Constellation - Company Information

“  It all went down the toilet quick once Constellation completely took them over (2013). First they changed the website, which changed the bill payment system. Autopay doesn't work one month. It charges my card 5 times the next. Customer service is clueless after being on hold 75+ minutes.Before the sale, I was never on hold longer than 5 minutes, and customer service was knowledgeable and could fix mistakes! Not anymore.The rate I signed my contract changed - due to a "PUCT approved rate adjustment." They passed the charge on to me. It's their right - it says so in the contract.It's also my right to leave them after my contract is up. Marcie Zlotnik - you are deeply missed. She is no longer running things as of 2014.What a shame. ”

“  I have had about a dozen (12) rental properties with StarTex for 5 years. StarTex USED to have pretty good customer service. But since StarTex got bought by Constellation, the service at StarTex has gone downhill fast. I have elected to vote with my feet, I am renewing ALL of my previous StarTex accounts with another provider (Champion). Things may not work out to be perfect with the new provider, but I am sure that things cannot be as screwed up as things have gotten with StarTex. ”

“  We had been Star Tex customers for some time. We renewed at a reasonable rate but the company slammed us on to a much higher month to month rate. When we finally caught it, they did nothing to to rectify it. Just another company trying to get and keep people on high month to month rates. PUC should shut these high complaint companies down. ”

“  By far the worst company ive ever dealt with in my life. I would rather not have electricity then use this TERRIBLE power company!!!! customer service is total trash!!! there service is even worse!!! They will cut your power off for no reason and refuse to turn it back on. AVOID STARTEX LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ”

“  This company took $150 for a deposit for services not rendered. I went through the lengthy "enrollment" and gave all required info, only to find when I moved to my new residence I had no electricity. When I called the representative said there was no record of me, ridiculed me for pointing out the charge on my credit card. Called again with the print out of my confirmation email. My son called (I had authorized him to talk about my account) and spoke to the "compliance" dept. He was told "enrollement" wasn't completed due to incorrect address entered by them. New acct. given, called to confirm the next day and was told: no record of me, my address, acct. # etc. Based on other reviews, I'm lucky I don't have a contract with them. Now I just have to get a charge back on my credit card due to services not rendered. I would tell anyone who is thinking about StarTex power company: They are thieves and liars. ”

“  I signed-on and tried to see my renewal offer and after entering the renewal code the StarTex website pops up a message saying it doesn't appear I'm within a renewal period. That was FAIL#1. My service ends in 12 days which is within the 14 day window. So I called. Based on past calls to customer service I was prepared to be quickly annoyed. I asked for a 12 month quote. 7.1 cents per KWH and no minimum usage charge. I asked about a "base charge" (I have one on my current plan), then he mentions a "usage credit". That was FAIL#2. These providers are playing games! With all the credits, surcharges, etc. it's difficult to figure out what exactly YOU will be paying based on your usage. I opted to switch to a company that offered a reasonable flat rate per kwh + the Oncor delivery rate per kwh + 5.25 Oncor standard, and no minimum usage penalty fee, no base rate, and no "usage credit" B.S.. The combined rate is less than 7.1 cents and there's no telling what the parameters are at StarTex to get the 7.1. These companies are playing games to get themselves listed at a low 1 cent at the 1000 kwh level on powertochoose. I see one company that is 1 cent at the 1000 kwh but 11 cents at 2000 kwh which is what you'd probably be paying in the summer while running the A/C. The dishonesty and deception of the people running these companies is mind boggling! The "Electricity Facts Label" was supposed to simplify comparisons but the companies go out of their way to obfuscate their rates. As always, buyer beware. ”

“  Straight up scam. Bill was double what they quoted me and they continue to bill me after my contact expired and charge rediclulous "cancellation fees" to users that try and leave after their contact finished. ”

“  I am not at this time a customer of StarTex Power but someone else's account has my phone number attached to it. StarTex will not remove my number because I am not the electricity account owner. That's just stupid and possibly a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Act. I've given up trying to get them to fix it. Their attitude is it's my problem and not theirs. ”

“  I've had several people with StarTex come to my door. Last month a young man came and stated he was with Oncor and after talking to him a bit he turns his clipboard over and it states StarTex. When I called him on it he denied everything and I had to tell him twice to leave. Today I had another gentleman show up and I told him I had already spoken to someone and he pushed the matter and when I told him about the incident last month he was not surprised. ”

“  found cheaper plan, they would not offer same plan after contact up,so on last bill i did not get my usage credit, then they want to why i am leaving to another provider!!! i pay my bill on time and this is the way they treat you!!! ”

