Poop MGE Sucks - Page 3

Big Dog · 11-17-2009, 12:52 PM

So I am leaving the house today, and there is an MGE vehicle parked in front. I drive over to see a woman standing next to my gas meter. She explains she has turned off my gas due to non payment. WTF? She also cannot turn it back on, as she is a collector (although I was home and there was no knock on my door to collect), and that I have to call to get it turned back on.

I pay my bills via a bill pay service, meaning they get the bills, scan them in, and send me a notification of amount and due date. It has worked very well for years now. As I am calling to get my service turned back on, I find that I received a bill on 11/12 and paid it (received in their office today). When I actually looked at the scan I find it says final warning, cutoff, blah, blah. Then I look at history and see that I have not received a bill from them since June. WTF?

So I am told they will not turn on my gas until tomorrow. I say no way, get passed up to a supervisor, and I start to try and find out what has happened.

She basically says it's my fault because I didn't pay...I say I paid every bill I received, and then it's my fault because I didn't notice I wasn't getting bills. We examine further...I am set up for e-bills. Now it's my fault because I signed up for e-bills and didn't pay. I argue I haven't done anything different in years, and that the fault is theirs, and they need to turn my service back on today.

Finally we find out that I did sign up for e-bills so long ago that I used an email address from a provider I haven't had in 5 years or more, and that I was receiving both e-bills (although I wasn't) and paper. Now it comes to light that in June they announced (via a slip of paper in the bill) that if you have e-bills set up they will discontinue your paper bills unless you respond. Well, of course I didn't respond...because even if that was scanned in by my bill pay service, I didn't look at it...and realistically it came with all the other junk they send...trying to sell return address labels, rubber stamps, checks, etc. who would look at it?

NOW THE FINAL KICKER...her system shows failed attempts at email delivery on June 4th and 5th! So it's my fault I was not paying bills they were only sending to an email address they knew I was not receiving!

Still, they are not going to come turn on my service today. Throughout these calls, I am pretty agitated and tired of the condescending 'but sir, you signed up for e-bills, we have no control over that'. So I end with my only recourse. Since MGE is a monopoly and I have no other option (excepting propane I suppose, if there is no city ordinance against it) I explain to her I will be calling every radio and tv station in the city this afternoon (not a bluff btw) and seeing if anyone wanted to pick up the story...that they probably would not, but I was committed to making the calls since I felt it my only recourse.

"I'll send in the order to have your gas turned on today."

Of course she wouldn't guarantee when, so it's likely to be as late as they feel they can go, but it's just so damn ridiculous that through a series of errors primarily on MGE's part they did not feel responsible to turn my gas back on today. It's also a sad state that to get these monstrous monopolies (gas, electric, insurance, etc.) to do anything you have to fight and fight, and the lesson learned is that customer service doesn't matter, but the squeaky wheel gets oiled.

Ok, done now...just wanted to vent.

**Old Dog** · 11-17-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Well, this is why I said in my post they are primarily to blame.

I don't see how they are at fault in any way, shape, or form, let alone "primarily".

**Old Dog** · 11-17-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Well, why didn't you update the email address to a working one? That's your responsibility, not theirs.

And, they DID send you a notice regarding the change. You chose to throw it away without reading it.

but it's a whole lot easier to blame someone else.....Silly Donger

Big Dog · 11-17-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixhex

I find it odd they don't send a notice in the regular mail to someone they know isn't getting their email bill. It could be so they can charge all those fees. That would be bullshit if true.

Bottom line is you need to change how you pay your bills if you aren't noticing one as regular as the gas bill missing for months.

Fair enough, I obviously need to put more attention to this, or change my system so things like today wont happen.

But really, I am wondering if someone was passing cool-aid around.

1. Big Dog pays bills regularly for 11 years
2. Company changes billing practices and KNOWS Big Dog is not receiving bills, and KNOWS Big Dog has not paid a bill since their change.
3. Finally they send a notice to Big Dog via the method that has worked for 11 years.
4. Big Dog pays promptly (payment received in office 5 days after receiving bill)
5. Company still discontinues Big Dog's service.

