My mom had got this company and on the middle of the worst freeze in texas . She paid 70 bucks for 4 days of service. Is this how you like to rip people off. I put 20 bucks on it weekly to see how you like to f people over. Yall have me 6 days then the next day it said 4. Stay away from this service provider unless you want to die from summer heat this year. I barely use my a.c cuz yall charge an arm and a leg. This company is not cheap or affordable at all. They say you dont need a deposit but you have to put 70 bucks on your account to start it. Um well sounds like a down payment to me. I dont care about yalls fancy words. Another thing I dont like is that you guys reply to customers who have issues with your company to tell them that they used a high amount of electricity. I was gone for 3 days and left a fan on in my apartment for my cat. And that fan alone drained my account. So f yall and yalls fake ass payless company. Guys honestly just pick a different provider. You’ll save more money I promise.
Response: Thank you for submitting your concern, we can definitely see why you’re making the attempt to reach out to us. As per your concern you are stating that you feel that you are being overcharge for your usage and unsatisfied with the initial payment of $70 that lasted only 4 days. Allow us to explain what occurred on the account. Please keep a couple of things in mind. Your service required a $70 initial payment and based on your account information looks like you made a $75 payment instead. Please note that $75was only used for your usage. The $70 initial payment is not a deposit everything was used towards your usage. Upon reviewing the account, the service started on 2/11/21 & the balance was positive on 2/23/21 with $10.75. The last a payment that was made $20 on 2/23/21 brought account balance to positive $27.81. We will be more than happy to go over your usage for the 3 days where you stated that you were gone. Please keep in mind that there is a daily fee that includes up to your first 17KWH of usage each day. Anything over that will be charged at the low KWH rate. There is a breakdown of this on your Electricity Facts Label under plan documents in your customer portal. The fee covers the first 17KWH per day or first 510 KWH in your 30-day billing cycle. We can also show you how to independently verify if Payless Power (or any company you may use in the future) is billing you for the actual usage you consumed. All retail electric providers use the same meter data, and this can be checked free of charge via www.SmartMeterTexas .com. This is a site operated by the state and is not affiliated with Payless Power however the information you will need to enroll is listed in your customer portal. At this time, we will like an opportunity to go over this information with you, A customer care Supervisor will be contacting you soon. Published on July 16, 2021
Lost my job due to Covid and had a hard time maintaining the bills . However, I had to move out of my apartment and shortly afterwards it was rented out . However , my apartments called and notified me that the new tenants cannot turn or their lights due to a switch hold on the acct . I tried calling several times to make payment arrangements because I was told the new tenants have a new born baby. God knows what they are going through because of refusal for the light company to work with me regarding payments to have the hold remove. I definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY AND IF I COULD GIVE NO STARS I WOULD. IF THEY COULD MAKE A TENANT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SWITCH HOLD SUFFER WITH A NEW BORN JUST IMAGINE WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF YOU BECAME A CUSTOMER , THEY DO NOT CARE!!
Response: Mr.Mbingo – You comments state that you lost your job due to covid and that you moved out of your apartment with a very large unpaid balance and now the new tenant is having problems getting service because there is a switch-hold associated with your account. You also state that you continue to be charged after your service was disconnected and this is not fair . Because of these things , you state that in your opinion Payless Power does not care . First let me say that being affected financially by covid is a terrible thing that has affected millions of people in this country. There are assistance programs designed to specifically help [people in your situation. We have sent message to your phone and email multiple times per week for the last couple of months alerting you of these programs. We can still help if you call us at 888 963 9363. Now if you left your residence with months of unpaid charges and a switch-hold on the account then yes this can cause delays for the next tenant . It is your responsibility to settle your deferred charges so we can remove the hold. If you no longer live there, there is a process the new tenant will need to follow to get power. They should contact their provider of choice who will begin the process on their behalf. Also please note that Payless Power bills 2 days in arrears. That means if an account gets disconnected on Tuesday, there will be 2 additional days of charges forthcoming . This is because the charges for Tuesday were actually from Sunday so if you got disconnected on Tuesday you will be billed for Mondays’ charges on Wednesday and Tuesday’s charges (billing stats and midnight and disconnections are generally not completed until after 12:00 noon). Once those charges in arrears are caught up an account will not be billed while disconnected. We will be happy to go over this with you in detail including how to apply for assistance to pay off your past due charges. Please call us at 888 963 9363. Published on July 08, 2021
Don’t recommend. Prices are EXTREMELY high. This is a waste of money so your best bet is going with a popular electric company that’s not prepaid
Response: Ms Strawther- In your comments you indicate that you are extremely dissatisfied with the Payless Power rates and suggest that due to this customers should stay away from Payless Power. I have been able to locate your account and after seeing your daily charges can certainly understand why you would feel that way but a review of the account points to high usage as the source of the high charges you have experienced. In the few days that you have been on our service we have not raised your rates. In fact rate changes on the variable plans are actually pretty infrequent. What does change is the amount of power used at the address. Pre-paid service shines a bright light on high usage and energy inefficacy and some research on your address reveals a couple of factors that very likely are contributing to the high charges. A supervisor will reach out to you to discuss. Also feel free to reach out to us at 888 963 9363 for more information. Published on June 23, 2021
Very poor this is just an outrageous ordeal I’ve tried to apply for assistance and actually I did 2 months ago and still have not been helped. If you say you offer services then why is it so hard to get them?
