Help: ZAMECO (just like Meralco) imposing penalty of P50k a scam?

[B16CRX]

Im sending this issue just for discussion and seeking help if this is a SCAM?

This is in behalf of my friend Mr. Danny working as a Skilled Carpenter here in abroad. His family is staying at Purok 3, San Agustin, Iba Zambales.

Last Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006, his wife called and told him that ZAMECO (Zambales Electric Cooperative) disconnected their electric power and confiscated their electric meter. The ZAMECO employee claimed that their power meter was illegally tampered because one of the seals have been broken. Upfront, this employee is asking them to pay P50,000 as penalty and for unpaid consumption arising from the alleged tampered electric meter. The employee told his wife that they were cheating because they have an electric motor pump and yet their just paying P1000 a month. Household residents were just his wife and his daugther. They are still asked to pay the P50K penalty without any invoice or letter of claim from that office.

This electric meter was approximaitely 15 meters away from their house and located at the electric post along the mainroad. This was relocated by ZAMECO employees back in year 2000. And I think, this should be the responsibility of the electric company because it was not installed anymore within their premises.

Until know, power has not been restored because of nonpayment.

Im not whether this is a valid claim or a scam. I already asked Danny if his wife asked somebody to tamper their power meter and he told me that his wife never asked somebody to do something on their meter.

Life is not easy this days and its not worth to shell out hard earned P50k for my friend. I hope we can help my friend to assess this issue and forward this to authorities or media.

Thanks in advance for your helpful suggestions.

[niky]

Scam... they should go to the customer service section and ask why their meter was disconnected without prior warning. There should have been a written notice of the disconnection.

[OTEP]

Meron na naman nito? Yup, proceed to the office muna. Baka yung sumisingil ng Php50k din ang sumira dun sa electric meter.

[mazdamazda]

Punta kayo sa head office instead of just coordinating with just one employee. Minsan may mga ogag na empleyado talaga.

[oldblue]

isnt that the logical thing to do naman ... verify sa main office.

[B16CRX]

It appears that some of the employees are also involved as his wife went to their main office. They want to have it in cash or if not, cash on top of the monthly billing. I advised him to tell his wife if payment will be made, get a managers check from the bank payable to the office (since they dont have a checking account). His wife tried that she will just be paying via check in the name of the Elec Company but the employee refused saying that they do not accept checks... (weird hu???)

Well, its kinda funny ha?

Guys, if you have email adds of "Isumbong mo kay Tulfo" or Imbestigador its better to forward this issue.

[NazQ]

scam.

malamang sila yung na target kasi alam na nag aabroad yung husband nya. at wala silang kasamang lalaki sa bahay..

[torque2006]

i asked my dad who works in MERALCO.He said that when a meter is tampered with (with a jumper), they (1) gather evidence; which is a picture of the jumper connected to the electric line, (2) send in an anti-pilferage team and disconnect the line (with proper documents), (3) they go in the house and take into consideration all electrical appliances to measure the average electric consumption per month and then (4) bill the household for the stolen electricity. NO PAYMENT = NO ELECTRICITY.

If they've gone to the main office, they should get all the documentation on why their electricity was cut. If they can't provide you with anything, get a lawyer and sue.

A litigation would make them think twice on what they're doing.

[mazdamazda]

Hmmm... weird naman if they will not accept a Manager's Check.

Try contacting someone from the top management regarding this.

[hotwheels]

Hmmm... weird naman if they will not accept a Manager's Check.

Try contacting someone from the top management regarding this.

something fishy!!!!, Get the name of the persons involved and seek help from proper authorities or from the media people.

if they can get a trusted lawyer.
this has to stop and the people involved should be put into jail.

[chain]

SCAM. have it verified with proper docs from their office. *tsk tsk* mga mandurugas.

will try to forward this thread to some people.

[shadow]

scam!, first thing is wala naman pala sa premises nila yun meter, malayo sa bahay so anyone can do just about anything sa meter nila, daspat dyan ipalipat na ulit sa bahay nila, the problem is sa province kasi yan diba puro coop own yan mga power distributor dyan...makukuha sa usapan yan...actually mas mabilis kausap dyan compare dito sa atin sa NR (meralco),

[caloyski5]

i-Bitag na yan!

[B16CRX]

scam.

malamang sila yung na target kasi alam na nag aabroad yung husband nya. at wala silang kasamang lalaki sa bahay..

Yes... yun nga sabi ng ibang mga fils dito.. Matindi talaga pangangailangan ngaun. He already ask his wife to get a trusted lawyer as advised however, the lawyer is asking 17k as his initial fee.

Hope we can help him forward this to media or trusted authorities.

[Airwalk]

try going to the local authorities, maybe the barangay captain can help them air their side and settle the matter.

[torque2006]

17k? Dba retainer's fee lang ang kelangan jan, di pa naman kayo magfa-file ng case eh.

[lolo pepe]

nov. 15 pa pinutulan ng kuryente ang household...nov. 21 na ngayon...6 days na walang kuryente...sira na ang mga pagkain sa ref...walang tubig dahil di gumagana ang water pump...paano na lang kung merong maysakit sa bahay? sagot ba ng ZAMECO ito kung mapatunayang illegal yung pagtanggal nila ng power?

pwede din bang magdemanda sina misis kung sakaling mapatunayang illegal disconnection ang nangyari???

kala ko ba "bagong bayani" ang mga OFW? eh bakit ganun ganun na lang tratuhin ang mga naiwang pamilya?

calling all tsikoteer-lawyers...need your opinions...

[swordsman]

Baka pag may threat of litigation na dyan sa ZAMECO na yan, magdalawang isip ang mga tiwaling empleyado nila. Pakuha mo lahat ng pangalan ng nakausap nila, lalong lalo na yong mga nanghihingi ng 50K, kung tanungin kung bakit...sabihin para hindi sila ma-miss sa demandang ipa-file o kaya para tama mabanggit na pangalan ni Ben Tulfo. Mas maganda kung may videocam habang kinakausap..hehe.

Then wait and see...

[jonski]

umiinit ulo ko sa mga ganito.

[Andoy]

Sir,

Ask your friend not to pay yet (or if he intends to pay so he can have electricity at once, ask for any document e.g., receipt). I forwarded your friend's concern to a friend at the customers relations at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). I believe ERC has the authority to act on this complaint. Hope she responds immediately.