And this is somehow Big Dog's fault?

ct · 11-17-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

No offense, but if you signed up for e-bills and gave them an email addy that you don't check, how is it not your fault?

um...this

**Donger** · 11-17-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

And this is somehow Big Dog's fault?

Yes. They were sending you a bill. You signed up for e-billing and gave them an address to send the bill. It's not their fault that you weren't receiving them, nor was it their fault that you didn't read their notice.

They're a gas company not an IT shop.

Big Dog · 11-17-2009, 02:14 PM

Well, let's add a little insult to injury. MGE service rep just showed up and turned my gas back on. I profusely thanked him for squeezing me in on his packed schedule (or so I was led to believe). He looked at me quizzically and suggested it really wasn't that packed, and upon leaving let me know he was 'just about done for the day'.

5 years ago (or thereabouts) while trying to view my MGE bill online I agreed that they could send me an e-bill and a regular bill concurrently. With a slip of paper positioned with all the trash mail sent by MGE I was (supposedly) notified that the email address I had given them years ago would now be the solitary billing mechanism. I was not called, or contacted otherwise about this change, even when they knew I was not receiving the emails they did nothing. For those of you who truly believe this is even a majority of my responsibility I have one word for you.

Mooooooooo

**Donger** · 11-17-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Well, let's add a little insult to injury. MGE service rep just showed up and turned my gas back on. I profusely thanked him for squeezing me in on his packed schedule (or so I was led to believe). He looked at me quizzically and suggested it really wasn't that packed, and upon leaving let me know he was 'just about done for the day'.

5 years ago (or thereabouts) while trying to view my MGE bill online I agreed that they could send me an e-bill and a regular bill concurrently. With a slip of paper positioned with all the trash mail sent by MGE I was (supposedly) notified that the email address I had given them years ago would now be the solitary billing mechanism. I was not called, or contacted otherwise about this change, even when they knew I was not receiving the emails they did nothing. For those of you who truly believe this is even a majority of my responsibility I have one word for you.

Mooooooooo

You stated that they showed bounced email delivery on June 4th and 5th. Did they attempt to send you emails to the address you gave them in July, or did they simply not send the bill after the failure in June?

Big Dog · 11-17-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

You stated that they showed bounced email delivery on June 4th and 5th. Did they attempt to send you emails to the address you gave them in July, or did they simply not send the bill after the failure in June?

They either never sent a bill, or continued to send it to the bad email address, I don't know which. The only time they attempted to use my mailing address after that was with a final cutoff warning bill, which I paid promptly.

Big Dog · 11-17-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

You stated that they showed bounced email delivery on June 4th and 5th. Did they attempt to send you emails to the address you gave them in July, or did they simply not send the bill after the failure in June?

I was unaware of all of this until today...they now have the correct email address, one I have been using for over 4 years now. The other was cancelled when I switched away from cable as my internet provider.

I should clarify, the other email has been bad for at least 4 years. (probably more, I am not certain of the exact date)

**Donger** · 11-17-2009, 02:30 PM

Well, the onus was upon you to give them a correct email address. Honestly, I'm surprised that it took them that long to proactively contact you.

Demonpenz · 11-17-2009, 02:40 PM

did the collecter say "IF YOU CAN'T RUN WITH THE BOG DOGS STAY ON THE PORCH?" Cause I love big dog t shirts

