Evil Men and the Water Bill

[Sasquatch]

Here's my bitch story for the day.

I am on auto-pay for my water bill so I don't have to worry about it. I get a notice a month ago saying I'm late on a payment. So I call and talk to this wonderful lady who walked me through THEIR mistake and we set the auto-pay up again. She said I was set to go and she would email me confirmation. Never got it.

So yesterday I go out to the mailbox and there is a letter from water saying I missed a payment and to please pay it with my current bill. No red notice but there was a $10. late fee. It was too late to call so I set the letter on my desk to deal with today. I made a chili cheese egg burrito for breakfast and as I was doing the dishes a white truck drives by my house REALLY slow. I thought it was odd. Then a few minutes later my water goes off. I can't walk very well still so I hobble to the door as fast as I can to yell to the guy and he splits like a thief in the night. Argh!

Get on the phone to talk to another "nice lady" today who I explain everything to and she gives me the run around trying to say this is my fault. Not to mention they want to charge me another $62. to turn the water back on.

Waiting for a call back after she talks to her supervisor.

To be continued...

[T-Man 1066]

Make this a point to also test your water related preps. If it was off for a week, are you getting in a bind or not?

Also, are you in an area where you can catch and purify rain water? Barrels off your gutters? Are you in a desert area?

Yep, dealing with municipalities sucks!

[Sasquatch]

Make this a point to also test your water related preps. If it was off for a week, are you getting in a bind or not?

Also, are you in an area where you can catch and purify rain water? Barrels off your gutters? Are you in a desert area?

Yep, dealing with municipalities sucks!

Always great advice. I have a couple thousand gallons in the pool, so there's that. Also, across the street is the city reservoir that becomes mine if shit hits the fan. And my normal water preps. This entire water battle with the city next door (we aren't a city so we don't have a water department) is/was about how they treat people.

[Sasquatch]

UPDATE: After spending WAY more time on their mistake than I should have had to they are returning my "late fees" and they immediately had someone come back and turn my water back on. Yes, I used the cancer and Down Syndrome cards. I contacted the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Manager. Which I was then thrown off on the city manager's lackey. But, whatever, the issue was resolved in a timely manner and she apologized for the inconvenience. I am taking the $70. dollars the wanted to charge me in late fees and donating them to a charity. I encouraged the water department to match my donation, but I doubt that'll happen.

Life is an adventure.

[~MG~]

Glad it worked out, but holy shit. Nobody should have to go through that.

[Texas PO]

I have had my fair share of fights over the years. I once had my power turned off because my neighbor didn't pay his bill. Took me two days of threatening and nasty phone calls with managers to get it right. The problem is they don't have to worry about costumer service. Where else are you going to go? They are bureaucrats who know you can't elsewhere.

[Hawg]

Advise from an old coot barely worth 2 cents...

Never have city water or city sewer.

[Texas PO]

You got that right.

[1skrewsloose]

Not sure how things are out there, but the shut off for my water is in the front lawn. Iron disk with 2 holes in it, sits almost flush with the lawn, I've thought about this before, wouldn't be too hard to make a type wrench like you use on an angle grinder and just turn the water back on. Fuck em!

[Sasquatch]

Advise from an old coot barley worth 2 cents...

Never have city water or city sewer.

Have septic but I had no choice on the water. Although I do own water rights (bought with the house). Only thing is its not potable, unless treated/filtered.

[Sasquatch]

Not sure how things are out there, but the shut off for my water is in the front lawn. Iron disk with 2 holes in it, sits almost flush with the lawn, I've thought about this before, wouldn't be too hard to make a type wrench like you use on an angle grinder and just turn the water back on. Fuck em!

First thing I checked. They put a lock on it. Was THIS close to getting the angle grinder. Decided to go the other route first and see what happened.

[1skrewsloose]

You probably did the right thing, They might have tried to get you for stealing utilities, tampering with city property, etc. Cucking funts!

Just to add, I don't think I've paid my water bill on time only maybe 6 times in 30 years, they just charge a late fee of a couple of bucks.

[Sasquatch]

Here's a grab of the letter I spit out this morning to the Mayor, City manager and various council members. Yes, I used the C card and Down Syndrome card.

[red442joe]

Sorry for your problem.
Google Manistique, MI city water problems. I have a house there. I deal with some "Nikki's"...great ladies.
I have spoken with the city manager and city attorney about the water issue at my house (big long drama). I UNDERSTAND the issue....
However.....
As I age, the phrase "life in prison" becomes less, and less of a threat...

Joe

[1skrewsloose]

I think writing letters carries a lot of weight, same with writing your congress people, so few folks take the effort, think their voice doesn't matter, that 1 letter might represent 1000's of other people's thoughts. Good for you!