Ive stopped paying my water bill

[roastelk]

basicly I'm pissed off at my city utilitity company, as they wont send some one to check my indoor water meter when I'm home, and they started charging me a $60/month non accsess fee. they will only come between 9am and 3pm mon to friday....and I am never home during thoes hours.

so i changed my electrical and gas to a different utility company. and my water bill is now over $400. they do send people, but only between 9 and 3 mon-fri.. so i'm convenientlly never around and neither is the person renting a room off of me.

they cant shut off the water on me either,as the same water pipe feeds all 6 homes in my condo building.

[The Lone Ranger]

they cant shut off the water on me either,as the same water pipe feeds all 6 homes in my condo building.

But they can instigate legal actions against you, can't they? Fight the Man, but please be careful!

Cheers,

Michael

[Shelli]

huh.. Where I live, they use to mail a card that you filled out with the numbers off of the meter and mailed back. A few years ago, they installed a new meter (at their cost and around my schedule) which they can read electronically from the street.

[roastelk]

they cant shut off the water on me either,as the same water pipe feeds all 6 homes in my condo building.

But they can instigate legal actions against you, can't they? Fight the Man, but please be careful!

Cheers,

Michael

I should of specifed...i am still calling in my meter reading, and i am paying for the amount of water used each month, which is usually around $15-$20 ...I'm just not paying the non accsess fee, which is being charged becuase they cant get a guy inside my house, whch they need to do once a year.

the other utility companies hve no problem sending people at other hours..I assume this is becasue they actaully have to compete with each other. where as the city has a monoply on the water supply

[Shelli]

Only once a year do they need to get into your house? IMO, what's the big deal then? No insult intended, but there's something to be said for picking your battles...

[Crumb]

I think his point is that they are not willing to come at a time when he can let them in, but they charge him for not allowing them access. Right?

[beyelzu]

and if i understood they charge monthly for the non access bullshit.

more power to you roastelk,

damn the man save the empire.

an edollar to the person who gets the movie reference.

[Dingfod]

Lawrence of Arabia?

[beyelzu]

nopers

[Dingfod]

Bloody hell?

[godfry n. glad]

They charge you because they can't get in? Because they don't have anyone who can accomodate your hours? You are supposed to take time off work to accomodate the water utility? You can't be the only one in that boat...it sounds like grounds for a class action suit.

Is this some kind of Canuckian thing? That's just downright stupid....and sounds illegal. We have the same kind of thing with the "cable guy", but they don't charge you if they can't get in....hell, what a I saying? I don't know anything about cable installation...maybe they do. As big of assholes as they are, I wouldn't put it past them.

[beyelzu]

Bloody hell?

empire records

[Shelli]

I think his point is that they are not willing to come at a time when he can let them in, but they charge him for not allowing them access. Right?Yeah, I get that, and I agree that it's bullshit, however, in the big scheme of things, it's only once a year that they need access, so to me, it wouldn't be worth the hassel of fighting them on the issue. :dunno:

[Crumb]

So what's he supposed to do?

[Shelli]

So what's he supposed to do?Whatever he wants to do. :dunno: I'm saying that I wouldn't fight them on the issue. I would make time for them once a year. Grudgingly, but just the same, the alternative just doesn't seem worth the hassel if it's only once a year.

[Shake]

They charge you because they can't get in? Because they don't have anyone who can accomodate your hours? You are supposed to take time off work to accomodate the water utility? You can't be the only one in that boat...it sounds like grounds for a class action suit.

Is this some kind of Canuckian thing? That's just downright stupid....and sounds illegal. We have the same kind of thing with the "cable guy", but they don't charge you if they can't get in....hell, what a I saying? I don't know anything about cable installation...maybe they do. As big of assholes as they are, I wouldn't put it past them.
Really. I'd say show up at their convenience then send them a bill for time you missed at work (plus mileage)! :D

[Shake]

huh.. Where I live, they use to mail a card that you filled out with the numbers off of the meter and mailed back. A few years ago, they installed a new meter (at their cost and around my schedule) which they can read electronically from the street.
Yeah, I've gotten cards before too. Though I think that electronic thing is something they should do for gas and electric as well. It can't be that difficult or complex. Just some RFID technology, which is commonplace.