Why was an $813 balance added to Surrina H.’s ComEd bill? The charges were tied to a Chicago address where she had never lived. While trying to resolve the identity theft issue, ComEd disconnected her service and she was left without service for days. “ComEd was not really responding,” she…...
CUB to the rescue: A commercial rate for a residential space?
Gabriele was a charged a $1,200 deposit for using a commercial space, but argued she was just a residential customer. She had been using a previous owner’s storefront window space for family gatherings, kids’ art activities and meetings. With no business license, the space was not being used to sell…...
Customer wrongly charged for closed ComEd account
Linda’s son authorized her to manage his ComEd account since he travels often and typically is not home. The Bolingbrook woman was living with her son, but owned a property where the tenant had moved without warning and left the lights on. ComEd charged Linda’s property balance of $1,751.36 to her…...
ComEd account fraudulently opened under customer’s name
While refinancing her home, Chicago resident Jessica Torf noticed her credit score was going down due to a $2,700 ComEd balance. After checking some overlooked mail, Jessica noticed multiple accounts were opened in her name at different addresses. She filed an identity theft claim and emailed ComEd her personal documents and…...
Update: Defend net neutrality
Net Neutrality Update: Take action to fight a White House attack on the nation’s strongest internet consumer protections. Background: Things looked pretty bleak last year after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under new Chairman Ajit Pai, killed the internet consumer protections called “net neutrality.” But enough people care about this issue—polls show an…...
The heating-affordability crisis
By Bryan McDaniel CUB’s Director of Governmental Affairs CUB has been working with other consumer advocates to reform the Peoples Gas pipeline-replacement program–the utility’s mismanaged project that threatens to spark what Crain’s Chicago Business called a “heating-affordability crisis.” Last week I came face-to-face with the heating-affordability crisis. I met with…...
Time to tell AT&T: NO
AT&T Update: The phone company has mailed a letter that has some low-income seniors worried. That’s why we need you to take action. AT&T is ending a federal “Lifeline” discount that for years has helped some of its most vulnerable low-income customers afford traditional landline phone service. (It appears on qualifying bills as…...
Q&A on AT&T ending the Lifeline discount for landline customers
CUB has been getting calls from AT&T customers concerned about a letter they received from the company announcing the end of a low-income discount on landline service. Read CUB’s Q & A. What happened? In September, certain AT&T landline customers received a letter from the company with the headline: “Your…...
