PECO irons out double-billing error

PECO Energy says a check-processing error has caused some customers to have their monthly payment deducted twice.

Cathy Engel Menendez of PECO said the company’s check vendor accidentally processed checks twice from about 17,000 customers.

“The third-party vendor gets all of the checks and they prepare a document, that has the account number, the PECO account number, the check routing number and when it’s withdrawn from their account, and from that point when it’s deducted from their account,” she said. “That’s done electronically, so when that file was submitted, by error it was actually submitted twice.”

Menendez said PECO refunded money immediately when it discovered the error. She said the company is still working with customers to iron out troubles.

“We also are working with customers in the event that the issue caused them any overdraft fees or anything like that,” she said. “We are also going to reimburse them for those costs as well.”

Menendez said the double-deductions did not affect customers who have money drawn directly from their bank accounts.