Aliquippa, PA asked in Consumer Law, Contracts, Business Law and Collections for Pennsylvania

Q: Help!

My electric bill has been unusually high, so I called them. They informed me I had a 3rd party supplier on my bill I was unaware of. I called said 3rd party and they informed me that I had added them to my account last summer. Going through the details it came across that my sister had given them my name and address which signed me up, she used her email which is how I knew it was her. But now the first 12 months at their “low price” is over and I’m being charged DOUBLE what I normally pay. They allowed my sister to sign me up without any type of ID, verification that she lived at this address or even a simple phone call to make sure I allowed the changes. They said that doing so is completely legal and they don’t need permission from anyone to make changes too my bill. Is this correct or should I be doing something? They offered a credit but it’s been two months now and I’m still paying on the balance owed to them from these changes and it has added up to much more than the credits $.

1 Lawyer Answer

A: I would suggest you file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Here is a link to resources on the process and directions on how to file a complaint:

http://www.puc.state.pa.us/filing_resources/filing_complaints.aspx

Note that the PUC specifically suggests you file an informal complaint first for the situation you have described.

Best of luck.

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