**TrebMaxx** · 11-17-2009, 02:41 PM

Ultimately it is your fault albeit a circumstance that could have been prevented by either party. Yes, MGE could have simply called you and asked for an current email address since the one they had on record was no longer working. You could have updated your email with parties that you actually do business with before this happened and this could have been prevented as well. I also would recommend browsing through all correspondence you receive from any party you do business with. Here is a example I just ran across that could have cost me. My credit card company recently changed hands and they have sent new cards, notices etc. No problem, they didn't change any of the terms I had previously. I get our first statement and nothing looks any different than it did before. I file it in my bills to be paid. I then look at all the crap that they always send, you know the clock radio for 19.99 type of stuff and stuck in between all these other BS ad things was a notice to send this payment to a different place than before. I pull the statement out and look at the address that is on the statement, you know the part you tear off and send back to them that shows through the little window of the provided envelope. It had the old address still on there. Glad I caught that. I can just see the late fees, increase of interest rate, etc. Kind of pissed me of. But it would have been my fault. Don't expect others to be responsible for what you owe, they don't give a shit unless you don't pay.

MOhillbilly · 11-17-2009, 02:42 PM

quit bein a bitch about it and put your man pants on 'big dog'. JFC.

Big Dog · 11-17-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I pull the statement out and look at the address that is on the statement, you know the part you tear off and send back to them that shows through the little window of the provided envelope. It had the old address still on there. Glad I caught that. I can just see the late fees, increase of interest rate, etc. Kind of pissed me of. But it would have been my fault. Don't expect others to be responsible for what you owe, they don't give a shit unless you don't pay.

Another order of kool-aid please. You really think this is YOUR responsibility? When a company purposely preys on basic human behavior in order to unethically charge you outrageous fees?

I can understand opinions like, 'even though they are unethical cheating bastards it's hard for the little guy to win', or 'they do this because they have lawyers and lobbyists who find a way to make wrong things legal'...but when we all start lining up and suggesting that this is 'ok' or 'acceptable' business practice, and that it really is the consumer's responsibility...well, mooooooooooo

kstater · 11-17-2009, 02:50 PM

So to summarize:

You haven't paid your bill since July.
You got a statement saying the billing method would change to e-mail.
You signed up with said email 5 years ago.
You haven't paid your bill since July.

And this is the gas companies fault?

11-17-2009, 12:52 PM
Big Dog gimme 3 stacks of high society Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Grain Valley, MO Casino cash: $10004900	MGE Sucks So I am leaving the house today, and there is an MGE vehicle parked in front. I drive over to see a woman standing next to my gas meter. She explains she has turned off my gas due to non payment. WTF? She also cannot turn it back on, as she is a collector (although I was home and there was no knock on my door to collect), and that I have to call to get it turned back on. I pay my bills via a bill pay service, meaning they get the bills, scan them in, and send me a notification of amount and due date. It has worked very well for years now. As I am calling to get my service turned back on, I find that I received a bill on 11/12 and paid it (received in their office today). When I actually looked at the scan I find it says final warning, cutoff, blah, blah. Then I look at history and see that I have not received a bill from them since June. WTF? So I am told they will not turn on my gas until tomorrow. I say no way, get passed up to a supervisor, and I start to try and find out what has happened. She basically says it's my fault because I didn't pay...I say I paid every bill I received, and then it's my fault because I didn't notice I wasn't getting bills. We examine further...I am set up for e-bills. Now it's my fault because I signed up for e-bills and didn't pay. I argue I haven't done anything different in years, and that the fault is theirs, and they need to turn my service back on today. Finally we find out that I did sign up for e-bills so long ago that I used an email address from a provider I haven't had in 5 years or more, and that I was receiving both e-bills (although I wasn't) and paper. Now it comes to light that in June they announced (via a slip of paper in the bill) that if you have e-bills set up they will discontinue your paper bills unless you respond. Well, of course I didn't respond...because even if that was scanned in by my bill pay service, I didn't look at it...and realistically it came with all the other junk they send...trying to sell return address labels, rubber stamps, checks, etc. who would look at it? NOW THE FINAL KICKER...her system shows failed attempts at email delivery on June 4th and 5th! So it's my fault I was not paying bills they were only sending to an email address they knew I was not receiving! Still, they are not going to come turn on my service today. Throughout these calls, I am pretty agitated and tired of the condescending 'but sir, you signed up for e-bills, we have no control over that'. So I end with my only recourse. Since MGE is a monopoly and I have no other option (excepting propane I suppose, if there is no city ordinance against it) I explain to her I will be calling every radio and tv station in the city this afternoon (not a bluff btw) and seeing if anyone wanted to pick up the story...that they probably would not, but I was committed to making the calls since I felt it my only recourse. "I'll send in the order to have your gas turned on today." Of course she wouldn't guarantee when, so it's likely to be as late as they feel they can go, but it's just so damn ridiculous that through a series of errors primarily on MGE's part they did not feel responsible to turn my gas back on today. It's also a sad state that to get these monstrous monopolies (gas, electric, insurance, etc.) to do anything you have to fight and fight, and the lesson learned is that customer service doesn't matter, but the squeaky wheel gets oiled. Ok, done now...just wanted to vent.
Posts: 236

