I am generally a patient person, I can keep my cool when others around me are totally losing it, but there is one thing that irritates me no end, and that is people and companies who operate with deception and greed.
Recently, we had a notice from the electricity company, saying that if we didn’t pay the $260 outstanding, they would be cutting us off.
Well one question came to mind..
WHAT $260? We hadn’t been aware that we were in any kind of arrears; we like to keep things up together and current.
So Gregg went online to the electricity website and brought up our account.
Sure enough, there was a charge… not for service.. but a charge of $260.
I told him to call them straight away, but he said he’d prefer to go down and see them face to face.
After waiting in line to see the clerk, he showed her the bill which she brought up on the screen.
“It’s a cancellation charge.” She said, looking pleased that she had solved the mystery.
“Cancellation for what?” Gregg asked.
“A cancellation charge for cancelling your payment plan.”
“What payment plan.. I didn’t know we had one.”
She taps on the computer.
“Oh, yes you're right, you’ve never had a payment plan”
Then just sits there looking blank.
“So it’s a mistake then..” Gregg said,, trying to get something more from her.
“Yes it appears so.”
“So what do we do about it?”
“Well if its not paid by Monday, they're cutting you off.”
“But its an error.”
“Yes I know, but if you don’t pay it by Monday they're cutting you off.”
Ever heard that expression ‘ever decreasing circles?”
The conversation went on pretty much like this for 10 more minutes.
So, Monday, Gregg is going to have to pay the $260 just to keep us from being cut off.
BUT
This has made me furious. I am so mad.
Monday morning I am going down there to demand this money be credited to our account, if not I’m going straight down to the city offices and making complaints to whoever.
They may have met mr nice guy Gregg.. unfortunately.. they are just about to meet his wife.. and as patient as I am as rule..
You really don’t want to make me angry,, you wouldn’t like me when I'm angry!! 
Some of these people are absolutely thick who work in these offices.. like they cant think outside of the computer.
The whole experience reminded me of a sit com on TV called Little Britain, where there's a sketch in it called.....
>>Computer says No<<
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
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read more blogs!
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HUGS4UANDME
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Nov 1 @ 9:52AM
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wow .....maybe talk to the head of deptartment g/f ........that is nuts ...they made a mistake and you have to pay ....???.........why should you give them your money and get a credit ...I am sure you can use that money else where ....instead of having them have it ........these companies make you crazy ........sorry 
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oct_cat
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Nov 1 @ 9:54AM
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Oh that's just not right. Once a payment is made to a utility, trying to get it credited is like trying to make a dead corpse rise.
Suggestion?? When Gregg goes there Monday morning, I'd suggest he ask to speak to a supervisor about THEIR mistake, before paying money that you'll have trouble getting back.
One thing I've learned, if someone else makes a billing mistake & you the consumer pay the bill anyway, it's like admitting that you DID owe the money.
If it were me, I'd talk to the supervisor & if they didn't get it taken care of right then & there, I'd tell them my next stop was the city office to speak with someone about consumer fraud.
I can guarantee that will get the utility company moving in your favor.
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lovestobake
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Nov 1 @ 10:26AM
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Would not like you when you are mad, wrong, I like it. 
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missliss78
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Nov 1 @ 1:57PM
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Oh boy, Charli. I'm with you on this one!
Of course, the kindest approach is always the best, but $260 is a lot of money.
To my way of thinking the electric company is stealing from you if you make that payment! Good luck to you...I hope you will blog the end results!
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exvagabond
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Nov 2 @ 8:46AM
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Does your state have a Public Service Commission? If so, file a complaint. An account that's formally in dispute may not be closed. And be prepared for a siege of attrition. More than once I've had "public" utilities try to pull a fast one. When they see they're up against a brick wall, they've always backed off. I presume they just move on to the next sucker after the ashes have cooled off.
Some of these people are absolutely thick who work in these offices.. like they cant think outside of the computer. No kidding? How to you suppose they qualify for those jobbies?
In the Warm-Bodies School of Management
the customers call up and cuss.
To stall and repel them,
the line that we tell them
"That isn't handled by us."
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leprichaun_magic
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Nov 2 @ 10:04AM
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,,ooohhh...that IS so Frustrating ..!!  patience is a Virtue!
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john49887
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Nov 2 @ 4:14PM
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Yeah...gotta be careful with them 'puters.
I once saw a message on the screen that told me the computer was going into hibernation mode.
That's when I thought it was time for me to go to sleep. 
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exvagabond
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Nov 2 @ 4:30PM
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If it were me, I'd talk to the supervisor & if they didn't get it taken care of right then & there, I'd tell them my next stop was the city office to speak with someone about consumer fraud. No. File a complaint with the appropriate regulatory agency first. The agency will contact the supervisors and chain-of-parasites for you, and they will HAVE to respond. You can negotiate only from a strong position.
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misschoos
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Nov 9 @ 2:55PM
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Since you brought this up, I watched a few of these. 
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beckyiv42000
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Nov 9 @ 6:36PM
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CHarli I hope you filed a complaint first with the regulatory committee for your electric company and DID NOT pay the bill...paying it gives them the right to keep your $$and credit it when they get around to it.. Second...get PAST the nimwit at the counter.. DEMAND to see someone who has the authority to get the charge OFF your bill.. you should have done that when you went there sorry to say... but still try okay?? so many times they think if they baffle you with bullshit they will have you paying thru th e nose.. do not give up.. and if need be bring it up to your city leaders that they are trying to rip off the citizens good luck hon!!! Open a can of WHOOPASS on them 
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