In December 2007 I vacated an apartment at 1102 Egan Court,Cincinnati Ohio 45229. At that time I requested Duke Energy to take the services out of my name. They told me that they that they needed someone to let them in to read the meter. I told them that I did not have a key and did they not have a key to read the meter. They told me their key was not for that purpose and that the landlord would have to let them in. I told them that I would try to reach the landlord but in any case I wanted the service removed from my name. I let the landlord know what they said. The landlord is a childhood friend of 40+ years so I thought that there was no problem.
This morning (July 30, 2008) I called Duke Energy because I thought there may have been a small balance from December and November of 2007(last period I occupied the apartment). Duke Energy told me that the service was still in my name and still on.During this period of time I was homeless and had no mailing address. The present bill for 8 months was $333.00. They said(very rudely) that they have no record of a request for service cutoff and that they would continue to bill me until I could get them into the building to read the meter.
I talked with the Landlord (my friend ) today (July 30, 2008). He told me that he had been in touch with Duke a number times to turn the service off because the apartment is unoccupied and has been from Dec 2007 .Each time they said that the service was off. Each time he check the service was still on. I have every confidence that my friend is telling the true. Duke Energy is telling me that they have a legal right to collect on the past bill and to continue to bill me until I can get them in the building to read the meter. All this begs the question of why did Duke Energy keep the service on without receiving payment?
I need help with this matter because I am getting my life back together with a new job and trying to get a place to live. Duke Energy is attempting to force me to pay this bill in order to get service on a new place.