Response: Ms Brown- In your comments you have expressed frustration because you applied for assistance 2 months have yet to receive it. Its hard to imagine the stress this must cause so your frustration is completely understandable. As you may know , Payless Power is not the administrator of the Texas Rent Relief Program . This is a State program that dispenses federal relief funds. A supervisor will be reaching out to you to see what we can do to ensure that you have any documentation that you need but beyond that we are unable to expediate the process. What we can do is offer assistance in the form of a payment arrangement that you can handle until your aid comes through. It is essential that you speak to us this week as the Public Utilities Commissioner has lifted the Winter Storm Moratorium and disconnections are now set to resume on 6/29/21. You do not have to face disconnection or come up with a large down payment. We are here to help and have great options to assist. Please contact us at 888 963 9363 for assistance. Published on June 22, 2021
This company is garbage! They get you with super easy and cheap installation, but then charge you a $3 recurring fee each day. So when your bill should normally be anywhere from 100 or 200 a month make sure you tac on an extra $100 a month for all of the fees. You will save much more in the long run using another company.
Response: Jesse- Your comments state that you get charged $3.00 per day as a recurring fee which comes out to an extra $100 in addition to your charges. This makes you feel like you are paying an extra $100 per month on top of your charges. Let me say that no one wants to feel like they are being taken advantage of so if that is your understanding of our plans, there’s little wonder why you’re upset. Anyone would be. Fortunately, this is not how the plan works so we can reach out to you to cover the plan details with you . It is true that your plan comes with the $2.78 daily fee that was disclosed upon enrollment. The important factor with this plan is that this fee includes your first 17KWH. For example, if you use 24 KWH during a day you would not pay $2.78 and for 24 KWH. You would only pay the daily fee and for 6KWH at the established per KWH for your plan. If you use under 17KWH on some days and over 17KWH on others then our system will perform an automatic true-up at the end of the month to ensure that you receive the rate listed on your Electricity Facts Label. On top of this Payless Power does not charge the commonly applied fees that many of our competitors apply . This include disconnection fees, reconnection fees, late fees, assistance fees, fees to pay with a live agent, fees to pay through the automated phone systems and fees to pay online. Once you understand how the billing truly works and the options we extend to our pre-paid customers you’ll see that Payless Power is actually a very good option for someone who is budget conscious. A supervisor will reach out to explain this and answer your questions. You can also call us at 888 963 9363. We’re here to help. Published on May 03, 2021
It’s a pay per use plan but they keep rolling the meter even though there is no more money. Then you get a surprise bill. Don’t use them. They never call back when you leave a message. Never available.
Response: Mr. Zoleta- Your review comments say that although you have a pre-paid plan its not working for you because the service continues even when there is no available funds. You also feel this results in surprise bills . You also state that customer care is never available and doesn’t return your messages. Let me say that if this were my impression of my electric company I would not recommend them to anyone either. The good news is there are probably some pretty simple explanations to your concerns. First let me say that since Winter Storm Uri , Payless Power has adhered to the Governor’s executive order to halt discussions until further notice. In addition we still send daily texts and emails with account balance and usage information to every customer on a daily basis. If we don’t have your most current contact information you may not be receiving your notifications. Most customers state that the very best part of our service is that there are no surprises. No one using Payless Power is ever surprised when they open their paper bill at the end of the month. This is because we don’t sent out monthly bills. We send daily texts and emails which gives every customer a fighting chance to make adjustments so they can stay within budget. Please call us at 888 963 9363 and say that you are calling about a review response and that you need to speak with a supervisor. We would like to get some more information about your statement that you can never reach anyone and no one replies to your messages. Since the storm, our average wait time to speak to a live agent is about 45 seconds which means that there is always someone available during business hours. We can research your phone number or take a deeper look into what is causing the communications issues that you are experiencing. We do not have a system for customers to leave voice mails so we need to confirm you are calling the right number. We think that your situation can be easily fixed and thank you for taking the time to let us know that you need assistance. Published on March 25, 2021
It’s was ok, for first time
Response: Thank you Tameshia for the feedback it's greatly appreciated! Published on March 16, 2021
i hate it this product sucks
Response: We are so thankful for your review and would love the opportunity to speak to you about your charges, so that we can help you in any way we can. We invite you to reach back out to us via email or phone, so we can offer further assistance. Published on March 16, 2021
The rest of these reviews HAVE TO be fake! This is my 3rd time trying to submit. Do not use this company. Very unfriendly all 1000 times my neighbor or I have had to call. During then pandemic they offered the minimum support. They disconnect you with medical devices, elderly and sick. Payment plans made only to rack up fees and get a hold on your meter. Only advantage is not having to have a high deposit. I should have switched as soon as I started doing better in the beginning. They’re reps are so unsympathetic. Do not give yourself the heartache of having this company.