“  Star Tex wanted a $350 Security Deposit on the 3 month fixed plan even though I have an above 800 credit score. I called and spoke with Constance. She told me that if I signed a 12 month contract, that I would get my $350 security deposit refunded at the end of 12 months if all payments were made on time. I asked her about the 3 month fixed rate plan that I was signing up for, and she told me that they would NOT return my security deposit at the end of the 3 month plan. THEY WOULD KEEP MY $350 SECURITY DEPOSIT EVEN IF I MADE MY PAYMENTS ON TIME. BAIT AND SWITCH ALL DAY LONG. ”

“  IN THE MIDDLE of my signing up for their 8.89c rate today they changed their rate to 9.49c. Honestly - it was 8.89 and less than 2 minutes later it was 9.49! When I called to see what was going on, they refused to give me the lower rate I had been signing up for. Wouldn't budge. And neither would I. Bye-bye. ”

“  I am a former Startex customer, at cessation of service I paid the final bill including a penalty for early termination. Then I started receiving calls for an unpaid bill which I never received. After several calls Startex agreed by phone to forgive the penalty ($ 29) as it was never billed. Now I have received a solicitation from a collection agency for the amount. This outfit's accounting is hopeless. ”

“  They can't wait to find ways to bill you extra. Very short expected turn around on payment. Price doubles if you go off contract and do deal with it immediately. ”

“  I have been a customer for several years and I have eight accounts. Recently, someone (probably a new college graduate without any business experience whatsoever) at StarTex decided to change a working and functional website and webpage. Consequently, now I am getting bills for bills that have been paid already and the webpage does not allow a review of the bill. I have sent more than a dozen complaints via emails and in response I got nothing but a computerized email that someone would contact me within 1 business day. Now is over two weeks and no one has contacted me. However,, instead I received threatening email that my services will be disconnected. This company WAS good at one time but now it went down to worse company. The customer service is worse that Best Buy. Time to move on and never to return. Goodbye StarTex. ”

“  I was checking your ratings in the internet and I saw your response to a customer whose rates went from .o9 to .12 in July, 2012. My contract expired in May and I did not realize it until yesterday when I noticed that my rate is .165 from .09 in May. I contacted your representative and they told me they cannot do anything for me because I was on month to month. I am switching to another company from next week. I had been a StarTex customer since 2007 and I am very, very disappointed with your company. Al almost 50% rate increase is shameful to say the least. They told me they had sent me a notice of expiration but I did not receive it any. I have two accounts with you which will be switched over next. I called twice and I was told nobody could d anything for me and there was no supervisor who could talked to me. So much for great customer service. Maria ”

“  Since the buyout from Constellation Energy - this company definitely no longer understands customer service. They are hard to reach and the folks I have talked to are rude now in customer service. I have been a loyal customer for many, many years and never shopped the prices until now. I will definitely not stay with StarTex when my contract is up in the next few days. I am making a switch! ”

“  I was previously with StarTex Power for several years with no problems. My contract expired and I switched to another company simply because they had a cheaper rate at that time. My problem started when I received several e-mails from Startex over a several month period which indicated my bill was due and I owed over $1000.00 each time. I no longer had an account with StarTex so I e-mailed them and forwarded a copy of their e-mail to ask why I was being told I owed money when my account had been closed for months and I did not owe any money when I switched. No reponse after a month, so I e-mailed them again, also attaching their e-mail and my previous e-mail. I waited another 2 weeks and still no response. This time I e-mailed their customer service and cc'd several high ranking members of their company whose e-mail addresses were provided on their website (thinking surely if higher management was notified I would get a response). Well I was wrong. It's been months and still no response. I haven't received any more e-mails regarding payment due. I am keeping all of the documentation showing where I tried to contact them numerous times with no response and my account was closed with a zero balance. I will not sign back up with them in the future if that is how their customer service is handled. ”

“  The absolute worst utility provider in TEXAS!
Horrible Customer Service!
Horrible Billing practices!
Do not ever overpay your bill- they will not refund you!
Do not ever pay your bill one day late- you will get a disconnection notice!
Do not ever accidently underpay your bill, even for $3- you will get a collection notice and get charged a late fee of $40.

Run, don't walk!
I cannot wait until my contract ends! ”

“  This company use to be great, it had good prices and great customer service. I've called twice to make changes to my account and after 45 minutes both time on the phone waiting, waiting, waiting, on what they call a 30 minute wait, I gave up. My contract is up soon, so I will be looking now for another company. This company needs to get their act together. ”