Kibtec the Highway Robbers

[muffin]

Have just returned from a very stressfull two hours in Kibtec, trying to resolve a problem with my account dating back to January!

Yesterday the meter men read the meter and removed the fuses throwing them in the back of the cupboard. Not realising this we called an electrician who checked all local fuses etc. and then went to check the main meter, finding the fuses removed. Of course we had to pay his callout charge.

The bill is normally paid by direct debit and has been for the past 6 years. However I was away in March and funds were a few days late going into the TL account, hence the Kibtec payment was missed. Now, you would assume that any sensible company would add the unpaid amount to the next months bill and hence it would be paid. Kibtec have the most appalling accounting system and instead of adding the unpaid amount, they ignored it, so it has continued to roll over as unpaid until now. Also because of Bayram they are late in collecting direct debits this month so my account was showing 3 months unpaid - hence the pantomime with the fuses.

Kibtec refuse to accept that this unpaid bill should have been added to the next month's account and say the bank should have picked up that it had not been paid. The bank say that they can only pay Kibtec what they request!!!!!!

The upshot of all this being that they are now wanting to charge me 76tl interest - which I am currently refusing to pay. Needless to say I have cancelled the direct debit arrangement and put padlocks on the meter cupboard with a notice to telephone if access is needed.

[stellasstar1]

Pay it online yourself each month, that way you know it will be paid.

[journey1]

yes I agree - paying online yourself is what I have done now for a number of years and it all goes very well as long as the banking internet system is fully functional - just a couple of times in the last few years there were wee blips but sorted out quickly via email to the bank. So all in all I recommend the paying yourself monthly online.
Best Wishes

[Philoz]

The problem is Muffin-they have got you by the S&Cs as they know you need them more than they need you !
The end result is that you can complain all day,but they have a monopoly for the electric supply here.
Unless there is some sort of consumer protection/arbitration service that I am unaware of ,I think you will be doing this-

[Owl Lady]

Actually there is a TRNC Consumers Association.in Lefkosa. Hasan Y Isik 0392 228 9519 or 0533 869 5555 Used them a few years ago to get a new DVD/Video player replaced. Long story,cost 50tl,but worth it. Husband and wife team started it,speak good English ,they were very helpfull. If they are still in business ,worth a phone call

[pc4854]

This is an interesting item - please how do you pay them on line?

[harita]

This is an interesting item - please how do you pay them on line?

Come on stellasstar1 & journey1 .. "Spill the beans"

[Deniz1]

I ALWAYS pay it myself its the only safe way. No good if you are not here all the time though but you can always put credit on.

[stellasstar1]

I don't know what you mean, spill the beans. If you have online banking, it's simple, just go into the bill paying section and fill in the details from your electric bill, and pay it.

[journey1]

yes online banking is just so convenient and easy to set up. I did it will Turkce Bankasi in Alsancak and so I can access it from anywhere I happen to be.

[Philoz]

I think the ability to pay bills online differs from one bank to the next.
Creditwest,(who I use)as far as I can work out lets you set up a regular payment facility,like a direct debit.
But there doesn't seem to be any way to pay bills on a one off, month by month basis.

I think muffins problem relates specifically to the direct debit not clearing any overdue amount.

Stellastar- does your bank allow you to pay the kibtek bills on an ad-hoc basis?

I think you can pay on the kibtek website-I would assume by credit or debit card, but the website is in Turkish only(I think)

[journey1]

well with Turkish Bank - the site is in English if you need that and I also pay online for electricity as per the amount used. Its noy a direct debit and I control the amount I pay. Other than that it is also easy to set up regular direct debits for other payments.

[stellasstar1]

Philoz, I don't pay my electric bill anymore as share a meter with my neighbour and she pays (I do give her my share!) but I used to pay my bill monthly ages ago, and then I banked with HSBC.