September 2, 2005

  • [indignantly]  By jingo, they've got a nerve!

    Jessica just called in a state of high dudgeon, and who will blame her?

    She received a bill in the mail from Green Mountain Energy, an electric
    company she used a few years ago, claiming she owes them $76.

    From two years ago.

    Pay up.

    She pointed out she has heard nothing of this presumed payment due for
    the past two years, which elicited the explanation they just updated
    their records. 

    Jessica told them that was a heck of a way to run a business, and that
    when she had them as her electricity provider she was paying bills with
    money orders, and her policy was to keep the money order receipts for
    six months then chuck 'em.  Had they contacted her within six
    months she could have done something about it, but two years after the
    fact? 

    Forget it.  No dice.  She sent the payment, she's confidant,
    and she's darned if she's sending another one because they misapplied
    it, or it got lost in the mail, or whatever.

    She was told they'd research the matter and get back to her, though it
    might take awhile . . . they're receiving quite a few irate phone calls
    from past customers receiving surprise bills.  If she doesn't pay
    the $76 by September 19 the bill will be turned over to a collection
    agency.

    I advised her to contact the Texas Public Utilities Commission, as it's
    possible they might be interested to learn about Green Mountain's
    creative form of generating cash flow.

    Can you imagine?  TWO YEARS after the fact to get some bill from a
    company claiming it never arrived?  Because they finally got
    around to updating their records?