Hey Texas!! DON'T PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILLS!!

[Skraxx]

ALL OF YOU! Just REFUSE TO PAY. Make it a movement. Civil disobedience.

Form a "Utility Users Union" and refuse to pay until there are proper regulations.

[R B Garr]

1. This is the exact case for refusing autopay.

One Texan being interviewed said they took almost $17,000 out of his account.

I got burned by an insurance company through autopay many years back and learned my lesson.

[dalton99a]

2. +1

[Skraxx]

3. I autopay through my bank

I don't let ANYONE TAKE money from my account automatically. My bank sends what I tell them to.

[Celerity]

18. autopay is what you are saying you do NOT do, yet you just said you do it

then you say you do not do it

[R B Garr]

20. I think through your bank, you control and approve

the expenditure. Autopay is when you give your checking routing numbers and the company can draft right into your account based on their determinations of what you owe.

[Skraxx]

22. Yup

[Skraxx]

21. No I Didn't

I said I don't let anyone TAKE money from my account automatically. I SEND it them automatically, only amounts that I approve.

[Celerity]

23. I think we have a definitional issue. You are incorrectly using the words autopay and automatically

I SEND it them automatically, only amounts that I approve.

Automatically is, by definition, autopay. It means that you do not have to go and MANUALLY send the funds. The system auto-debits the funds. This can be for a set rate OR for an open-ended amount, but both are autopay.

[Skraxx]

24. I Don't Know What You're Talking About, I Never Said I Didn't Autopay

I do, which I clearly said, but through my bank and I'm in control. I don't let others automatically take money FROM my account. You can set up autopay from either end. Not sure what your beef is, but if you want to nitpick, go ahead.

I'm not incorrectly using any words at all. I use autopay, but set it up through my bank. I'm not sure what you find so hard to understand.

[Celerity]

25. I will keep this simple and linear in logical thrust.

1. Autopay means that funds come out UNLESS you stop it..

2. It happens automatically, unless you turn it off, unless you stop it.

3. It generally happens the same time each month (this can vary).

4. Whether it is for a set amount or whether it is for any variable amount owed, it is still an autopay.

5. IF you (Skraxx) manually have to tell the bank to send the funds (and if you do not tell them to sends funds then NO funds are sent), then you (Skraxx) are NOT on autopay and you are NOT sending funds 'automatically'.

6. IF the funds come out without any interventive action from your end then you are on autopay, AND you are sending funds automatically.


You are using the terms autopay and automatically in contradictory and incorrect fashion. A simple perusal of this colloquy by a third party will easily show my positings to be the correct ones.

Given the 6 positings above, look at you reply below, and you will see what I am saying:

[Skraxx]

26. No, I Am Not Using Any Words Incorrectly

You are quite clearly unable to admit you're wrong. Where did I say I don't use autopay? I didn't. I said I do use autopay right there in the title, and it is autopay through the bank. I am using autopay. Through the bank. They send it automatically every month. In fact, the Bank calls it "autopay". But I review it and make sure it's correct. You seem to be the only one confused. But feel free to keep insisting otherwise, and thanks for the kick!

[Celerity]

28. You said that the funds did NOT come out automatically. If you are on autopay, they DO come

out automatically. This can be for a set amount OR a variable amount but it is autopay either way and the funds do come out automatically unless you stop the action.

I have no idea why you are struggling to see this.

Sorry, I am done here, good luck and thanks for the replies.


cheers

[Skraxx]

29. I Never Said That

Where did I say that? Why do you insist on saying that I'm saying things I'm not saying? Whatever, thanks for the kick!

[Celerity]

33. I have shown it multiple times, lol, read my replies. Goodbye.

[Skraxx]

34. No, You Haven't, LOL

Thanks for the kick!

[Celerity]

38. Yes I have. nt

[Skraxx]

40. Ok, Whatever You Say! LOL!

[R B Garr]

27. Why all this angst over a simple phrase?? I pay a couple bills through my bank, as well, but it's

determined through the company's account number and I can choose a method of payment from month to month, generally a one-time payment, but it's still paid automatically. If I determine to enter my checking account numbers, it's automatically paid through that method and credited to my account number. Autopay is when a company drafts right into your checking account. Both are paid automatically through the bank (i.e., you don't have to send a check, etc.). Each bank may call it something else, as they like their little catch phrases for proprietary services.

