Tampa Electric / Teco Energy
Reviews and Complaints

They don't care. My husband has cancer-it is 95 degrees and they want a random deposit of $405.00 which needs to be paid or they will disconnect my service. They wont take payments and a supervisor offered no help. My power has never been turned off and I have had service with them for 15 years. Yes I have been late a few times, but obviously times are tough for me and everyone else. Why are they hitting us for more money now when everyone is struggling? We will need to sit here in the dark and in the heat until it can be paid. My guess is that will take a few weeks to scrape that extra money together. What do I do about my refrigerator and freezer etc? I hope it makes them a bigger and better company at the end of the day to know the effect that they are having on the community.

Yeah it's theme . I don't know what kind of employee they have but i called to turn on my gas, and i told her that i'm going to buy the house, but i don't have the key yet, so she have to give me exact time or call me before so that the real estate agent can open the door for them.and boy that women who answer the phone was soooooo rude, and stupid in the same time.her name is Nancy and code # 7383. she told me that i have to be there from 8 am to 8pm, and if i'm late the're going to charge me !

TECO had me arrested because I allegedly "stole" electricity from them by running an extension cord from a house that had "an illegal hook-up".
There was a lengthy 'investigation' that led to my arrest. I cannot find a lawyer in Tampa, Florida that has balls enough to sue these rodents. TECO MUST be stopped before ALL residents in Tampa suffer the losses that I have. Send me a lawyer with balls PLEASE before it's too late for all of us! Extortion is one thing. Monopoly is another, but being FALSELY charged with theft is OUTRAGEOUS. This is the END for TECO. I will spend the rest of my life suing these cockroaches and making them suffer just like they did to me..

This is exactly what they are doing, EXTORTION from the consumers who can't change eletric companies! There is a monopoly going on! How can they hold over $550.00 in deposit just in case you leave your home! Sounds like a ggod scam to me!

I am facing the same problem. We (two people) live in a small 2 bedroom 1 bath cinderblock house. No pool, extra nothing. We move in a year ago with $145 bill mo. We lock our back yard up because we have a dog. So our bill goes up and up and I request a digital meter, now I am leaving my back yard unlocked for installment. 5 months go by unlocked. No installment. Bill keeps getting higher. I call to find out why this happening. The rap tells me ways to save energy (lower A/C, change bulbs etc.) Okay went to home depot, tried out a few things. Bill keeping coming in ^. I'm upset, we are a young couple, not too much extra money to support. I call again, speak to a rep and she tells me because my gate is locked they have to estimate (its not locked!) and to check the local weather. They estimate that we've turned up our A/C to accommodate. NO we keep it at a constant 78-90 degrees, remember our power saving tip? $436.56 for August 2009.
Here's the kicker. We checked the mail today and guess what, current balance $1, 125.38 Sep 2009 334 kWh per day. They said they got in to the back yard and read the meter and they are back billing us for all the time they couldn’t get to the meter. So let’s do this. Say our regular bill was $225 monthly. They said they back billed us $900 since May. That would tack on an about $225 more each month. However you do the math it is not right. I've set up a payment plan for an additional $100 tacked to each bill for the next 9 months. What the F! I am just putting in my two cents. This is criminal!

They could not get into by back yard and they back billed me over $1, 000. I live in a smal house and work over 40 hrs wk, am never home to use the amount of power they are billing me for. In the first place my bill is over $200 mo.

That is because the first rate increase has already taken effect as of the beginning of the year. That is what I was told by a representative of Teco via phone.

I am on SSI and have resided in my home for over 20 years. I have been a customer of TECO for over 25 years. I am being charged a deposit raising my new bill to over 1500. My lights have not been turned off .Yes I pay late but again I am on SSI and my bill is extremely high for 2200 sq ft home. Ranging from 400 - 600 every month..

I called and told them I was supposed to have been put on a program for customers that are on a fixed income to give them more time but was never put on it until this deposit was issued and I noticed now I am on it. They won't work with me. Knowing how inflation and times are tough right now.

Its horrible.

Does anyone know how to get TECO to waive the deposit?

20 years I have been in my home I am not going anywhere they know this.

I agree I was also charged an additional deposit on an existing account. I told the representative that I do not like their policy and I would like the name of their competitor. so I can switch she said they are the only electric company servicing this area. I believe this is the definition of a Monopoly it is illegal in this country and they abuse this. cell phone companies and cable companies do not have the same policy because people can switch. I will be filing papers.

