888-208-5272

This call to me was placed twice and I redialed to see what it was all about, and they said they were the electric company and that my account was overdue in a stated amount...(this is not true), and if I would like to pay it now.  I declined and he just said "Goodbye".
This has to be a scam, and someone is looking for a catch to snag an account number.  These people need to get a life and not to prey on law abiding citizens!   Jerks!

I also received a call from this numer and it too was the electric company so I returned the call and the recording wanted me to pay my bill.  Didn't do it as I recently had done so.  I also believe that it is a scam.

Scam on the rise!  I just checked with my electric company, they told me there was an alert on their website.  I looked it up, and here's the link:

https://www.firstenergycorp.com/newsroom/news ... tilityscam.html

Yes, to all the above comments, I got a call today, message said, I was overdue on Penelec bill and was to call Penelec immediately and pay with my debit card and a fee. I never pay that way anyway. So I called my Penelec number and they said never heard of that. Yes people are right. SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am glad some people have so much time on their hands. Not cool. Please stop. Enough problems as it is.

Recd call from this number.  Left VM: An automated voice stating they were from Penelec & needed me to return call to this number ASAP.   Could be legit..... electric was due on 8/21 & I mailed check on 8/24.  I didnt bother to call back.... if its legit, they should have had my check on Monday 8/27!

I received a voicemail from this number saying it was from Penelec and to call back. I had to google what Penelec was considering I live in FL and don't use them. Scam for sure.

Agree with everyone else... scam.  They left a voice mail on my cell phone.  I called the number back on my land line and I got a generic message saying, "thanks for calling us back.  In order to identify you, please enter the number on which we called you."  I entered a wrong number and it told me to try again.  I entered another wrong number and then it told me that my account was past due and to make a payment now!  They never once said I WHO I was calling and, isn't it amazing, they were able to tell who I was from the wrong phone number I entered?!

they left a voicemail on my cell saying it was Met-Ed. they said I should return their call, but I didn't because I knew my bill wasn't late. so I figured it was a scam.

After reading these comments I called the number back and listened.  They had all my info, name, address, and amount due.  I called Met Ed myself then and they had the exact same amount.  If this is a scam, how did they know all that info?  Now I'm confused.

If you have ever applied for or bought anything online--this includes e-filing your income taxes, your personal identifying information is out there for hackers to compromise and sell on the internet black market. You need to pull your credit report. Your identity may have been stolen.

not a scam. it is actually an automated system to collect your past due utility bills.

This is legit... it's the power company, in my case Potomac Edison. They clearly give you the option to pay online by logging into your account or paying by phone. This is the real deal.

I agree.  they are legit. they are calling about past due bills

This is not a scam.  This was the utility company calling.  They do give you an option to pay the bill online at first energy.com for free.  They only asked if you want to make a credit card payment for $3.00.  They did not demand anything just giving a message. Up to you if you wanted to go ahead and give your info to an automated recording.  I wouldn't but that's just me but definitely not a scam.

They keep calling and sometimes it says ucb and sometimes it says v05231101282026. No reason for them to call and I am in do not call list.i guess I need a whistle

Got the call today! Boy I love Goole and looking up numbers I don't know! Thank you all!

My bill was due on 4/5 and I paid on 4/5 and my balance is $0, this is a scam, I am not past due

Thank you everyone, for commenting about this number.  I don't answer my phone, unless it is someone on my contact list.  I'm tired of getting calls from scammers & telemarketers...... they're so annoying!!  Anyway, I called this number back on my work phone and got an automated recording.  The recording asked me to enter the telephone number, on which they originally contacted me at.  I didn't enter any telephone numbers and after the message repeated itself, about 5 times, it said that their records indicated that I had an overdue payment.  That's funny, how can they tell that I have an overdue payment, when they don't even know who is calling them back??  My bills are paid.... scammers & telemarketers need to find a different way to pay theirs!!

To note, this is not a scam.  This is part of First Energy's response system.  If your account is past due, or even has a late balance on it for longer than the due date (by 7 days), they will call you from this number.  It can be for any company operated by First Energy (Ohio Electric, Penn Power, Penelec, Met-Ed, etc).  

Paying the bill the day it is due means that it will not post to your account for 24-72 hours AFTER the bill is due; thus your account is late by those 24-72 hours (per First Energy customer service).  That is why these calls go out, even if you are not past due.

For most, this call will not go out unless you are 3-7 days past your due date, and it is just a reminder call.  Fist Energy does confirm that this number is theirs; their local providers do not always know which 888/866/800 number will be calling the customer, as that is all automated from the parent company.

Again, this is not a scam.  if you have paid your bill, you can ignore it.  If you have not, then it is just telling you that you owe some money to First Energy (via one of their power companies).

Wow. SO glad you mentioned this.  I too got this call.  I am deaf and they call me through the relay service.  So the interpreter said you got a call from the electric company to please call back at 888 208-5272.  I am   just outside of Pittsburgh.  Glad I did an internet search of this phone number.  Thank you all for posting your experience.