Constellation - Company Information

“  Terrible phone only experience. Soft Credit check, Hard Credit check, copy of Drivers license and not a single email, web interface or paper mail trail regarding the process. 3 different reps. Called today to state i never got written confirmation - only verbal - only to find out they never completed the process !
They never called me back as they said they would. I was actually worried that it was a potential scam due to the lack of any documentation -provided by Constellation- during the process. I was the pursuer to get a better price, but in the end since they let me miss the deadline for a next-month cut-over decided that it just was not worth the time and energy and renewed for a higher rate with my current provider - GNG. They recorded everything but I sincerely doubt that they ever listened else, they would modernize their process. It is easier to buy a car or lease a 1,500 cell phone. ”

“  Switching to Constellation was the most difficult time I have experienced. It was a nightmare. The only good thing is the rate per therm was the lowest I saw at the time. ”

“  I have had constellation for 4 years, most people come due to the initial pricing offered which is lower than most per therm, but the renewal rates will skyrocket if you are not clever enough to do your research about the cheaper existence of other offers. My issue is that the customer service people who all seem to be in only one certain region(and diversity matters) that may not necessarily comprehend very well are trained only to give service, verify service and offer renewal plans. I called because I did not have any hot water and my service was on and I paid the bill, and the agent told me he could not help me and he would have to transfer me to "constellation home" which made no sense. I told him I live in an apartment, if everything is okay with my service should I put in a maintenance request where I live, he couldn't answer me and kept suggesting constellation home. When I called constellation home the agent told me I would have to create an account and pay for a service tech to come out. I told her I am in an apartment, do you all service apartments? She stated "yes". I said but why would I pay for another service? Constellation will do everything to get as much as they can get from you monetarily, and cannot answer service related questions beyond your service being on and off but NOT things that are common sense. I told the "Home agent" I would not be setting up another account and then called my apartment maintenance staff and they fixed the problem. The initial agent should have told me this after he verified by service was on and there were no ongoing issues in the area. I would say if you want service go in with this awareness. You are going for the best price not the customer assistance after your service is on. After 4 years I'm dreading having to call them for assistance with "a possible" renewal because their offers are extremely high just because I feel like as an existing customer that always pays on time I shouldn't have to go through the back and forth on pricing. I have to do this every year, but honestly, it may be time to move on. ”

“  Delays in start up have cost me significantly since I have been off contract while waiting for yours to kick in ”

“  I signed up but they didn't follow through. I gave them all of the info they needed when they called, but for some reason, it didn't go through. Can't recommend what isn't working. ”

“  Signed up for service but cancelled a week later after I received a pushy phone call from a Constellation representative (English was so bad that I had to ask her to repeat everything) trying to get me to transfer electricity service and asking many questions that had already been asked at the time of registering for gas service. Even after repeatedly saying "NO, Thank You", the phone call lasted about 10 minutes before I hung up. This prompted me to research other's experience with Constellation and ultimately led me to cancelling Constellation Gas Service.
The Rewards Card registration was very difficult and seemed to be a little shady. It required another account be set up which had no phone contact information when my password would not work ,and I needed assistance to get into the account to validate the card. The $25 Rewards card was for specific vendors or an option for a MasterCard dedit card which had $21.75 on it. ”

“  Could not get the on-line pay system to work, even after several tries. ”

“  I have not received any information from Constellation or been able to access their web site. I would like to sign up for automatic online payment. ”

“  Tried to accomplish via their web site..thought all was well until I got a letter from Gas Provider stating my service would be cut due to not selecting a provider. Called Constellation they said nothing would happen for 2 more weeks, then switched me the next day. That led to me having 2 accounts, 2 account numbers and 2 prices,,,took hours to get through via phone and straighten it all out. Still not sure all is well, awaiting 2nd billing after receiving a .24 cent credit bill... ??? ”

“  We used Constellation for our last choice of electric providers and decided to renew for THREE years unfortunately this year. The price increase has been alarming and reaching customer service has been a time consuming nightmare. You CAN NOT reach CHAT on their website and must WAIT to speak with a rep. So far I've held for 16 minutes hearing what Constellation uses to SELL it's services. However fulfilling those services are quite questionable. We would like a A/C service call right now - it's included the high cost of their service - but it would appear scheduling that "benefit" is not easy. I'm hearing due to the HIGH VOLUME of calls blah, blah. I have tried to go online as suggested - but all you can do there is update your account and RENEW...NOT a happy customer.........it's now been 29 minutes and the loop goes on and on. OH, got a rep. guess what??? To get A/C service you must call their HOME CARE number - NO WHERE IS THIS LISTED on the website or on monthly invoice. So now I am in que AGAIN! ”

