Something I find a little upsetting and VERY disturbing

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I contacted an electric company to purchase power for my new apartment. I began by applying online. A while later I got an email saying there was a problem with my application, and I should call their help line. They gave me an incident number, but failed to include a phone number. I called the 888 number listed on the web site and got someone who barely spoke english (and understood less). After my frustrating dance with her she forwarded me on to an english speaking person so I could conclude my application by phone.

A hitch- a few days ago I began a credit repair. The first thing I was told to do was to place a fraud alert freeze on my credit report, which I did. So now, when the electric company attempted to confirm my identity, they turned to my credit report, which apparently was frozen with an outdated contact phone number on it, which due to the freeze I am now unable to update for the next ninety days. For some reason they use this listed contact number to verify a person's ID, so when they don't get an answer they can't confirm I'm me, even though I'm talking to them ON THE PHONE AT THE MOMENT.

I say okayfine, tell me where your local walk-in office is, and I'll come in and flash my ID to a real person and solve the problem. Big problem- no such place exists. THEY MAINTAIN NO PUBLIC WALK-IN OFFICE IN ANY LOCATION. They have completely isolated themselves from their customers. There's no way to solve this by walking up to a glass window somewhere and saying "here I am".

Is this even legal??? I'm sitting here thinking and getting more pissed off and suddenly "class action suit" pops into my head. How can they not have a live public interface??? Even when I lived in Nashville, a city with more than a million people in it, there was a row of walk-up windows with people behind it. It was downtown at the main facility, but it WAS THERE.

When I go on to the next company on my list, will I fare any better? (I sign the lease on friday, and they want a confirmation number for electric service then.)

This pisses me off.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I found out recently

that there is no local office for the phone company anymore. A friend needed to pay her phone bill and had only cash. She called to find out where to take her money and they said either pay online or over the phone with a credit card. She said but I want to pay in cash. They said she had to go to a Western Union office and pay the bill there (for a slight fee of course).

Crazy, isn't it?

[TomInTib]

2. Are you able to pay a few months in advance?

If I were in your situation, that would be my approach.

Just kind of thumbnail your credit glitch and go one scenario better to them.

Prepay and let Dog figure it out.

It will work.

Even wihout a walk-up, you can pay by wire transfer or direct deposit.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. Where to I go to hand over the money?

I'd be glad to... :shrug:

[TomInTib]

8. Phone them and offer to prepay by check or credit card.

You would be better served by paying by check.

No need to go anywhere, just do it by phone.

Just be persistent but not strident.

Work with them and they will work with you.

If not, just call back later and get a different rep.

[MoseyWalker]

3. I have to mail my payment to another state

a different state than I live in, and have no other recourse than to phone when I feel there are discrepancies.

In other words................I'm screwed.

[Divine Discontent]

4. tell them you wish

to have your call a manager who can give you a fax # to send a copy of you holding your ID up to your face... seriously. And when they tell you they can't do that, sit in the dark and consider moving into the mountains...

seriously, I feel for you. THAT SUCKS!

I have many cred problems and I know this would happen to me.

[cynatnite]

5. Kind of what we have here

There are pay stations for electric bills at gas stations and a few other businesses, but that's it.

[babylonsister]

7. Can you elaborate on this from your post?

The first thing I was told to do was to place a fraud alert freeze on my credit report, which I did.

and

So now, when the electric company attempted to confirm my identity, they turned to my credit report, which apparently was frozen.

I'm confused!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. I'm confused too.

I have no idea what, why, and wherefore. All I know is apparently there's a phone number on that report that isn't current, and I can't access my report to update it. That's what freezes are all about- NOBODY can add new information. It keeps creditors from re-entering a claim after it's been cleared off.

[babylonsister]

12. Whomever told you to put a "fraud alert freeze"

on your account is the culprit perhaps. Check that avenue out.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. Nope. He's legit.

I have good reason to trust him- it's a genuine line of work, and he was recommended to me by my tax man- a person who has also been a client of mine for over two years. The freeze is a legitimate tool, also.

[babylonsister]

16. Then I hope he's helping to resolve this, since he was

the one who gave you advice.

[lonestarnot]

9. Do you have a corporation commission? If so call the

utilities division. Works for phones too.

[valerief]

11. Escape from Texas. n/t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

14. Oddly, I like it here.

Living here has opened many doors for me, and I'm quite content to stick around for a while.

[Horse with no Name]

15. Do you have someone that will put it in their name

until you can get your credit record fixed?
Other than that, I would recommend you try Gexa.