Shelley Ronnfeldt Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 If this has been posted and discussed already, I apologize. I haven't seen it. A CFE rep came by the house in the last week and talked to my husband (I wasn't here). They guy said they are no longer going to mail/deliver bills. He gave us an electronic card we're to lay on top of our meter once a month on the 25th. Supposedly the reading will be uploaded onto the card. You then go to CFE in Chapala to pay the bill. I don't like the idea for a variety of reasons. Has anyone else gotten a visit from these guys? Is anyone already doing this? The card and brochure they left certainly looks legit, but who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercasa Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 This is a scam, it is a voluntary program and is bad for you although they make it look mandatory. You will have to put the card over your meter and then find out the amount and go to CFE after and then return or else your power is cut. Call to cancel right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Ronnfeldt Posted February 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 Thanks, Spencer. There is a variety of reasons I'm not interested in this program. I'm happy to know it is not madatory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johanson Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 Also, don't you need a different type of digital meter for this card to be able to read what is owed? I had heard that this was going to happen sometime in the future from CFE. I am sure glad, that it's voluntary. Thanks for the info Spencer. Because I have solar panels and a digital meter, I already have to pay monthly, rather than every other month. At least with my photovoltaic panels the bills are very small, often less than $150 pesos per month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 CFE just left this card at the gate of our development with the guard. Now what? Should I return it to CFE in Chapala or just ignore it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercasa Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Someone had to sign for it, everybody should tell guards NOT to sign for the cards or else you will have your power cut if you dont follow the new system which is voluntary. Call CFE and cancel telling them you never wanted it and the person who has the service never authorized it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Gal Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Looks like it will put meter readers out of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Ronnfeldt Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I'd imagine the whole reason is to save money by cutting labor costs. The customer does the work someone else used to get paid to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm30655 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I'd imagine the whole reason is to save money by cutting labor costs. The customer does the work someone else used to get paid to do. The new digital meters can be read remotely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgates Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 There are two types of digital meters in use in the US. One way meter allows a car to drive down the street and downloads the data. The next level up from that is a 2-way meter that can be read remotely at the home office. These types are used in areas that have different rates for time of day electricity use. Look at Itron's website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 None of those here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnivore Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Once you have signed "the contract" or document that the person from CFE brought to your home how easy is it going to be to cancel the new electronic card reading procedure? Can you just ignore the situation and continue on as in the past? In this thred the word "Scam" has been used and that's unsettling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny b gone Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 I have a new digital meter, and the guy came to my door today, and handed me the new card. I told him that I did not want it, as my Attorney advised aganist it. He said, okay not a problmen, and went on his way. Thanks Spencer!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 I don't guess I understand the problem. What would be so bad about placing a card on the digital meter and having the card read the meter and then going to pay the bill? We have to go pay the bill anyway. I suppose it would be a problem for those who don't live here full time ... or when you are on vacation if you don't have someone you can rely on ... other than that I don't see the problem. I always thought a "scam" was something where someone was trying to defraud you in some way. Spencer, are you saying that CFE is doing something illegal here? as I do believe scams are some sort of illegal activity are they not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Now I'm confused. The guy who came by had the right ID and was trying to get me to deal with a card, but I told him "no" and he left. Do I need do anything more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Ronnfeldt Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 I think if you told him no and you didn't sign anything you are fine and it will be business as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 I don't guess I understand the problem. What would be so bad about placing a card on the digital meter and having the card read the meter and then going to pay the bill? We have to go pay the bill anyway. I suppose it would be a problem for those who don't live here full time ... or when you are on vacation if you don't have someone you can rely on ... other than that I don't see the problem. I always thought a "scam" was something where someone was trying to defraud you in some way. Spencer, are you saying that CFE is doing something illegal here? as I do believe scams are some sort of illegal activity are they not? I agree providing you don't have to haul yourself down to Chapala to pay the bill. Right now I just take the bill up to my bank and pay for it at the same time I'm doing other errands. Otherwise, forget it. Dealing with CFE is annoying enough without having to go there every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercasa Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 You will not receive paper bills, nor will you know what your bill is until you bring the card to the payment center, no more auto pay and if you forget your service is cutoff and you must go every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Right, and now the onus is on you to remember, when we already pay the CFE lots of money to provide this service themselves. And if you forget, bye-bye power. Bad enough they are allowed to cut down offending branches from power lines and leave them lying on the road where they drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Let me get this straight: Right now, we're paying our CFE bill online with credit card. Is this no longer possible, or does this only apply to people who signed up for the 'card' system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegogulskis Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Our guard gave everyone in our complex the card with the brochure. It had our casa # written on it. We did not sign anything. Do I still have to go down to CFE to opt out! One guy in my community said if we scan it ourselves the bill could be 3 times more (don't know if I believe that one). And my hairdresser said that her elec. bill went down this month (she gets a bill), she said something about the government reducing the rate. Anyone know anything about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercasa Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 You need to instruct the guard to NEVER accept anything on your behalf as he could be waiving your legal rights by signing or accepting things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegogulskis Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Thank you I will do that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowyco Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Let me get this straight: Right now, we're paying our CFE bill online with credit card. Is this no longer possible, or does this only apply to people who signed up for the 'card' system? Yes (and no). If your intent was to not have to go to the CFE office every month or 2 months, then the card system is not for you. Yes, you can pay by credit card online, but since the card must be on top of the meter to register your electricity usage, you must set the card on the meter (on the 25'th?) every month, and then make a trip to a CFE office or CFE automatic teller to upload your electricity usage data from the card into CFE's billing system. If you do not put the card on the meter, and if you do not also take the card to CFE to be read, then CFE does not know what to charge - meaning the CFE online credit card payment system becomes sort-of meaningless, because you won't know your balance of what is owed (saldo) or what power you used, unless you take the card in to be read. My apologies for answering more than what you asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Okay, are you saying that they aren't reading the meters any more and won't be giving us a bill to pay? I DON'T want to use a card at all. I don't have a card, wouldn't accept the card and how is this "voluntary"? I'm more confused than ever by Snowyco's post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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