Consumer News Story

Pepco scam, fire extinguisher disposal, origin of day light saving time, expired prescriptions, small claims court fines.

[Ms Kravitz]

In response to the question regarding Pepco discounts. I just wanted to add that an individual who displayed identification from a company called Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES)knocked on my door explaining discounts from PEPCO on Thursday, March 6th. All he needed was my PEPCO bill. There was a lot of dialogue between us, but I finally gave him my PEPCO bill (reluctantly) which he said he would return to me. He gave me a copy of an agreement with WGES and left. I watched as several of them went through the neighborhood. I then went after this individual and said I wanted my PEPCO bill back. He and another individual went through another speech about how this would reduce my PEPCO bill. I called WGES at 1-888-884-WGES (9437). I got a similar run around.
I believe this to be a scam! They now have my PEPCO account number, my name and my address.
Would you please investigate? Thank you.
Barbara
Germantown, MD

[Yes it is]

Ms. Kravitz,
They did the same to us, just after we got home one night with our newborn. Should have slammed the door in their face, but instead in our sleepiness and confusion, ended up locking in our electric AND gas rates for 2 years!!! And can't get out of it without paying BIG TIME. Now gas has fallen to just over HALF what we're going to pay for the next 2 years! They pull the wool over your eyes and make it seem like they're here from Washington Gas to help you out. It is a scam and I wish someone would blow this wide open. I am furious, and do NOT have money to throw away.

[Ben Dayho]

Washington Gas Energy Services claims to be a different company than Washington Gas. If so why do they share the same logo.

[Ben Dayho]

Yes it is wrote:

Ms. Kravitz,
They did the same to us, just after we got home one night with our newborn. Should have slammed the door in their face, but instead in our sleepiness and confusion, ended up locking in our electric AND gas rates for 2 years!!! And can't get out of it without paying BIG TIME. Now gas has fallen to just over HALF what we're going to pay for the next 2 years! They pull the wool over your eyes and make it seem like they're here from Washington Gas to help you out. It is a scam and I wish someone would blow this wide open. I am furious, and do NOT have money to throw away.

Call WGES, it will cost you fifty dollars to get out of the contract. I just went through this load of crap. Be sure and get a name and id number from every person you talk to. After you talk to WGES call Washington Gas and tell them your problem, once again get names and id numbers. It will still be about two months before your account will reflect the changes. Good Luck!

[Germantown road]

What is the guarantee that the gas price will fall to half of what we are paying right now? Is there a clear indication that the prices are going to go down? Please let me know since I want to decide if I should keep the service or not.
Thanks.

[Ben Dayho]

Germantown road wrote:

What is the guarantee that the gas price will fall to half of what we are paying right now? Is there a clear indication that the prices are going to go down? Please let me know since I want to decide if I should keep the service or not.
Thanks.

I don't think there is any guarantee. But I think that a company that uses deception like WGES does can not be trusted. Stay with the main gas or electric company and you only have one set of liars to deal with. Have you noticed on your bill that you are paying two different sets of charges? One inflated charge for gas (WGES), and another set of charges for getting it into your home (Washington Gas).

[Lian]

How can we stop WGES mal-practice? I was told that I can save money by transferred to WGES. But now I have been charged by WGES more than 5 times as that from Pepco. Can anyone provide me some advise how can I switch back to Pepco?

Thanks.

[Lian]

Correction: I believe the bill I received from WGES is for two months. I thought it is for one month. So the charge from WGES is not as 5 times as that from Pepco. It is about doubled. But the charge is still much higher that I expected.

[Ben Dayho]

Lian wrote:

How can we stop WGES mal-practice? I was told that I can save money by transferred to WGES. But now I have been charged by WGES more than 5 times as that from Pepco. Can anyone provide me some advise how can I switch back to Pepco?
Thanks.

Call WGES and tell them you want out. It took two months and cost me a $50.00 penality to change my gas service back to Washington Gas. I still feel rather violated.

[Donna]

Ben....Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

[Ben Dayho]

Donna wrote:

Ben....Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you Donna, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.