This message was self-deleted by its author

[rsmith6621]

This message was self-deleted by its author (rsmith6621) on Fri Dec 30, 2011, 10:42 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[ejpoeta]

1. it should be standard procedure for the tech to call and check to see

if arrangements had been made or a payment before he gets out of the vehicle. That is bs. Glad you were there to handle it.

[elleng]

4. Yes, and CERTAINLY when customer TOLD HIM she'd made the payment!

[Warpy]

25. It also needs to be illegal if there are still a few days left in the billing period

This guy is a thief who is trying to do all the potential shutoffs along with the ones that are scheduled, probably to save himself a little bit of effort down the line. Maybe he likes the racetrack or hanging out in a local bar. It's still theft.

[joshcryer]

38. I'd bet money it is standard procedure, I bet this guy was just a jerkwad.

A pure, evil, jerkwad. It takes all of 30 seconds to confirm the story. He can continue being a jerkwad if the person is lying to him.

[emilyg]

2. Good for you. You did good.

[elleng]

3. BRAVO and thank goodness for you, rsmith!

[KT2000]

5. Good going!

What is the matter with people anyway? When did everything become so unreasonable? Too many people just following orders.

Hope your neighbor thanked you too.

[RebelOne]

6. Luckily you were there to intercede for her. n/t

[riderinthestorm]

7. You are a good soul! It's going to take all of us helping one another to get through these bad times

You earned some good karma today rsmith.... (((((hug))))

[Enrique]

8. I used to work customer service for a gas company

"why can't you call the service guy and let him know I paid?" was one of about a million questions we were not given an answer for. For that and many other legitimate questions and complaints, were were just told to "push back." We weren't allowed to tell them the answer we all suspected, "because they want your $25.00".

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Damn but you did a great thing!

And goddamn that service guy. Just following orders, my ass!

What a great thing it was that you were there.

[Jennicut]

10. This is just wrong, wrong, wrong. My husband does shut offs for a gas company here in CT.

He is always confirming payments with customer service and checking emails. He is specifically trained to do that before making shutoffs. This is just, really really bad. Also, depending on the temps or if the customer has a health reason, he can't shut off either. Wonder what electric company it was. They need major overhauls in communication.

[MADem]

11. You are a gem of a human being. Thank you for being so kind to someone's auntie, grandma, whatever.

If what goes around comes around, good stuff should be coming to you.

Your experience would make a great Letter to the Editor or even a feature story in your local paper--if I were looking for a story to get people talking, that would be it.

Edit: You might want to look into energy assistance for that lady, and also find out if she qualifies for that program they have in some places where they don't shut off the power to the elderly willy-nilly. In northern communities, people can die in their homes without power.

[abelenkpe]

12. Thank you for helping your neighbor

That was a great story! Good job

[FarPoint]

13. You are a beautiful person!

You care......I'm honored to of read your post...makes my day.

[The Genealogist]

14. I'll bet this lady adores you right now!

Way to stick up for this lady!

[MissB]

15. Well done!

Consider writing a letter to the CEO of the gas company too!

[pipi_k]

41. Yep, I would, plus

I would also write a letter to the local newspaper, TV news channel, and whatever agency oversees the public utilities.

Too many people just let stuff like this go, once it's over and done with.

I let a lot of things slide myself, but every once in a while something happens that is outrageous enough to really piss me off, and I let people know it.

[Ms. Toad]

16. Now - while it is fresh in your mind

write all the details down that you can remember and give a copy to your neighbor (and suggest she keep a copy of the e-mail with your notes - along with documentation that she still had 3 days to make the payment).

I am cynical enough to believe that the $40 reconnection fee might just show up on her next bill...

[prairierose]

17. It is going to take all of use sticking up for each other, as rideronthestorm said,

the only way that we have a chance of getting through these bad times. Thank you for your kindness to another.

[suffragette]

18. You are a good person

Bravo for such a caring action for your neighbor

[csziggy]

19. Report the power company to whatever state agency oversees them

Here it would be the Public Service Commission. It may not do any good immediately for your neighbor, but here whenever a utility is up for rate increases or license renewals or any other thing they have to get approval for the PSC reviews their files. In those files are ALL the complaints the PSC has received. And it DOES make a difference - companies have had rate increases denied because they were so poor at customer service they had reams of complaints.

I'd also call the local elected officials and let them know about the practice of cutting power off BEFORE the date the service expires and AFTER a payment has been received.

[Brickbat]

20. Call the newspaper and tell them, too. They love stuff like this, especially right now, because

there is very little news between Christmas and New Year's.

[HipChick]

31. +1000...

[freshwest]

36. +1,000

[Justice wanted]

21. Your kindness to this woman will be rewarded. Thank you for standing up for your neighbor.

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. omg!!!!!!

[MineralMan]

23. Good Job!

[pnwmom]

24. Thanks for being an ordinary hero! n/t

[xmas74]

26. Last winter a friend paid her bill

one day late. (Her paycheck was late.) Anyway, three days later she came home from work and found that the gas had been shut off, with the notice in the door. (In Missouri it's legal to shut off gas during the winter as long as there have been three days in a row with temperatures in the 50's.) It cost her $100 for a reconnect and she didn't have service for four days. During those four days the temperature rapidly dropped.

The gas company purposely shut it off during that time, knowing if they waited even one more day that they wouldn't be able to shut it off.

[xfundy]

27. HERO OF THE DAY!

(I just thought of an award for this, so haven't had time to make a graphic yet.)

[Tsiyu]

28. You are a hero today

A true hero

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. You did good

[Gemini Cat]

30. Good job.

I am glad there are people out there that will help others, when the need arises. You did a good thing.

[Honeycombe8]

32. You did a good thing. Most people don't want to get involved.

Congratulations for being the best DU'er of the day!

[steve2470]

33. You rock for doing this, good karma for you ! nt

[webDude]

34. Because they know they got you by the b$lls, short answer. THIS is one way they keep us as slaves.

The alternatives are extreme, but they are there. We MUST re-educate ourselves about this stuff, re-frame the argument.

[joshcryer]

39. It's going to be real fun when all the power meters are electronic...

...and they can shut you off, pretty much instantly, at exactly midnight on the night it should be shut off.

[Bobbie Jo]

35. Thank you...

I've been on the receiving end of a shut off in the past. It's demeaning and frightning.

You did a good thing.

[joshcryer]

37. $40 reconnect. God. Some people are truly evil. Truly, deep down, evil.

[Irishonly]

40. You are a wonderful human being

Reading this makes my blood boil and I am so happy you were there to help. IMHO, you are a hero. The guy is a jerk and I wish there was a job he could do that would not let him ever see people. Your neighbor had proof and what he did was wrong.

I also would tell you to have your neighbor watch her next bill very carefully and if there is a report she can file I would tell her to do that also.

[msanthrope]

42. Good on you!! You did the right thing, stepping forward! nt

[Rozlee]

43. And the utility company probably doesn't pay it's own bills.

PG&E, Center Point, American Electric Power, Duke Energy, DTE Energy, NextEra Energy, Integrys Energy and Pepco didn't pay a cent of taxes last year on their utility holdings. I don't know who's the parent of your utility company, but chances are that they're one of the soulless predators that corporatism has spawned. And workers like the one that was harassing your neighbor are part of the mindset that pervades the culture. You stuck up for the 99%. Too bad that doosh doesn't realize that he's a cog in the matrix.