HawthorneVillager.com

I've got 2, who's with me

Issue 1 -- freaking Milton Hydro. I'm signing up for pre-authorized payments because its getting redic that I've missed paying my bill twice in the past year and get hammered for it. They say on the bill, 19% interest charged annually blah blah blah, I get it, and so on my bill was a $2-3 charge for this, but my bill was due on June 18th or something and July 1st I get a 'collections letter' tacking on $30-35 bucks for the letter (I guess) plus I need to have payment into their office the next day by 10am so my only option was credit card (which is an additional $10 in credit card convenience fees).

Mother f-ers get me for $3 in interest, $33 in collections and $10 in credit card fees. Seems like 200% interest calculated annual. Frigging thieving f's

Issue 2 -- Completely unrelated, but its probably because I'm already mad at Rick who's on the board at Hydro Enough with the fricken stickies (topics on the general board). We are now up to 8. I'm glad for all the charity but jesus, 60% of my screen real estate (probably 80% when you add add banners) is sticks and ads

@!$!

That is all for this hour.

Rick, I thank-you for stickying the Optimist Walk in the Park event for us. It's over now so please feel free to unsticky it

The bill is mailed. 16 days later it is due. 7 days after the due date you get a friendly reminder call that your bill is past due. 7 days later you get hand delivered a collection letter. 7 to 10 days later you get disconnected. You should have been able to make a payment arrangement with the CSR after the collection letter was delivered to avoid making payment by CC. Milton Hydro does not make money from the CC payments it goes to a third party that provides the "convenience" service.

The collection process is automated and doesn't know the story behind why customers forget to pay their bill. If you are a first time offender call their call center and talk to a CSR they will usually take off the interest and collection charge.

I wouldn't be too angry at the stickies and ads. The ads help drive revenue so we don't have to pay to use this site (all of us has benefitted from this site - Rick, if Grimace, aka your Nissan, needs an oil change, I'll do one for you...free), and the Stickys are there to avoid repeat questions.

Call up the Hydro company and ask for a reprieve.

And rant away, but get back to a positive state of mind. The AC in your house is working, there's enough food in the fridge, this website is working, and you're gainfully employed so you could pay those bills....Life is not so bad.

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What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know and I don't care.

Ya know what? I like you, sir.

Not to take any from Devious' post at all, but I'm just saying.

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No wonder they were so hard on you Devious, they put in a ridiculous amount of actual person hours into 'collecting' slightly overdue payments. Gotta pay those salaries somehow.

Can you set up auto payments to pay the actual amount you owe, or do they take out a flat fee every month and have to 'catch-up' at the end of the year?

I've gotten the note on my front door twice. No phone call. No mention about a $33 charge either. I just paid my bill.

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER DEVIOUS!!!

you are the best!
Just paid my hydro bill.
Matt

Rick, please make a sticky that Devious does not pay his debts before someone else gets burned.

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No, no. You know who was right all along? The Mongolians. They knew that you just can't wall yourself off from the outside world. Putting walls up never helps anything. Tearing them down brings us together.
-Randy-South Park

I was going to complain that I never got the call (and then logged into Vonage and saw that a message did come in from 'anonymous' which was my buddies at Milton Hydro). I just balk at the high cost when they already charge interest.

They do have a auto-withdrawal from your bank, can do equal billing or exact billing payable on your due date etc etc.. so I will do this because I'm sick of these charges. I just don't think the charges are acceptable for a payment that is 2 weeks late. 200% interest is not acceptable.

I have a positive state of mind. I felt like ranting. I appreciate and understand the purpose of stickies and ads, but they have gotten a bit much. Lets just make the entire first page of general stickies.

Life is great.

Haha.. no problem buddy. I was about to cut you off!

You jerk! Now if only Rick could put some of that ad revenue (I'm kidding) into features for the board, I could quote many people and respond in one message (vs 4-5) and I could give you negative karma for being a jerk!@$ (Kidding, I'd probably give you positive for being funny).

Wow, surprised on how aggressive they are with delayed payments. Pre-auth is the definitely the way to go with these guys. The only time you wouldn't be using their services is if you move out of town, so might as well set it and forget it. Deal with any billing errors after the fact.

Thanks! I like you too, but in a non-Brokeback way of course. I like devious too, he's got a good sense of humour like you do.

Feel the love, feel the love!

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What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? I don't know and I don't care.