Swissvale woman pays for protection plan, but says she still got stuck with bill from gas leak - WTAE Pittsburgh

Wwoman pays for protection plan, still stuck with gas leak bill

JENNA MARZELLA TELLS ME SHE AND HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE IN THEIR HOME WITHOUT GAS, SO NO HEAT OR WATER SINCE SUNDAY. THAT’S WHEN TWO GAS LEAKS WERE FOUND. SHE TELLS ME THE GAS COMPANY TOOK CARE OF THE ONE INSIDE, BUT THE ONE HERE OUTSIDE, AND SHE TELLS ME HAS BEEN A BATTLE. YOU CAN SEE THAT IT’S 50 DEGREES IN IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW. AND THIS IS WHERE I’M SUPPOSED TO HAVE MY MY SON JENNA MARZELLA SAYS FOR FIVE DAYS SHE HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO KEEP HER TWO YEAR OLD SON, GIO, WARM AT NIGHT. WE HAVE SPACE HEATERS AND. BUT THEY’RE NOT SAFE TO SLEEP WITH AT NIGHT. AND SHE’S SPENDING HER DAYS TRYING TO GET HER HEAT BACK ON. MARZELLA TELLS ME SHE PAYS FOR EVERY PEOPLE’S PROTECTION PROGRAM OFFERED AND EXPECTED THE LEAK OUTSIDE TO BE REPAIRED. LIKE THE ONE INSIDE WAS. I HAVE IN HOUSE. I HAVE PROTECTION, RESTORATION. I HAVE IT ALL. BUT FOR SOME REASON, ONCE THEY HEARD ABOVE GROUND, THEY JUST SAID NOPE, WE CAN’T DO IT. WE REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE’S GAS. THEIR SPOKESPERSON TELLS US IT’S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THE EXCEPTIONS ARE IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. AND THEY POINTED US TO THE WORDING SHOWING THE PROGRAM DOESN’T COVER, QUOTE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF GAS LINES ABOVE GROUND FROM THE METER TO OR THE INSIDE OF CUSTOMERS. RESIDENTS. SO FROM ISELLA, WHILE THE PLAN PAID FOR THE LEAK INSIDE FOR THE ONE OUTSIDE, PEOPLE SAYS SHE’S ON HER OWN TO FIND AND PAY A PLUMBER TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS. AND I’M EXPECTED TO PAY ALL THAT OUT OF POCKET. EVEN PAYING INSURANCE THROUGH PEOPLE’S THE SPOKESPERSON FOR PEOPLE’S GAS TELLS ME NONE OF THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES COVER ANY ISSUES WITH LINES ABOVE GROUND. SO IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THEIR POLICIES OR YOU’RE CONSIDERING THOSE POLICIES, TAKE A LOOK@WTAE.COM.

Swissvale woman pays for Peoples Gas Protection plan, but says she still got stuck with the bill from a gas leak

Updated: 6:28 PM EST Feb 29, 2024

Jenna Mazzella said she has been living without heat since Sunday when two gas leaks were discovered in and around her home. "I have a 2-year-old at home," Mazzella said. "My thermostat is 50 degrees in my house right now."Mazzella said Peoples Gas repaired the leak in her basement since she pays for a protection plan, but they said she is on her own for the one outside. Nick Paradise, spokesperson for Peoples Gas, said none of Peoples Protection Plans cover leaks above ground."They had their contractors sitting here, right here for four hours, just smoking cigarettes just doing nothing because they were on the phone with Peoples Gas, like, trying to figure out yes, we can, no, we can't. They were here for four hours. It could have been fixed," Mazella said. Paradise said the confusion was over where the leak was specifically. If it were in the underground portion of the pipe, he said it would have been covered.Mazzella said she hopes this is a warning to other customers paying for protection. She is paying those fees and now has to hire a plumber too."He said just alone, materials, maybe between $500 and $800 alone, but that's not including cost and labor," Mazzella said. "And I'm expected to pay all that out of pocket, even paying insurance through Peoples."More information: Peoples Protection Programs / Terms and Conditions

SWISSVALE, Pa. —

Jenna Mazzella said she has been living without heat since Sunday when two gas leaks were discovered in and around her home.

"I have a 2-year-old at home," Mazzella said. "My thermostat is 50 degrees in my house right now."

Mazzella said Peoples Gas repaired the leak in her basement since she pays for a protection plan, but they said she is on her own for the one outside.

Nick Paradise, spokesperson for Peoples Gas, said none of Peoples Protection Plans cover leaks above ground.

"They had their contractors sitting here, right here for four hours, just smoking cigarettes just doing nothing because they were on the phone with Peoples Gas, like, trying to figure out yes, we can, no, we can't. They were here for four hours. It could have been fixed," Mazella said.

Paradise said the confusion was over where the leak was specifically. If it were in the underground portion of the pipe, he said it would have been covered.

Mazzella said she hopes this is a warning to other customers paying for protection. She is paying those fees and now has to hire a plumber too.

"He said just alone, materials, maybe between $500 and $800 alone, but that's not including cost and labor," Mazzella said. "And I'm expected to pay all that out of pocket, even paying insurance through Peoples."

More information: Peoples Protection Programs / Terms and Conditions