Meralco to refund consumers who paid their installment plan in full

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) consumers, who are entitled to pay in installments but paid their bills in full even through their credit cards, may refund their pay.

Meralco chief executive officer and president Ray Espinosa announced this on Monday during the hearing of the Senate committee on energy inquiring into the surge in the monthly bills of its consumers during the lockdown.

“Madam Senator, doon po naman sa mga nagbayad in full ng kanilang bill, bagamat sila ay entitled sa installment plan na six or four installments, meron din po kaming advisory na kung nagbayad kayo at gusto niyong mag installment plan, ire-refund po ng Meralco lahat ng binayad niyo,” Espinosa said, responding to Senator Risa Hontiveros’ queries.

(Madam Senator, those who paid their bills in full even though they are entitled for an installment plan of six or four months, we also have an advisory that if you already paid and you want to avail of the installment plan, Meralco will refund your pay.)

Those qualified to refund the bill, he said, would receive letters, itemizing the installment plan.

Hontiveros welcomed Meralco’s move.

Espinosa added that those who paid through credit cards would be covered by the refund.

“Pati ‘yun ay sinasaklaw nung aming advisory na kung nagbayad na kayo in full nung bills niyo na dapat babayaran niyo in installment, ire-refund po namin ‘yan. At padadalhan namin kayo ng bagong sulat….” he said.

(What is also covered by our advisory is if you already paid your bills in full when you’re supposed to pay installments, we will refund that and we will send you a new letter.)

Customers who would avail of the refund would just need to go any business offices of Meralco and present proof that they already paid their bills in full.

“Ipakita po nila yung kanilang proof of payment na nagbayad na sila nung mga buwan na ‘yun at sila po ay bibigyan ng refund at padadalhan sila ng sulat na sila ay magbabayad na on installment. Ganun po kadali ang ipapatupad natin,” Espinosa said.

(All they need to do is show their proof of payment for those months and they will be given a refund, and a letter will be sent to them on their installment plan. The process that we will implement will be that easy.)

He said there will be a special lane to accommodate those seeking a refund.

JE