“  It is time for me to sign up for a new electric supplier. I found a great rate at Constellation for 36 months. I tried to sign up on line, and kept getting an error code. I called in and spoke to a rep, who told me that since my SDI started with "000" I was not an AEP Ohio customer, I was actually with AEP Columbus Southern Power, which changed my rate from .549 to .579...pennies, I know however I was concerned that there would be issues with my bill because I knew I was, in fact an AEP Ohio customer (have been for 13 years...in the same residence). So I called AEP to verify with my name, address, account number, etc that I was indeed an AEP Ohio customer, and she says "Yes, you are definitely our customer". So I called Constellation again, trying to let them know I got verification that I was an AEP Ohio customer. Due to an error in their system, they cannot process me that way, they "have to process me as AEP Columbus Southern Power". I told the supervisor, George, that there must be an error in their system, and that I could not go forward with setting up my account because I was lacking faith in their system. I returned to the PUCO website and went to the next lowest price, which was .579 with Direct Energy, entered the same information that I gave Constellation (name, address, SDI, AEP Ohio) and the order was processed in less than a minute. Frustrating to know I wasted so much time today TRYING to give someone my business...but I wanted to put it in writing that you all need to check your system...it's wrong! ”

“  What an exhausting experience. . . from the get go ! Constellation is the NET 10 of gas providers. If you can get through the sign-up experience & never have to deal with a rep again . . it may be worth the attractive price. Now that I have signed on. . trying to get auto bill pay is another exhausting experience & still incomplete. Another lose - lose. It takes excruciatingly long to get a code e-mailed for set-up & then more exasperating sticky wickets. ”

“  My service and rate(s) over the last 8 years have been great with StarTex. I used to refer friends\relatives and swear by StarTex. Since they merged with Constellation, I have lost my online login account info (Pay My Bill, etc) and for 6-months, I have gotten the run-around. I can login but no account info, so I have to call in to make a payment. I was promised a $25 credit for my troubles but prefer it to work. Never seen the $25 credit, either. Now I get my renewal rate and plans and they are double-digits (14.5 kWh for 12-mths), 12.9 for 24 or 36 mths). I see other attractive plans and shopping around. ”

“  I was charged almost an additional 11 days of service, without my knowledge, for power I never used. In fact it was power the next tenant was using on a higher premium rate! The information I received from the company when setting up my power was false, leading to overcharging and a complete lack of carrying from the customer service personnel. The customer service representative argued that I had never even called in, essentially calling me a liar. I am extremely displeased with the service I received from StarTex. ”

“  I have had Startex Power for seven years and was pretty pleased. Recently (and without notice) they raised the minimum usage level from 500 kwh to 1000 kwh and DOUBLED the minimum usage fee from $4.95 to $9.95. I don't plan on paying an extra $10 a month for at least half the year for being conservative with my energy. There's way too much competition with power companies where I live for that. I will be cancelling and switching the minute my contract expires. ”

“  I have been a Star Tex Customer prior to the acquisition. Their Customer Service used to be good. Their pricing used to be competitive. I will probably not have a choice this year and will have to change providers. The rate I have been quoted for renewal screams LEAVE! They are not even in the market of competing for business anymore. Their competitors have got them beat in pricing.

They got paid on time, and I have been a loyal client. There is no reward in loyalty.
”

“  I will be leaving Stattex after 5 years of great service and good pricing. Just checked and their rates went sky high. Best to mover on now and save a little money exspected this takeover company bad deal for Loyal customers. ”

“  I have used Startex for years, when I renewed this year, my rate increased a bit, but what I was most surprised when my TDU charge increased from $3.30 to $47.70. This is not the same old Texas company that I signed up with. You can hardly understand the customer service reps. ”

“  We have been a customer since 2006 and our contract is up for renewal. I figure to save 20% on a 24 month term compared to StarTex best offer. I've stayed in the past even though the rate was higher than available and I got no rate consideration for customer loyalty when I renewed but figured it better to dance with the devil I knew. I would have stayed this time as well but for one thing... I didn't like the way I was treated when I called to renew. The young lady answering my call was nice but she was in a hard sell position and tried to double talk me into believing that the 10.3 cent per kwh offer was better than a 8.5 cent offer that had the same terms. Desperation is all I can offer to say.

We had no beef with StarTex up until that point. Of course, my wife pays the bills and is always on time with them so there is no real reason for a problem.

StarTex remains in the upper quartile of price point. ”

“  Have been a loyal on time paying customer for 4 years but not after today. They had great rates when I signed up years ago and the customer service was on point as well. I have noticed the last year or so when I call in I don't get the same friendly customer service and the rates haven't been quite as competitive when I've renewed.

I called today for renewal and they said the only thing they could offer me was a 1,2, or 3, year plan. I won't ever do more than a 1 year plan as I rent not own. I know you can transfer service but I just get worried with doing more than a year contract on anything when I could be moving soon and possibly not be able to transfer the service where I go. I found a 6 month plan they offer online and it was a much lower rate. When I asked about this he said I couldn't do anything less than a 1 year. I asked them if they were saying they'd rater loose a long term customer who's always paid on time rather than give me a 6 month plan and said YES, CANCEL!!! I can not believe a company would choose to loose business. I called in again to ask to speak with a manager and he was rude and said well just cancel then. So that's exactly what I did. Signed up with another company and actually did a 12 month but they were offering 3 cents less per kwh at the 12 month plan and more renewable than Startex. It's too bad, they were a good company at first but I'd advise to stay away now. ”