Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Enel São Paulo faces complaints over protests of overdue electricity bills
Enel São Paulo faces complaints over bill protests after customers say it sent electricity bills to a notary when they were only a few days late.
A notary protest is a formal record of unpaid debt that can appear in credit checks.
Customers say they were not warned and some say their names were sent for protest even after they agreed to pay.
Customers who pay may also have to cover notary fees to cancel the protest.
Enel says it tries other collection methods first and notifies customers before taking this step.
More than 3,700 complaints mentioning notaries have been posted this year, while Enel says it serves 8.5 million customer units in São Paulo.
Customers struggling to pay can contact Enel to discuss payment plans, the company says.
Enel São Paulo is facing complaints that it sent overdue electricity bills to protest offices even when they were only a few days late.
Customers say they were not warned before their personal tax numbers were sent for protest, and some say this happened after they agreed to pay.
Customers who settle overdue bills may also have to pay court-office fees to cancel a protest.
Enel says it uses protest only after other collection attempts have been exhausted and that it informs customers beforehand.
Folha reported more than 3,700 Reclame Aqui complaints this year using the search filter “cartório.”
- Who
- Enel São Paulo and customers who say their overdue electricity bills were sent for protest.
- What
- Customers complain that bills only a few days late were sent to protest offices, sometimes without warning or after payment agreements. Enel says protest is a last resort.
- When
- The complaints were registered this year, and Enel has begun sending some overdue bills for protest.
- Where
- São Paulo, Brazil.
- Why
- Enel says it uses protest after attempts to collect payment have been exhausted. The article says the move comes amid record-high payment delinquency in the country.
Customers who complained
Enel São Paulo
Notice before protest
Customers who complained
Customers say their tax numbers were sent for protest without prior warning.
Enel São Paulo
Enel says it communicates with customers beforehand.
Use of protest
Customers who complained
Some customers say their bills were only a few days late or that they had agreed to pay before their names were sent to a protest office.
Enel São Paulo
Enel says protest is used only after attempts to collect payment have been exhausted and that it reviews each case individually.
Enel says it contacts customers about overdue bills through notices on bills, WhatsApp, email or SMS.
Enel says it may send a debt for protest after attempts to obtain payment have been exhausted.
More than 3,700 complaints using the Reclame Aqui search filter “cartório” were registered, Folha reported.
- Reclame Aqui complaints
- More than 3,700 this year under the “cartório” search filter
- Enel São Paulo customer base
- 8.5 million units
- Reported bill arrears
- Some customers say bills were only a few days late
- Possible cancellation cost
- Customers may have to pay court-office fees to cancel a protest
1 source
What people are saying
The protest at a notary office, provided for by law, is used after attempts to obtain payment have been exhausted.
Before carrying out a protest, Enel São Paulo analyzes each case individually, considering the profile of the customer's debt, as well as notifying them in advance.