North Shore Gas / Peoples Energy North Shore Gas still charging me for service I discontinued Chicago Illinois

I could almost copy word for word the report you have from Berlinda in MEMPHIS, Tennessee.

My wife and I had gas service in Gurnee Illinois and requested a disconnection for June first 2007. We moved and just like Berlinda, were informed that we owed and were behind. I called explaining that we were no longer residents there and I would not pay the amounts incurred after June 1st. The gas co. threatened to shut off the gas and I said to go ahead and do so. They also instructed me to fax them copies of my new lease and some sort of "termination" lease paper from my Gurnee address.

All of the years I've rented in Lake County and Kenosha County, I've never been given such a paper. So I faxed the new lease. I did not hear anything for in months after that and assumed that it was resolved. I then received a new bill (mailed DIRECTLY to my current address that I never gave them except on the lease copy they "never got") with a larger balance and details reflecting that they were still supplying service to the Gurnee address under my name. This bill also included a disconnect notice. I called demanding disconnection and removal of all billing to me from June 1st to current. They countered by stating that they never ever received a fax from me. I asked how they got my current address and their reply was that I must have given it to them. I then re-faxed the lease as before.

Recently, and months since the last dealing with North Shore Gas, my wife and I have been looking to buy a house. Oddly enough, another North Shore Gas bill magically showed up with a disconnect notice and a much larger balance.

This company is single handedly screwing up my credit and keeping many lenders from considering us. I'm totally at a loss here, and don't have the resources to take on major player like North Shore Gas/Peoples Energy to court, and they know that. They are preying on people like myself through what appears to be in my opinion, nothing less than extortion.

Scott
Round Lake, Illinois
U.S.A.