Nicor - didn't conduct actual meter reading for 2 years - finally did one and $ 656 bill resulted - was never informed of this situation - unreasonable experience from Nicor

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on November 12, 2002:

From:

RE: Nicor - didn't conduct actual meter reading for 2 years - finally did one and $ 656 bill resulted - was never informed of this situation - unreasonable experience from Nicor

This month, aftr many many months of paying what I thought were reasonable reates for my gas, I received a $656.00 bill.

Shortly before this, we were called by Nicor to set up a time for a meter reading. Apparently this is what precipitated this huge bill.

When I called Nicor, I was told that they had not been able to read our meter for two years. Mind you, the meter reading in 9-02 was the first that we had ever heard that there was an issue. Also, in my conversation, I was told that we should be reading the meter ourselves on a predetermined schedule. Again, never had we been informed of this in the 17 years that we have lived in our house.

I asked to have a supervisor call me - no call. I called back the next day to talk to a Supervisor, and was put on hold for 10 minutes, then transferred to a generic voicemail box.

My question is - They told me that they could not read our meter for 2 years, yet we were never advised. Isn't there some statue of limitations on the amount of time/dollar amount? I think this is extremely inefficient billing practices, yet we are at their mercy in having to obtain their services.

Please respond to Email User

Thanks

Jean marietta