Constellation - Company Information

“  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. ”

“  We have been with Star Tex for Several years without issue. Upon renewal this year we first did not receive a bill in February. When I enquired I was told Centerpoint did not read my meter. When I received both invoices on the same day the meter reads were listed for Feb on one and March on the other. The total amount of the two bills was charged to my credit card twice and I have been cut off from hold twice waiting for customer service to get this resolved.When I brought the billing issue to their attention I was promised a call back from the "Presidents Group" as I wanted to terminate my contract at no penalty as they were not invoicing monthly as agreed. I also found out they have no staff in place to monitor incoming information and ensure bills are sent out on time. What I got instead was a form letter promising a $25.00 credit that I did not see applied when I received the bills. The credit alone was insulting enough. Own your issues and solve them instead of cowardly holding people hostage behind contracts that are not being maintained in good faith. The number of times "Thank you for your feedback; StarTex Power is more than happy to investigate the issue described in your review, as our customers are our #1 Priority. Please email us at Service@StarTexPower.com, with your account details, StarTex Power would appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns" appears as a stock answer on this website should serve as a warning to any potential customers.One of there competitors will eventually run a plan that will pay my cancellation fee and I intend to jump all over it. The lack of customer service and accountability is unforgiveable. ”

“  I am senior citizen and I got my bill on 11/9 and they shut off my power on 11/15. I have 6 days to pay the bill and then they take 2 days to turn it back on. The CS dept is by far the worst I have ever dealt with in all my years. My granddaughter has chronic asthma and needed her nebulizer, they didn't care. My grandson is 5 months old and its 40 degrees at night, they didn't care. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY, THEY MAY HAVE GOOD RATES BUT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE ”

“  I have been a customer of Star Tex for the past 4-5 years and was very pleased with their service until the beginning of this year. I have to go two months before receiving a bill, and I have yet to receive a bill for March. I have sent numerous email to Star Tex requesting the status and have received absolutely no response to my questions. I have called Customer Service many, many times since February and the shortest wait time has been 47 minutes. Asked one time for a manager to call me, and it took five days for a return call. If I had known all of this would happen, I would NOT have renewed my contract and as soon as it expires, I will be finding another provider. Was told the other day, the reason for the delay is because they are having to manually to calculate the invoices which is absolutely ridiculous. I would really be nice to talk with someone on the phone that really knows what is happening with my account.
If I had known all of this would happen, I would NOT have renewed my contract and as soon as it expires, I will be finding another provider. ”

“  Poor customer service. ”

“  Have been customer of StarTex Power for four years. Bought a house and emailed them in detail all information (account no., termination date, moving out of apt date). The procedure is to call so they can verify that I truly want to terminate service and they have to check my identity. Due to closing on house and moving hassles, I called after a week. Once all information was taken and verified, the termination date was date of phone call. When I asked why not when I moved out of apartment, the representative was very inconsiderate and rude. I thought this was done, I pay final bill and it will be over. The account is not closed yet; did the representative forgot to close the account or she is retaliating and keeping it open? Is it open pending final payment!? I received final bill, but it doesn't seem final, no contract end date!!! I am fixing to pay it, even if the meter reading is still going on ten days after my phone call, BUT WHEN this will STOP. I will never have StarTex Power again. I already switched to another company in my new home. I hope I don't have to go to small claims court to force them to terminate the account. ”

“  I haven't even signed up with this company yet, but a friend told me they had pretty good rates. What he failed to mention is that you can't sign up online, and these people just flat out don't believe in answering the phone! I can't even view their rates on their website, I just have to wait to speak to someone and pray it's worth the wait. It doesn't even greet you with their company name when you call, just straight to the horrible music. I had to check their website again to make sure I dialed the right number. I did. Now I'm on minute 36 of waiting for an answer. Maybe they're at capacity and just don't want new customers. ”

“  We have to call in to pay the bill, we have never been able to get the bill set up for auto pay. How sad that such a large company can afford to be ineffective for the public. Price initially was great, but each year the price for a contract renewal would go up. Checked with other power companies and they are offering the same price as this company- and with better service I hope! Up for renewal soon and will be moving! ”

“  I signed a contract with StarTex Power for X number of months at a decent rate after my initial commitment, StarTex almost doubled my rate in the middle of summer at our highest usage which in-turn more than doubled our bill. This went on for over two months and when I contacted StarTex costumer service they would not work with me and basically was rude on the phone. I have since switched companies for a much lower rate. I would not recommend this company and if you look around, rates are much lower else where. ”

“  StarTex jacked my rates sky high, costing me
hundreds of dollars, without renewing me at the
preferable rate. Would not recommend. ”

“  Star Tex raised my fixed rate a trivial amount when the Texas PUC allowed it. Even though I was paying over a 20% premium above current market rates they still raised the rate. Just because they CAN raise a fixed rate a small amount does not mean they SHOULD. For me it was about principle. If I was paying below market rate I would have understood that they wanted to recover cost. Instead they neglected an opportunity to treat me like a valued customer instead of a account number. I am leaving them over a trivial $5 because they could have treated me better when I was already paying a premium price. Lost customer for LIFE. Beware all. ”