problems with electric bill

[bronco54501]

Is this legal.? Has anyone else had or know of this problem..

I will try to explain this as best as I can as well as short as I can..

When I was injured between the stay at hospitol and almost 3 months at my parents due to my medical needs we got behind on electric bill... We explained situation and they were fine with it just try to catch it up.. Which we did even though I got ttd we had a rough time paying bills due to other jobs I could not do (cash-jobs).. When my wife lost her job the bills started pyling up by the time I was released to go back to work we were 6 months behind on house and truck.... and were 1000. behind on electric..

Last Dec I went back to work and I also got my wife a job there too. Well Jan came and they were going to shut off our service unless we paid our balance, wich we did.. A week later we get a letter saying we have to pre pay 1200, or they were going to shut us off, and if we keep our payments up we get it all back after 12 months. No big deal now that were working (like money in the bank) since Jan we caught up and paid extra $180 a month and this week our payroll is 3 days late and no money for automatic withdraw... So we call them and they said it was fine they would draw out on mon.. but they also stated we will have to wait an extra 12 months for our refund. now thats 2 years and we cant use the money..........

To me this is wrong, we argued till we were blue in the face.. I said is this legal they said they can do what they want cause we were late in the past.... I said we are no longer paying any additional monnies and they said " oh well we will just shut you off" Whats a person to do, we are bringing this to a lawyer.........

[jayne]

and they are right they can ...however with payroll not being your fault I would ask to talk to their superviser....

[monster]

Oh wow, it doesn't sound legal to me but I don't know anything about it. When I am behind on my bill they always send me a notice saying if I am shut off it will cost me an additional such and such amount to have it turned back on plus a deposit which is generally for like the amount of 2 months of usage.

I would definitely call an attorney, that just isn't right to do to people no matter what kind of business you are in. But unfortunately if they are the only electric company in your area then you may not have a choice.

Will say a prayer on this and hope it works out for the best.

Hugs,
monster

[bronco54501]

jayne Wrote:and they are right they can ...however with payroll not being your fault I would ask to talk to their superviser....

Yep it was thier supervisor we talked to, all rude and nasty...
I know it's not thier fault I have been late but geeeez come on.. I know of plenty of people here in the northwoods that have a rough time durring the winters (no tourist and lots of lay offs) and dont pay nothing all winter and get away with it..

I am seriously thinking of looking into solar pannels and a windmill... We live in a old farming field and we are on the highest grade for the area.. It would be nice to have them pay me.....LOL>

[1171]

"A standard deposit cannot exceed the sum of the two largest consecutive bills during the last twelve months. A deposit requested due to non-payment during the winter months cannot exceed the four highest consecutive bills during the last twelve months. The following rules apply to payment and refund of deposits:
• Existing Residential Service: A standard deposit can be requested if your service was disconnected during the last 12 months for nonpayment of an undisputed account or your initial application was falsified or incomplete. A winter non-payment deposit can be required if you had debt incurred during the winter that was 80 days or more past due and you had the ability to pay.

Under Wisconsin law, a utility may sue a customer for three times the amount of the bill incurred between November 1 and April 15 if the customer had the ability to pay during that timeframe but chose not to pay. This amount is in addition to the money owed for the bill itself. Treble damages can be charged if the following conditions are met:

The customer’s income exceeds 250% of the Federal Poverty Guideline
The customer’s bill is 80 or more days past due.
The customer did not pay during most of the Winter."



http://psc.wi.gov/consumerinfo/consumeroverview.htm

http://psc.wi.gov/thelibrary/publication...umer01.pdf

[Manley2]

Who knows with the power company, they seem to do what they want most of the time. Right now in IL they are working on getting it setup legal like so they can charger everybody for the unpaid bills of others.

I remember some time back I worked security at a local Red Lobster. There was an ice storm that knocked power out all over. Everynight the guys from the power company and the tree trimming company they used would come in and spend 2 hours eating steak and lobster, all on the power company. Plus they were paid for the time spent eating. Now I'm not saying they didn't have a tought job and I know they work allot of hours to get the power back on. But when most people work overtime they don't even get paid while they are eating letting alone get $30 meal. This is why your power company wants so much money. Forgot one more a good friend was a meter reader for the power company, with the union rules if it rained they didn't go out and read meters and got paid to sit in the shop and play cards. That is the reason meter reading with that company is now done by contractors

[bronco54501]

1171 Wrote:"A standard deposit cannot exceed the sum of the two largest consecutive bills during the last twelve months. A deposit requested due to non-payment during the winter months cannot exceed the four highest consecutive bills during the last twelve months. The following rules apply to payment and refund of deposits:
• Existing Residential Service: A standard deposit can be requested if your service was disconnected during the last 12 months for nonpayment of an undisputed account or your initial application was falsified or incomplete. A winter non-payment deposit can be required if you had debt incurred during the winter that was 80 days or more past due and you had the ability to pay.

Under Wisconsin law, a utility may sue a customer for three times the amount of the bill incurred between November 1 and April 15 if the customer had the ability to pay during that timeframe but chose not to pay. This amount is in addition to the money owed for the bill itself. Treble damages can be charged if the following conditions are met:

The customer’s income exceeds 250% of the Federal Poverty Guideline
The customer’s bill is 80 or more days past due.
The customer did not pay during most of the Winter."



http://psc.wi.gov/consumerinfo/consumeroverview.htm

http://psc.wi.gov/thelibrary/publication...umer01.pdf

Thanks 1171 that helps

[Still in Limbo]

1171 Covered that Situation Well for You Bronco, I have Direct Payment from My Checking Account also, just to Make it Easier for Me. I was Behind Years ago, and they Actually Shut Me Off until I Paid the Full Bill, and a $250.00 Deposit that was kept for a Year. I Wish You the Best with this and Hope You can come to Some type of Agreement!