[Celerity]

30. it wasn't angst from my end, I simply tried to correct the posters initial small error and they

went all double down and denialist.

My replies to them are self-explanatory, and correct. I am giving up at this point.

All in all, a huge waste of time, I wish I had never made the initial reply to them.

cheers

[Skraxx]

32. What error? LOL!

[Celerity]

35. The initial one where they claim autopay, BUT claim they do not send payments automatically.

Autopay IS automatic.

smdh

[Skraxx]

37. That Says I Use Autopay, Very Clearly, There's No Error

You are the only one who seems confused, but thanks for the kick! I do use autopay, and the payments are automatic. Through my bank. I tell them what to send, the amounts, what date, and then they do it automatically, every month. Very simple. Confusing to you for some reason though. Thanks again for the kick!

[Celerity]

41. You claimed, in the same reply, that that it is NOT automatic, when, by definition autopay IS

automatic.

I have went through thsi all over and over.

you just said now

I do use autopay, and the payments are automatic.

BUT you said (in the initial reply of yours I first replied to)




the bank, IF you are on autopay, IS sending the payments automatically

[Skraxx]

43. No, I Didn't, I Said I Don't Let Anyone TAKE Money Automatically Out

Which is what a utility would do if you set up autopay through them. I have my bank send it automatically through their autopay, so I'm more in control, But it's still autopay. You obviously don't understand the difference.

[Celerity]

45. My relies all stand, you are now playing post-positing semantic word games and trying to

pettifog. You continuously are contradicting yourself due to your misuse of the actual definitions. An autopay can either be for a set amount or a variable amount but both are autopay and both are automatic.

[Skraxx]

47. LOL! Yes, You're Failure To Admit You're Wrong Is Clear For Everyone to See

Thanks again for the kick!

[Skraxx]

31. LOL! I'm Kind of Amused

I'm not sure what is so difficult for this person to understand. He/She keeps telling me I've said things I've never said. I don't get it. But whatever. LOL!

[Celerity]

36. I am a woman, and it is not me who is failing to understand. I have posted your own replies over and

over and then logically and coherently addressed why I said you were in error.

[Skraxx]

39. LOL! You've Made it Very Clear You Can't Admit You're Wrong!

That's for sure!

[Celerity]

46. Because I am NOT wrong, as I have meticulously laid out.

[Skraxx]

48. Sure, Whatever You Say! LOL

[R B Garr]

55. I've seen that pattern before from them, so

I know what you mean. It’s not hard to understand that you authorize the payments but it’s still automatic. The other way is letting someone into your account.

You made perfect sense!

[Beetwasher.]

57. Thanks, So This Behavior Is Nothing New

From this person? Makes sense and noted!

[PatSeg]

15. Oh yes, I agree

I never use autopay. Experience has taught me that sometimes you get an outrageous bill that must be challenged. With autopay, you could be left with no money to buy food or pay your other bills, while you try and challenge the charge.

$17,000? That is insane.

[Johnny2X2X]

44. Same here

Autopay is fine for some things, but Comcast taught me a lesson, i was autopay with them and they got my bill wrong something like 6 out of 7 months. Always charged me more.

I have a couple autopays that I have to do to get a 10% discount and maintain a 0% interest rate, but those are fixed amount.

[PatSeg]

49. I had one monthly bill that barely varied

and I had it set to autopay, as I frequently forgot it for some reason, but I've had some others where I didn't trust the companies and knew how hard it was to resolve disputes. Then there are companies where you cancel the service, but they keep charging you. The red tape involved can take a long time and meanwhile, you could be short on needed funds. Sometimes it is a nightmare just to talk to a live person. You'd think with everything so computerized, things would be more efficient, but often it is worse.