I am suffering the same situation. I have lived in my home for over 15 years. I have been late on my TECO bill two times. This last early part of August, I traveled to Cincinnati on an emergency to assist my brother who was to undergo surgery and then I traveled to Chicago to assist my adult children in babysitting their baby while they moved. I forgot to pay the TECO bill prior to travel. I did provide the post office with a forwarding address for a Chicago address. By the time I received the TECO bill, it was too late. The bill for $103.01 was due by August 15 and by August 25, my power was turned off. Fortunately a friend and a neighbor advised me of this on August 26 and I paid the requesting billing of $175. Later, I received notice VIA MAIL that this was payment towards the $175 deposit which I automatically owed because I had received a final notice the prior September also. When I returned home on the evening of September 13, I immediately put in the mail box for September 15 mail pick up a check for $210. When I received some of my back dated mail, I received a bill of about $239 and so I mailed an additional check to TECO for $40. Then on September 17, I receiver a notice from TECO that I owed $291xx or my service would be cancelled by September 23. I did call TECO on September 18 and requested to speak to a supervisor who did state that she is seeing the payments but they have not yet been posted and no, my service would not be cancelled on September 23 as the $55 additional costs are part of the current cycle. The question I have is why was I not charged the $175 plus the $103.01 on the initial call? Gronda from New Tampa

YES IT HAPPEN TO ME TO I NEED TO PAY 275.00DEP. BUT I'M SENDING AN APPEAL LETTER TO PO BOX 111 TAMPA, FL 33601... WE ALL NEED TO TALK AND THEY NEED TO HEARD US...

Warning ; TampaElectric aka TECO playing a nasty game by charging 2 times the 4.95 fee when using their justpayit online payment .

Been with TECO at same address for 22 years. Having financial problems and have cut back my use of electricity to almost half of what my bill used to be, sometimes warmer or colder than I would like in my home but had to cut back somewhere. I know I am paying my bill late but always pay, they are inconvenienced by having to send me a final notice postcard in the mail but I am paid every 2 weeks and sometimes the money isn't there when needed. I received a deposit request for 550.00 and tried to contact them to see if I could have a couple days grace period until payday but all I can get is a voice recording telling me that my account isn't eligible. I placed the payment for a day later than what they wanted so that the money would be in my account. Hope I have electricity when I get home. How do you get to a live person? After reading some of the articles not sure if I want to speak to them anyway.

SO...I don't get a bill from Teco People's Gas...but they decide to place a yellow door hanger on my door on Thurs 4/4 (which that charged me $20 to do...nice) anyway, the hanger says pay by 4/6 to avoid disconnection...I had back to back meetings, and got back late Fri night (4/5), go to take a shower...and YOU GUESSED IT...NO HOT WATER...they shut off the gas on 4/5...doucebags...OFCOURSE they are closed on the weekends...guess who I am calling tomorrow morning at 8 am?

Teco custmer service sucks... they don't have any consideration for anything or anyone. I hate TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY

We have been with TECO 28 years and now they want us to give them a deposit of $400.00 so they can make more money off it's Customers. THIS IS EXTORTION AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT? THIS IS BLACK MAIL PURE AND SIMPLE.

