Tri-County Electric

michelle c.

The issue....I always pay my bill on or about the 15th of each month because that is when I get paid. My mortgage comes out of my check on the 1st and bills/car payment comes out on the 15th.

My fiancé just went back to work about one month ago and we got a little behind on our bills. We are both in school and work trying to better ourselves, and it is difficult. In order to get everything paid last month, I had to juggle bills around to make it work. I needed to push off the electric bill about a week so we could use my fiancé's check to pay it. So, I contacted your office to ask for assistance. That's when this all started......

When I asked to push off my payment for a week, I was told no. I explained my circumstances thinking that I would be assisted with this issue and was told that paying on the 15th is considered late and there was nothing that they could do for me. So I asked for the supervisor, Mike. He said the same thing. It was absolute and there was no bending the rules. Therefore, I had to pay the electric bill and juggle everything else around to accommodate your office.

This month's bill became due and I had the money to pay for it. As I stated above, I work over 40 hours per week and go to school Monday through Friday from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. I don't get home until 11:00 five days per week so you can imagine I'm mentally exhausted. Finals for this class were Monday and Tuesday this week so I studied all weekend so that I can move on to the next phase. Needless to say, I forgot to make the payment online as I always do.

The next morning, our electricity was cut off. We were told that they were going to add a $40 reconnect fee plus a $300 deposit, and the $138 electric bill. They wanted all money due in order to turn our electric back on.

We asked that your office work with us on this issue and were again met with NO and really made to feel that we are desolate. Mike even started to give us numbers for ""people who need assistance"". Mike and the staff was about uncaring as they come. When I was with TXU, they let me pay out a deposit on my bill over a 6 month period. However, TriCounty is not willing to help their customer out in a financially stressed time. We clearly told Mike that we could not afford it but he said NO. Not to mention that we had to discuss this issue in front of the entire staff and customers. So they now know that I am experiencing financial difficulty too. IT'S EMBARRASSING!!!!

We paid the electric bill to get it turned back on but now all the pending items in my checking account have bounced and the total is now at $400 in the negative. I'm out the additional $200 with your office and $400 with my bank because YOUR OFFICE WOULD NOT HELP THEIR CUSTOMER!!!!

Next month, I have to pay the other half of the deposit and don't know where this money will come from. Are we going to be left with no electricity because I can't pay it????? This is ridiculous and I'm not stopping until I get some sort of resolution with your company. This email will be sent to every board member, to every news paper, to the Governor of Texas, our Representatives, Senators, and the President of the United States.

Unfortunately, this company is a coop and I have no choice other than to use your services. I was even advised by another electric company to ask for a different due date.....I did and was told NO! Would you be...NO....Can you help me....NO....It's almost funny how NO is the main word used in your office. The only thing that isn't funny at all is how much money this is costing me and money that I do not have. I haven't made my truck payment and now the mortgage is due. All the funds that I am spending on this case was intended for my truck payment....What am I to do now? Any suggestions?

My financial situation has intensely worsened because of your company and I'm not going down without a fight!!!!! I may even attend the coop meetings to discuss how you may better serve your customers especially in times like these....

***If I understood how coops worked, I would never have purchased my house in that neighborhood.