11-17-2009, 02:14 PM	#36
Big Dog gimme 3 stacks of high society Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Grain Valley, MO Casino cash: $10004900	Well, let's add a little insult to injury. MGE service rep just showed up and turned my gas back on. I profusely thanked him for squeezing me in on his packed schedule (or so I was led to believe). He looked at me quizzically and suggested it really wasn't that packed, and upon leaving let me know he was 'just about done for the day'. 5 years ago (or thereabouts) while trying to view my MGE bill online I agreed that they could send me an e-bill and a regular bill concurrently. With a slip of paper positioned with all the trash mail sent by MGE I was (supposedly) notified that the email address I had given them years ago would now be the solitary billing mechanism. I was not called, or contacted otherwise about this change, even when they knew I was not receiving the emails they did nothing. For those of you who truly believe this is even a majority of my responsibility I have one word for you. Mooooooooo __________________ If you are going to run with the big dogs, you had better learn to pee in the tall grass!
Posts: 236

11-17-2009, 02:30 PM	#40
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8939900 VARSITY	Well, the onus was upon you to give them a correct email address. Honestly, I'm surprised that it took them that long to proactively contact you. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 185,893

11-17-2009, 02:40 PM	#41
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $1806136	did the collecter say "IF YOU CAN'T RUN WITH THE BOG DOGS STAY ON THE PORCH?" Cause I love big dog t shirts __________________
Posts: 54,562

11-17-2009, 02:41 PM	#42
TrebMaxx Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Peoples Republic of CoMo Casino cash: $-32748	Ultimately it is your fault albeit a circumstance that could have been prevented by either party. Yes, MGE could have simply called you and asked for an current email address since the one they had on record was no longer working. You could have updated your email with parties that you actually do business with before this happened and this could have been prevented as well. I also would recommend browsing through all correspondence you receive from any party you do business with. Here is a example I just ran across that could have cost me. My credit card company recently changed hands and they have sent new cards, notices etc. No problem, they didn't change any of the terms I had previously. I get our first statement and nothing looks any different than it did before. I file it in my bills to be paid. I then look at all the crap that they always send, you know the clock radio for 19.99 type of stuff and stuck in between all these other BS ad things was a notice to send this payment to a different place than before. I pull the statement out and look at the address that is on the statement, you know the part you tear off and send back to them that shows through the little window of the provided envelope. It had the old address still on there. Glad I caught that. I can just see the late fees, increase of interest rate, etc. Kind of pissed me of. But it would have been my fault. Don't expect others to be responsible for what you owe, they don't give a shit unless you don't pay.
Posts: 4,359

11-17-2009, 02:42 PM	#43
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	quit bein a bitch about it and put your man pants on 'big dog'. JFC. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

11-17-2009, 02:50 PM	#45
kstater Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2007 Casino cash: $436563	So to summarize: You haven't paid your bill since July. You got a statement saying the billing method would change to e-mail. You signed up with said email 5 years ago. You haven't paid your bill since July. And this is the gas companies fault?
Posts: 39,355