Have I got a nightmare story about Tampa electric? I moved from N.Y. to Tampa Fl. 6 months ago. They tell me in spite of my good credit they need a $250 deposit. I explain to the women that I feel that is an unreasonable amount to request for a deposit, that my N.Y. deposit was less than half of that. The women said you are not in N.Y. anymore and without the $250 deposit you will not get electric. So I search for another company only to find out that electric companies here are monopolized, there is nowhere else to go but them TECO, unlike other states. Not long after paying their $250 deposit my nightmare began. The bills consistently arrived late and when I contacted them, they claimed it was the post office, so I took my complaint up at the post office and they asked if I had problems with other mail besides the electric bills, which the answer when I thought about it was no. So to be safe I decided to send larger amounts in so I can work off the overdue balance since I kept receiving their bills late. About 4 months later late January I receive a bill for $28.00 so I figure I’ll let it roll into Feb. and make a large payment and work off my overdue balance. Well I did not get any other bills yet and then on Valentine’s day Feb 14th I get a disconnect notice I was shocked, but what was more shocking was the disconnect notice which I received in the 14th of Feb was back dated and said my electric is scheduled for disconnect on the 13th of Feb. It totally didn't make sense. They had already closed by the time I got to my mailbox on Valentine’s day So early the next day Friday morning 8am I contacted them . They told me a total of $90 was due and I said no problem I’ll pay larger amount as I always due and work off the balance. Then she tells me it’s too late as a truck is in my area and my electric is already scheduled for disconnect and there will be disconnect/connect fee. I thought at first she was joking. I owe a measly $90 bucks that and I’m willing to pay immediately and there determined to shut my electric off and charge me for it. Now how crazy is that so I explain to the lady that I have a 3 year old special needs child that has bronchitis and as prescribed by her doctor needs to use a nebulizer 3 times a day which is runs by electric as well its extremely chilly and have the heat on and she’s under the covers and not well. Also she’s on a special diet and all her foods need refrigeration that this is detrimental to her health, Again another shocker she states that’s not there problem and that I should of thought about that before I decided to be late with the electric bill. I than asked her how silly she sounds we are talking about one time lateness and for 90 bucks and the fact that the only bill I received in the last month was for $28.00 and that the disconnect notice was backdated which I received on the 14th of Feb in which stated cut off on the 13th that this is absolutely insane and I never in my life have dealt with such an unprofessional company let alone a multimillion or possibly billion dollar electric company. I asked what is the quickest way to pay and she told me Amscot so I hung up on her to Immediately run over and pay the $90 I did not pay additional funds figuring they were going to try to steal it and put it towards a disconnect fee. I get back from paying at around 9:15 am and low & behold a white pick-up is parked in my driveway and he's disconnecting my electric. In my 54 years of life I have never had this happen it was beyond bizarre. Even when I showed him the $90 is paid he said he has to call the company in order to connect and when I told him about my sick special needs daughter in the house, he expressed no interest what so ever. I insisted he reconnect immediately or I’m calling 911 that a child’s life is at stake here that this is a very serious situation this is not cable TV or internet service This is electric a necessity . He actually laughed and challenged me to do it so I did and blocked his truck in with my car so he couldn't leave. It was crazy I couldn't believe this was an electric company I was dealing with all for 90 bucks as well they rushed over early in the morning to cut my electric on a Friday knowing the soonest turn on would be Monday. The cop showed up and after I explained everything showed him documentation of payment and my daughter’s hospital records and IEP disability records even he could not understand it either. He told the guy to immediately turn the electric back on that the bill is now paid, but the guy told me I will be charged a $150 connect fee. I became angry so the cop told me to move my vehicle and let him leave and take it up with the electric company. Well that was a waste I was on the phone with those lying scheming company until 4pm that day, I spoke to over 6 different people and so called account managers who told me over & over they will not remove the $150 fee and when I told them I refuse to ever pay that and plan on filing a complaint with the Fl. District attorney’s office they all but laughed and firmly told me that they do not accept partial payments and if that fee is not paid in full along with any electric balance they will immediately disconnect. She also added to my amazement that my original deposit of $250 is being reassessed and most likely will be raised significantly. How crazy is this company, how can they get away with this. Is there no laws protecting customers from this sadistic company is there any place else to turn to for electric? Would it be worth my efforts to file a complaint with the district attorneys’ office as probably nothing can be proved? If anyone can suggest anything or has experienced a nightmare like mine maybe a class action suit can be filed. Email me blkshad@gmail.com to join in and do something to fight against this company getting away with this kind of possibly illegal activity.

Teco is not even investigating in Hillsborough.

they wont turn power on, overcharges, billing is paid no money due.

julia rood

5202 south zion street

tampa, fl 33611

[protected]

jroo_79@yahoo.com

These electric bills are criminal! My bill has gone up 70%! in the last year. How the hell is this legal?

Signed up for "Due Date Plus" and was still charged a late fee for being 7 days delinquent. And as usual a hold time of hours to NEVER speak to customer service anyway. HORRIBLE company to deal with!

The streetlight on hogans bnd 43210 is burned out The pole address is [protected]

What the hell do you want from me'

My bill went up by 100. Since your rate hike last month. You should be ashamed of yourselves lining your corporate pockets with our hard earned social security.

I've had budget billing for years with no problem until now. Usually they increase my bill about 10 dollars a year. I had to go back to regular payments because they were increasing my bill 57 dollars a month. I still don't understand how my bill increase so much.

i dont see how this was resolved. same thing was done to me. i requested and extension and approved then later they cut my electricity and did not advise me plus they wanted to increase my deposit after 10 years. this people are heartless

Call two times you would not understand or meet with me about this issue I have talked to Badged Teco Officer and completed what he ask and now can not get any help about mater so I have reached out Fed and governor because you would not help you need better communicating skills with your company

Teco will not handle problem