Utilities

[caddyman]

I continue to be impressed and annoyed by utility companies’ abilities to squeeze money out of people for no effort on their (the companies’) part.

Before I left the SS Carpathia this morning, the mail arrived: one from British Gas, addressed to the ‘Occupier’ and one from British Telecom addressed to me. I opened the first by accident – I normally leave the gas and electric bills to Furtle as my heart cannot take the strain in a regular basis – and see that it is a demand for yet more money. Luckily in this instance, it seems to be for the period before we moved in, so it is for the landlord to deal with, but really!

The Telecom bill warrants further inspection and investigation. I had understood the line rental to be about £10.75 a month. The bill is for a little more than that and includes an element for advance charges. It is not extortionate, but there is a line for equipment rental, which is a little rich since the phone we have is mine and the phone we have coming is already bought and paid for. A careful read to see if a (hah!) phone call is warranted, I think.

Just to add to the fun, Three Valleys Water have jumped on the bandwagon and sent me a demand (not unreasonable, but poorly timed) for the entire year’s water rate, which they are happy to take off me in two indigestible chunks of over £150 each. At least that, upon further inspection, can be turned into equal monthly payments by direct debit. That reminds me, I must remember to cancel the existing direct debit for the old place tonight.

I’m never going to be rich, but I think I am beginning to understand genteel poverty!

Comments

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

Equipment rental! Cheeky sods.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

"Equipment rental" may well be the line as opposed to the phone. Didn't BT stop renting out phones some years ago?

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Interesting thought. I don't know, to be honest - I'll have to check it all tonight. I didn't bring the bill in with me.

[mathcathy]

Whereas me : I've been living in my flat for 7 months, and despite many phone calls to utility companies, I haven't managed to persuade any of them to send me a bill at all!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure which I prefer: getting stung now or later!

[keith-london.livejournal.com]

Re: Gas - British Gas is the worst company for causing a trail of issues in our project property. We don't have any gas appliances, which they ought to know from numerous calls to them. Nevertheless, the gas meter was changed months ago, because of legal requirements. But recently, they requested access - to change the meter, again. There is an outstanding gas bill which predates us taking over, and we have drawn their attention to that fact. Yet, recently, we had a letter from a debt collector, addressed to "The Occupier" threatening legal action if the bill wasn't paid. They're just trying it on of course. It's stressful all the same. I can believe innocent victims would just pay the bill just to get these people off their backs.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I can believe it too.

We have decided as a matter of policy, to sever all ties with them as soon as humanly possible!

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

Did the previous tenants do a moonlight flit, or is the landlord merely absent-minded?

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I believe that British Gas are suing the people who designed their billing system, so I know where my vote goes on who's to blame.

Oddly enough, despite that,they won't look again at ludicrously high bills...