[Johnny2X2X]

51. Bought some furniture

They had 0% interest, but only if you never missed a payment, if you were late once they'd jack the interest rate up to 25%. Autopay made sense for that. A medical bill also had 0% interest, but only if you do autopay. Everything else I log in each month to pay, it's very easy and takes 10 minutes for all of them.

[PatSeg]

52. Yes and it gives you more control over your finances

If you aren't paying attention to your bills and checking account, some odd charges can be snuck in there that people often miss, usually accidentally, but not always.

I definitely agree that the 0% furniture bill was a good example of when autopay makes sense. Pretty smart of them to threaten with a 25% interest rate. That surely would get a lot of people to choose autopay.

[Johnny2X2X]

53. It's a game

I like beating them at their own game though.

When I buy a car I always secure financing before hand and then flat out lie to them saying that I will be financing with them. Then I negotiate the best price. They will go lower because they think they can bump you a few % points in the financing to make up the difference. Shook hands on a car for the price I wanted and then he goes great, now let’s see about financing. I go through that with them and see what their rate is. I tell them thanks, but I’ve got financing at a better rate, then I buy the car at the price they agreed to.

[R B Garr]

56. This is very smart! That is the way to go. We learned their

play when one dealer sat down with us and asked, “are you paying cash?”. It really angered me because of course we weren’t paying cash and that put him in control of the conversation. Next time I’ll answer Yes! We’re paying cash, and then go from there.

[TwilightZone]

4. That's horrible advice.

Suggesting that people potential destroy their credit to make a political statement is not a good idea.

Better advice would be to seek assistance through the various programs that are available and in the process of being created.

[Skraxx]

5. No, It's Not

That's how you bring about change. Assistance from programs in TX? What planet are you living on? Creditors happen to be forgiving right now and you're credit rating can be fixed, but how is an assistance program going to get you out of $10k in debt? So you think folks should just suck up and take out mortgages for 10 years to pay a weeks worth of electric bills?

[TwilightZone]

6. Yes, it is.

It's mind-numbingly stupid advice.

Not in Texas, are you? Easy for you to tell 30 million people to potentially fuck up their lives.

[Skraxx]

8. LOL! Ok, Have Fun Being Indentured Servants To ERCOT!

And paying off utility debt for the rest of your life! Yeah, that makes sense! Yeehaw cowboy! LOL!

How about using the "programs" you mentioned to repair your credit, instead of shoveling money to ERCOT? Nahh, just pay, slave.

[old guy]

10. "mind-numbingly stupid advice"

Wow!

[PatSeg]

16. Meanwhile, I would think

that most Texans couldn't pay those kinds of electric bills anyway.

[packman]

7. You are being sarcastic, aren't you?

Couldn't disagree with you more - sounds like a roll-over and a nod to the utilities to continue doing what they're doing and giving them a way out.

[Skraxx]

9. Probably works for ERCOT

[awesomerwb1]

13. Do YOU live in Texas?

What would YOU do if you got a $17,000 bill for ONE month of electricity?

[PatSeg]

19. Only an extremely small percentage of people

would be able to come up with that kind of money for one month of electricity (for anything actually) and people with that kind of money can afford a good lawyer.

[EX500rider]

54. Not to mention their power being turned off for non-payment...

...which will make any other power providers reluctant to hook them up.

[brooklynite]

11. You'll be covering their legal expenses if they get sued?

[roamer65]

12. It's time for a large class action lawsuit.

Sue the pants off from ERCOT, Abbott and the utilities.

[Turin_C3PO]

14. I wouldn't pay $16,000 for a few days of electricity.

I understand these people signed up for variable rates but no one could reasonably expect that huge of an increase. The energy companies should most of the cost and lower the bill to like $200 or less.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

50. Are you talking about the veteran who was interviewed on a few TV shows?

The power company already took the money directly from his bank account. He won't "pay" anything, the money's already gone.

I hope the publicity causes the utility company executives to put the money back. I'm not holding my breath.

What a deal.

[roamer65]

17. Let the high powered lawyers at this one.

The insurance companies paying claims will want their pound of flesh from Abbott, ERCOT and the utilities.

Subrogation city.