VENT Florida Power and Light

[Talking Hands]

Florida Power and Light is the worst electrical company there is bar none. We have an electrical problem that is at the pole according to our electrician. We called last Monday and were told we would be called back within 24 hrs. No call. Called again Wednesday and got the same promise. No call. And now because of Frances they will not even take a call not related to the hurricane.
My PC and DSL modem are toast! My tty, a sound system and one regular phone are distroyed as well. We do't have sufficient power to use the microwave or the washer and dryer. Of course they want use to pay our bill but they don't take care of their customers!
I HATE FPL!

 

[Poohbear123]

I used to hate them, but, I feel sorry for them now, they have thier hands FULL. Have paitence Lisa, it will get ironed out soon.

 

[kylara]

I can understand your frustration but please remember that FPL has been stretched thin since Charley. They sent a number of crews up the the Punta Gorda/Pt. Charlotte area because the infrastructure there needs to be rebuilt so they have been working understaffed. Now with Frances, they are even in a tougher situation because they are needed on an emergency basis for longer.

They have also been helping in the Orlando area (where they don't have service...Progress Energy does)..to help out.

I know that doesn't help you but hope that it at least helps you understand.

 

[Talking Hands]

They may be stretched thin but it does not excuse the fact they have not even returned our calls. According to our electrician this could be fixed in less than half an hour by a technician going up and tightening on loose wire. He could do it himself but he isn't allowed. It could have been fixed before Frances. And everyday it isn't fixed itis costing me money because I can't access Tupperware and put in my orders. I have a laptop I can set up but I don't dare as long as the elctricity is fluctuating. I don't want it blown as well. Plus it is afire hazard!

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by Poohbear123
I used to hate them, but, I feel sorry for them now, they have thier hands FULL. Have paitence Lisa, it will get ironed out soon.

No they will not be takibg care of it soon. They finally called to tell us to call back after September 24. That is amonth after this problem started! I would vbe better off if I had no electricity. Then I would get service. -nstead I pay for service that is insufficient for the house. No power I xould deal with. This I cannot, I can't even wash my clothes and the frig and frezer will probably burn out as well at thid rate.

 

[inaminute]

Well...all I can tell you is to prepare yourself for further disappointment. There's yet another hurricane in the works. You may have sporadic power for a while longer.

At least you still have your home and SOME power. That's more than a lot of Floridians can say.

 

[Talking Hands]

What good is power when it is insufficient to use anything but the lights and those are dim. They are not even bright enough to read by. My car recharges this cell phone. For cooking I am using my camp stove with propane. A hurricane supply! To wash I have to do it by hand or go to a laudromat. Better off, not really. At least if you have no power your needs are being addressed in a timely manner. As I said before, I would be better off if I had no power.

 

[mtblujeans]

I am sorry you are having to go through this.....especially now that this weather related problem has come about and they push you and your needs farther back! It must be very, very frustrating!! Is there a friend or relative you can visit that has stable power for your laptop so that you can get your orders in? Sometimes it really bites to be an adult and have to pull out that patience card, I think!

 

[inaminute]

You're kidding, right? This thread was started just to see if you can get an argument going. You are not seriously complaining because you have insufficient power?

If you truly believe you'd be better off with no power, then the solution to your problem is simple--turn off your lights. Don't use the power. You won't have to pay for what you don't use.

Apparently, you still have a roof over your head and your family is safe. Be thankful for what you do have and pray for those who aren't as fortunate.

 

[Talking Hands]

I paid my dues after Andrew. 3 weeks with no electricity, 2 months with no phones and a year without cable. It took over a year to completely repair this house after Andrew. I've been through the destruction so don't tell me what I should be happy about.
I feel sorry for those going through it now but it doesn't excuse FPL lack of customer service.
I wouldn't be so upset if FPL had responded to the problem a week ago. The problem remains because of their negligence. I should be happy about that? This could have been fixed before Frances ever arrived in Florida!
And in case you think I have access to real computer, I don't. I am online with a Sidekick cell phone which is smaller than a 3x5 card. Thank God for T-mobile! Their service rocks. This thing kept going all during the storm.

 

[4greatboys]

 

[mom2of2]

Maybe a generator would be the answer to your current problem and then would come in handy if you got hit by a hurricane in the future.

