CFE Account Change Challenges

[Chop]

Hi All - Looking for help with a CFE problem that we are having.

We are trying to change the account number with CFE.

On going down to the CFE office (3 weeks ago) with all of the necessary paperwork, we were given new account numbers. A couple days later, someone from the office called and said that we needed the CURP number (the citizen or resident number) to complete the process. We thought this was weird since we know that many folks buy homes here on tourist visas and are slower to get their residency than us.

At any rate, we figured that was not problem, and we told them that that we would have the CURP in a couple months after we do the paperwork for residency in April.

A couple weeks ago, a CFE person came and pulled both meters. We caught him before he left, and he made a call and then put them back. Same thing happened the next week. Y

Yesterday, however, one of the meters got pulled down when we were not here.

We question the necessity of the CURP, since plenty of folks buy homes on tourist visas and are slower than us to change the account.

Regardless, we need to get power back now (not in a couple months).

Anyone have any guidance on solving this problem?

My wife and I will head down to CFE this AM with the previous owner of our house (a Mexican friend).

[Go Solar]

On the admin side, it would seem that if CFE accepted the papers as legit enough to cancel the old account, they should also accept them for your new service(s).

On the technical side, why did they just pull one meter?     If need be, for the short term, you can have an electrician hook up both services to the one still functioning meter.....which should cover all things unless you have 2 x 1 fase meters (only 120 V each) and need 240 in the house, some of the older homes are still operating that way.     But at the least, you'd be able to run all 120 V things, that way.

[johanson]

Gosh, they  put in three phase in 1997, after I rewired the house.  You know 127 per phase or 220 with two  instead of 2 times 127=254 volts,

[Chop]

 

On 3/10/2021 at 8:19 PM, Go Solar said:

On the admin side, it would seem that if CFE accepted the papers as legit enough to cancel the old account, they should also accept them for your new service(s).

On the technical side, why did they just pull one meter?     If need be, for the short term, you can have an electrician hook up both services to the one still functioning meter.....which should cover all things unless you have 2 x 1 fase meters (only 120 V each) and need 240 in the house, some of the older homes are still operating that way.     But at the least, you'd be able to run all 120 V things, that way.

I am not sure why they only pulled one meter.  Pulling any makes no sense either. 
 

Ultimately, we had the old owner of the house call CFE for a new service install in his name. To do so, one doesn’t need any documentation, only a CURP.  It wasn’t quick and took 12 days from when we called. 
 

We pulled power off the other unit that we own via an extension cord.   Not ideal but it was fine to be able to keep the fridge going and other basics. 
 

Of note, for someone running into this problem or similar where you are trying to change the name on the CFE account:

Trying to do the process in person is a bit of a pain. You need to provide a pile of paperwork. Over the phone you only need your CURP number, and their is no documents to present etc....

Once we get our residency, we will get the accounts into our name, but will just do it over the phone.   The CURP has some magic powers that an escritura, predial, passports, someone can’t match.  Owning the home is not of consequence, but just having a CURP to tie to the account seems like the golden ticket with the CFE protocols. 

[Bisbee Gal]

8 hours ago, Chop said:

The CURP has some magic powers that an escritura, predial, passports, someone can’t match.  Owning the home is not of consequence, but just having a CURP to tie to the account seems like the golden ticket with the CFE protocols. 

A CURP is akin to a Social Security number in the US.  There are many things you need a SSN for: drivers licenses, opening a bank account, employment, getting a loan, filing your taxes, and most Federal government services such as obtaining a passport. 

CFE is part of the Mexican government for all intents and purposes so it is not surprising they ask for a CURP.   

[RVGRINGO]

An aside:  If you are as old as I am, your SS Card probably has a red letter notice, as mine does: "Not to be used for identification"

[Mostlylost]

53 minutes ago, RVGRINGO said:

An aside:  If you are as old as I am, your SS Card probably has a red letter notice, as mine does: "Not to be used for identification"

Possibly that meant that the card itself is not an official ID. 

[RVGRINGO]

It is quite official and quite valid. It was issued to me in 1953.

I have used it ever since, and even the US Government employees chuckle when they see it. But, they always accept it, as they are familiar with those older cards.

[Mostlylost]

57 minutes ago, RVGRINGO said:

It is quite official and quite valid. It was issued to me in 1953.

I have used it ever since, and even the US Government employees chuckle when they see it. But, they always accept it, as they are familiar with those older cards.

Just curious.. If your picture is not on the card, exactly how does the card identify you as being the person who is named on the card?

 

 

[RVGRINGO]

SS cards do not have pictures. Beyond that, who cares?