payment last month and made a small payment today, before the harassing phone call even and plan to make many more to resolve my CLOSED ACCOUNT!

Business

Response:

I have looked into this. Please see attached final bill for Ms. Bailey. The account was finalled on 12/3/2013. When a final bill remains unpaid for greater than 44 days it is sold off to a collection agency. I can only speak to the actions of UI and not IC Systems and a complaint should be filed directly to them. I have requested that her account be pulled back from them so that Ms. Bailey can make payments to clear up the balance directly with UI. Thanks