Response: Ms Nelson- Your review comments state that you feel our reviews must be false because in your experience, our staff is unsympathetic and offered only minimum assistance throughout the pandemic. You also state that Payless Power disconnects if there are medical devices in use or elderly in the home and that the deferred payment plans are only designed to generate more fees. Without a doubt, its not a good situation if a customer constantly struggles when paying for their power. It’s understandable that anyone facing such challenges would feel overwhelmed and look for a reprieve . Payless Power has designed its policies and plans around the concept of making it easy for customers to manage their cash flow. There is one basic concept of pre-paid service that is unavoidable however, funds must be available on the account to ensure service. For customers who need a little help from time to time we have what we believe to be the widest array of assistance options available in the Texas re-regulated retail electricity market. We offer automated extensions through 8:00 PM same day and deferred payment plans even though we are a pre-paid provider without a deposit requirement. We also eliminated disconnection and reconnection fees , late fees, assistance fees, account load fees and internal payment fees. We also do not have minimum usage fees or usage thresholds you must reach to receive discounts . During extreme situations we offer more options. The Pandemic was one of these. Payless Power participated in the States Covid-19 Electricity Relief Program and did not disconnect customers who were enrolled in that program while also applying monthly credits and discounts . Following the end of the State’s program in October we had an option for every customer needing assistance which included adding or modifying their deferred payment plans. Keep in mind that DPPs do not accrue any additional fees. We simply take the balance owed and spread it out to make it easier for the customer to handle. Recently we contacted you to advise of a federal covid rent and utility assistance program. This could result in some real relief for you. We also have not disconnected any customer since prior to the storm and If you need assistance with your balance , call us. We can help. When it comes to customer’s with medical devices etc, your options are based on whether you are qualified with the state as a critical care or chronic condition customer. If you have not applied we can send you the application but be advised that the State prohibits these customers from using pre-paid service sue to the frequent possibility of disconnection with little notice. That’s a lot to digest but please be patient and realize that our options are not unlimited . We can help quite a bit but depending on the level of your needs and whether they are ongoing, we may not be able to each time. We will review your account and give it fair consideration each time though. 888-963-9363 Published on March 16, 2021
If I could, I would give this company a negative star rating. Those with disabilities who register for the Chronic Care Designation will be quoted a higher deposit rate. I was initially quoted a $49 deposit, but when going through the reports and paperwork, I was asked if “[I] or anyone in [my] household had qualified for the Chronic Care Designation.” When I replied, “Yes,” I was told in so many words, that someone on the Chronic Care Designation List cannot qualify for the $49 deposit, but must pay a ~$350 deposit. I was told this by both the third party and by a Payless CS Agent as well. The Payless CS Agent went on to inform me that because it was a prepaid deposit, it was not subject to the ADA and non-discriminatory practices laws.
Response: Hello- Your comments state that Payless Power charges higher deposits for those with disabilities who register as Chronic Care and that you would need to pay $350 deposit for service and pre-paid service is not covered under any ADA laws. We will reach out to you to get more information or who you spoke to but this information is absolutely incorrect. The most important fact is that as an exclusive provider of pre-paid service the Public Utilities Commission of Texas forbids us from enrolling any customer designated as critical care or chronic condition patient (PUCT Rule 25.498 {3} {k} https://www.puc.texas.gov/agency/rulesnlaws/subrules/electric/25.498/25.498.pdf. Secondly as a pre-paid company we do not require a deposit and do not run credit checks. An initial fee to start service is required and based on which plan offer the customer chooses. We have a no contract, month to month plan with a starting fee of $49.00 and a 12 month contract with a lower rate that requires a payment of $75.00 to start. Payless Power has never required more that $75.00 to start service as this would also be a violation of the PUCT’s prepaid regulations. Based on what you describing the 3rd party may have correctly explained that as a chronic condition patient you cannot enroll in a pre-paid electricity plan and instead must select a post -paid plan from another provider. We do partner with 3rd party marketers who can offer service through a number of other providers based on an individual’s needs or circumstances. It is conceivable that if you called and advised that you are a chronic condition patient that the representative correctly advised that you are not eligible for pre-paid service and directed you to a post paid option with an alternate provider that does require a credit check and deposit based on the customer’s credit score. We will attempt to contact you for clarification but also ask that you call us at 888 963 9363 and ask to speak to a customer care supervisor. Published on March 16, 2021