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03-24-2008, 09:20 PM | #2 |
Kind of a mod
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Did they take an actual reading when you moved in? What about when they replaced your meter?
And how did they calculate the $650? |
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03-24-2008, 09:22 PM | #3 |
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Man, that sounds crazy. I work for Pacific Gas and Electric in California, so things may be a little different. I would first go down with all my facts straight and talk to a live person. Often we have customers come in with crazy bills and the clerks are able to take care of the problem right then and there. If the clerk I talk to does not help, I would ask for his/her boss.
If you get no where going through the company your next step is the Public Utilities Commission...at least that is what it is called in California. I am sure there is something similar there. Contact them and file a complaint. I would guess it can be done on line. I know when we receive a PUC complaint it gets the bosses attention. They do not like hearing from the PUC. They will have a small window of time and they will be forced to respond to the complaint. I am a lineman and I totally back what the tech told you as far as not being able to take it apart and tell what the usage was. If it was not reading the usage there is no way to go back and get a reading! The only thing they can do is estimate and the old bills will prove that $650 is not a valid estimate. How long has it been since you have had to pay a bill? |
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03-24-2008, 09:22 PM | #4 |
Now you've pissed me off!
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"When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln |
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03-24-2008, 09:29 PM | #5 |
Kind of a mod
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Well, I probably won't be around, but I'd say your first step would be to just call them up and talk to them about it. Sometimes you'll get someone who's reasonable and can help you out.
If that doesn't work, you might ask for historical usage data for your apartment. If you can get an idea of how much the bills were the previous year, you should be able to get a decent estimate of whether or not $650 is reasonable. Of course, prices have gone up, so you'll need to keep that in mind, but that should at least let you know how far off they might be. |
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03-24-2008, 09:30 PM | #6 |
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http://www.psc.mo.gov/
That is the web site of the Missouri Public Service Commission. If you go down the left side of the home page you will see a tab "File a Complaint" and it will take you through the steps on line. It WILL get action. First I would go down to the office and talk to a real person, however. |
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03-24-2008, 09:58 PM | #7 |
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All I can tell you is if your gas company is like mine, you are screwed. Good luck.
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03-24-2008, 10:20 PM | #8 |
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I would do as suggested and ask for a 5 year useage list for your apartment.
Unless you were cooking meth in the basement there shouldn't be any way that your bill could increase by that much over the time of a year. Talk to the people at the office. All else fails contact a legal aid office. |
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03-24-2008, 11:12 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
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03-24-2008, 11:14 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
The thing I'd really like to find is proof that there is no way they can find past data by taking apart the broken meter. |
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03-24-2008, 11:20 PM | #11 | |
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My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs. |
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03-24-2008, 11:21 PM | #12 |
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03-24-2008, 11:25 PM | #13 | |
Shaken. Not stirred.
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Quote:
Also, this is GAS ONLY right? Not gas and electric combined?
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My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs. |
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03-24-2008, 11:28 PM | #14 | |
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Gas only, no electric or any other utility combined. |
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03-25-2008, 01:17 AM | #15 |
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You must have a cute ass
they are dieing to pound the shit out of it |
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