BRACE Yourself for Another Round of Possible SP Billing Hiccup

[Singer]

July 24, 2008

 

Singapore Power to upgrade billing system with new software By Tessa Wong

CUSTOMERS of Singapore Power (SP) will have limited service options in the first week of August when the utility company upgrades its billing system's software.

 

This will be SP's first major software upgrading exercise since 2000 but the company says it has nothing to do with a recent spike in cases of increased bills.

 

Customers will still be able to make payments and enquiries during the week, but the following services will be suspended:

-Opening or closing of accounts

-Setting up or terminating Giro payments

-Arranging for instalment payment plans

-Fixing of meter-testing appointments

-Setting up refunds or payment transfer arrangements

-Switching on of power supply, though exceptions will be made for emergencies.

 

 

SP Services managing director Wong Chit Sieng said the company has carried out 11 months of 'rigorous testing' and two rounds of dry runs for the data migration.

 

'The new system will enable us to process transactions more efficiently and make future enhancements to serve customers better', he said.

 

The change will not affect the way customers are being billed.

 

SP Services said the recent spike in complaints about increased electricity bills is unrelated to the software upgrade.

 

SP Services' customer service centre and hotline operation hours will be extended a week before and a week after the upgrading.

 

From July 28 till Aug 1, and from Aug 11 to 15, it will be open to 8 pm.

 

For the two Saturdays, Aug 2 and Aug 16, it will be open till 5 pm. The hotline will not operate on Aug 9, which is a public holiday.

 

SP's centre at Somerset Road will be open till 8 pm from Aug 11 to 15, and till 3 pm on Aug 2 and 16.

 

The full range of customer services will resume on Aug 11, and the upgraded system will go 'live' on Aug 9.

 

 

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_260879.html

 

 

 

If not mistaken, the last time they had this exercise few years back, they got entangled in legal suit with their service provider.

[/color]

Similarly, thousands of customers recieved wrong, bloated and over-charged bills...

[Garlic]

There was an article in ST 2 days ago.

 

They received a record number of complaints in June, many were shocked to a 60% to 110% increase in their utility bills.

[Hutan]

NB, no wonder my bill up by 25%.. me to them also LPPL

[Hondacub777]

juz to check how does the bill work?izit true that they take a 3 months avg?or they update every month?tks 4 the noob question.

[Ldawn88]

as with any other system upgrade or so call enhancement... sure got problems one. you simply whack your electricity jialat jialat during this 'golden' period e.g., on air con whole day, on your TV whole day, on heater for extended showers etc. Then show them that they made a mistake in their billing by showing your past lower bills.

[Marquee]

wah lau...like tat oso can?

[Shir]

*edited*

Edited July 24, 2008 by Shir

[Shull]

basket...my bill 2 mths back shot up to 200+ when i barely use 150 every month..

[Solar]

one thing, wouldn't the ouside meter be able to tell?

[Zanter]

Just what makes you think there is likely to be hickups? Actually Singtel and so many other service providers does these type of system migrations so often, its seemless. Not sure why Sp is even tell people this?

[Zanter]

as with any other system upgrade or so call enhancement... sure got problems one. you simply whack your electricity jialat jialat during this 'golden' period e.g., on air con whole day, on your TV whole day, on heater for extended showers etc. Then show them that they made a mistake in their billing by showing your past lower bills.

 

Yeah you can do this but if the meter reading tallies, then you wud end up paying more money. .

[Nutty]

This month bill supposed to have $100 rebate.

 

I charged my bill to credit card, and they did not give me the $100 rebate.

 

Called them up, and they told me will deduct on the next month.