Thanatos340 1 #1 October 19, 2007 Let me preface this rant acknowledging that I screwed up. I completely forgot to pay my $32.15 gas bill last month. Actually I thought I did pay it (I always pay online) but the payment didn’t go through (Most likely I didn’t hit the Last Are you sure Button). So yesterday, I get home to a notice on the Door sayng my gas was turned off. No warning, No letter, Nothing. They just show up and turn it off and leave a note. OK, No big deal, I screwed up (Although a reminder would have been nice). Call them up pay they bill instantly. Had service for 10 years at this house, Never had a problem before, They want me to pay a security deposit now. Whatever.. it is just $150, OK, Pay it. And a reconnect fee of $60.. OK pay it. (Pretty expensive $32 gas bill now).. Now here is the real Pisser and what has me livid this morning... It will be 7 day before they can send someone out to turn the gas back on!!! A week without Hot Water, Cant Cook and no Heat. Over a $32.15 Bill that 33 days late. They can get someone to out to turn it Off but they get someone out to turn it back on?? Anyone here know how to remove a Barrel Lock? The gas is coming back on today one way or another. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #2 October 19, 2007 Can a lawyer get them to turn it back on? Public utilities suck though as far as customer service goes. I haven't had any bad experiences, and yeah, been late on a few utility bill payments, for which I always got a reminder card."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #3 October 19, 2007 Damn. That seems ... not right. I've forgotten to pay mine before (well, not really forgotten, but been on the road long enough that the bill was sitting in my pile of mail until past the due date... which was when I started getting the bills electronically) and nothing happened other than getting slapped with a late fee. Since utilities are pretty well regulated I wonder if there's something in the regulations about when and under what circumstances they can cut off service. I'm willing to bet they've violated one of the terms. Seems like worst case you should owe the amount of the bill plus a late fee. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mamajumps 0 #4 October 19, 2007 Sounds like they are taking lessons from Lakeland Electric... those people are the frickin demons of the deepest hell.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #5 October 19, 2007 It happened to me once. Luckily the Atlanta Gas place is about 3 miles from me and I drove down and talked to the nice lady in the office and she had someone there that afternoon. You might try to find out where the closest atlanta Gas Light place is. Thoses barrel locks are a bitch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #6 October 19, 2007 How about telling the gas company to go fuck themselves and go electric instead? "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #7 October 19, 2007 Electric hot water heaters suck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #8 October 19, 2007 Quote Electric hot water heaters suck. There is a neat little gadget that gets you instant hot water on demand, no tank required. I will be getting one when the little girl has grown big enough to be using the shower herself. Not that I've had any problems with our tank."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #9 October 19, 2007 All Money has been paid ($32.15 bill, $150 deposit, $60 reconnect fee). Paid it all yesterday and then after I paid it they tell me the soonest they can get someone out to reconnect is next Thursday.The problem I have discovered is that they "Privatized" the gas here. Which means several different companies can "Sell" you gas but another company maintains the lines. I pay Georgia Natural Gas but another company (Atlanta Gas Light) does all the turning on and off, That is ALL they do now. They don’t sell gas any more since the Resellers started. SO they turn people off soon as possible because that is there main source of income. Atleast that is what GNG is telling me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #10 October 19, 2007 Good ol' out-sourcing.... "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #11 October 19, 2007 Seems you might find somewhere that they have to give you some type of notification of pending shut off. Of course who knows where you would find such thing. I didn't pay my bill for over a month, same reason as you probably, but no one came and turned my shizzy off. They have fucked you good. I think spence has it right. Go talk to the nearest center in person. Be NICE!! Maybe hang out in the parking lot and snag a guy that works there. Hey there is a $20 in it to come take the damn lock of my line. Most guns would do the job of removing that lock you speak of. Just don't miss Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #12 October 19, 2007 Quote Most guns would do the job of removing that lock you speak of. Just don't miss I consider myself a pretty good shot for an amatuer, but I won't even try it. Shrapnel or splinters off the lock might slice the line. Of course, then you get yourself in bigger trouble for trying to circumvent a utility. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #13 October 19, 2007 3 levels of Supervisors Later and a call to the State Public Service commission to file a complaint and they now say they "MIGHT" be able to get someone out today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #14 October 19, 2007 One has to wonder exactly what these "people" are doing that makes them unable to come out to your house. Are they that many other people that are having their gas turned off/turned on?? I highly doubt it. Maybe there is only like 2 guys or something though. I wouldn't doubt that.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #15 October 19, 2007 Quote Anyone here know how to remove a Barrel Lock? The gas is coming back on today one way or another. Call them up and tell them that you have a child in the house - I believe it's state law that if the bill is paid they have to give you service that day. NOT Positive though.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #16 October 19, 2007 This is the way it works. Say you get your gas from Ga Natural Gas. Atlanta Gas Light only gives them so many slots a day for a guy to go out and work these calls. So weather or not the guys that work for Atlanta Gas Light are doing anything or not, Ga. Natural Gas has their schedule full. It's fucked up and you would think in todays day and time they could come up with a better system. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #17 October 19, 2007 Actually I would expect them to have an even worse system in place. I'm still confused why they turned it off so fast. I only noticed I had not paid when I went to pay the following month and it was more than usual. But I did never receive any hey now pay your bill letter. I'm sure they don't send the letter or make a phone call so that you have to pay reconnect fees and shit.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BelskyBlueEyes 0 #18 October 19, 2007 Call them up and tell them you smell a gas leak, something is wrong. They will be there in a few minutes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 1 #19 October 19, 2007 Do you have access to the valve to turn it back on yourself?My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #20 October 19, 2007 Quote Do you have access to the valve to turn it back on yourself? Yes - he does - but it's locked . . . Bigger hammer!I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #21 October 19, 2007 I have GAS!!, I Have GAS!! Whoo Hooo!! The bitching, whining and complaining paid off. (I bet my EX says the same thing every time she cashes that Check!) Still going to follow up with Consumer affairs and Public Service commission. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,534 #22 October 19, 2007 Quote I have GAS!!, I Have GAS!! Whoo Hooo!! Ya know, usually skydivers announce that with a shit-eating grin in the airplane; they don't do it on a forum Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mamajumps 0 #23 October 19, 2007 Quote I have GAS!!, I Have GAS!! Whoo Hooo!! So go buy some bean-o.... damn the little things that excite men.... I swear..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bolas 5 #24 October 19, 2007 Thread Hijack!!! Hey!!! Long time no see. Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #25 October 19, 2007 Quote Quote I have GAS!!, I Have GAS!! Whoo Hooo!! Ya know, usually skydivers announce that with a shit-eating grin in the airplane; they don't do it on a forum Wendy W. Do you know Walt?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