I'm sorry that you were affected by Andrew. That was a devastating hurricane. Charley and Frances and now Ivan are affecting pple the same way that you were affected. If when you were hit by Andrew your power company put someone who had low service in priority over your total lack of service I'm fairly certain you wouldn't have understood or been pleased at all. I understand your frustration, truly I do..but put yourself back into the frame of mind that you had when Andrew hit and ask yourself if you are better off now or then. Being able to turn on a lamp or flush a toilet is close to being considered a luxury in some parts of Fl right now.

 

[winniedapooh]

From what I know if you can prove that the electrical problem was due to a wire on the pole, not due to hurricaine, you may be able to get the electric company to pay for utilities blown. I am sorry you are having a difficult time right now. DH works for our local electric company and if we lived down there I would not see him for weeks. When I say not see him I mean not see him! When we have blizzards, ice, etc. up here it can be days or weeks. I am a lucky electric co. widow in that DH stays around here to pick up the slack instead of going out of town. Can you go to a library or friend's home to use their computer until all is well down there. I fear it may be a month or more, but I hope I am wrong and it is much less.

 

[NHAnn]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
I would vbe better off if I had no electricity. Then I would get service. -nstead I pay for service that is insufficient for the house. No power I xould deal with.

....maybe go knock down the pole and then call and tell them it was a hurricane problem??

I can understand your frustration, especially since it was a pre-hurricane problem. But you do not really expect a great customer service (i.e. prompt callback) when they have so many people who have been without any power at all since Charlie, do you??

Somehow I don't think you are going to get a whole lot of sympathy for your venting. Of course you are certainly welcome to vent away here on the DIS, but I don't think you ought to be surprised or upset by the tone of some of the responses you get!

Good luck!

 

[Hagred]

I would also suggest a library or someone's house where the power is on and steady to run your business from. Perhaps the fact that you are in Florida will help Tupperware understand that things are bad down there and you can have some wiggle room when trying to get your orders in.

While I understand the frustration, getting all angry, upset and steamed isn't going to get that power pole problem fixed anytime soon. There ain't a dang thing you can do about it. Anyone you complain to who has the ability to help might look at you like you're insane because of the two hurricanes that have already decimated parts of Florida. And you'll probably wind up making many enemies down at the power company if you go in right now with both barrells blazing.

My nickle's worth of free advice is to find another way to run your business until the end of September and just make the best of it. Yes, it's a pain in the behind, but there's really nothing you can do.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I would like to thank FPL and the contract crews who got my electricity up and running this evening.

While I can understand your frustration you are but one household. It is dealing with LARGE areas of outages. That makes these areas a priority, and unfortunately puts you at the bottom of the list.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Well I understand your frustration, but maybe you should have a little gratitude for what you do have. My SIL moved to Punta Gorda 6 mos ago to start her life over after her husband left her. Now she is also homeless and jobless But you know what, she is not complaing. I would venture to guess that your customers have more on their mind right now than a late Tupperware order.

 

[currycook]

I think FPL is doing all it can do under some a very very difficult situation.

 

[poohandwendy]

You say this should have been fixed when you called last monday, before the hurricane??? Before Frances maybe, but I am sure you are aware that Charlie knocked out power to more than a few homes a month ago?

Honestly, I can't say I understand your vent. We drove home from WDW the day after Charlie hit and I cannot tell you how many HUNDREDS of utility vehicles we counted coming down (from neighboring and northern states) to aid the great people of your state who desperately needed help. We saw them from the time we left WDW to when we finally exited near our home in Pittsburgh. Almost 1000 miles and we didn't drive 15 minutes without seeing another caravan of utility vehicles. These people left their homes to come an assist people like you, no matter how long it takes. They were so desperately needed because your power company is totally overloaded, which I am sure you know.

I think you are forgetting how incredibly thankful you should be that you have walls around you and a roof over your head, dim light to read by and most importantly you are safe. You have many neighbors who were not so lucky...not just once, but twice in the last month. And now, you all face another possible hurricane.

I hope you can find it in you to have some compassion for those who are working day and night to get service up and running for those who have none at all. Some/many of those workers don't even have power in their own homes. Some of them may not have homes anymore.

 

[powellrj]

I read on the mycoupons board today that tupperware site was down until Tuesday, but if you need to place an order you can do it by phone.