Is it legal to have electricity turned off when you have not received a cutoff notice. The bill was due on the 28th, he mailed it on the 4th, TXU has not received the check yet. Electricity is off and he lives in Texas where it is 110 degrees. They are charging him 100 to turn it on again and 150 on next months bill. I think he is getting screwed. Is this legal? Where can I find info on this?
2006-08-15 12:09:54 · 14 answers · asked by haleigh b 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
i was the one who mailed the check so i know.. don't give retarded answers
2006-08-15 12:17:18 · update #1
I just want to know since he did not receive a disconnection notice is it legal?
2006-08-15 12:21:17 · update #2
no it is not legal i would fight it.
2006-08-17 01:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take a more careful look at the bill to see if there is a past due amount. He was probably on his second month of not paying.
As far as them not recieving payment, check with your bank to see if the check has cleared. If it has request a copy so you can prove to them when they recieved it. Because you wrote the check for someone else, it may have been credited to the wrong account or the funds placed in a special account if the account number was missing or inaccrate on the check.
If he really was past due, they have every right to shut off his electricity and charge him a reconnect fee and deposite for future fees. The only exception is if he uses life sustaining medical equipment that requires electricity.
Try not to get defensive when you read this. I am concerned that you are paying his utility bill. I did this for an ex-boyfriend once. That became the reason for breaking up. It became a habit. There are agencies that can help him if he is out of a job or not earning a living wage. You should not have to be repeatedly paying his bills.
2006-08-15 13:21:41 · answer #2 · answered by Gypsy Girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The initial bill should be sufficient (legal) notice to lead up to a cut off if the balance is not paid. It's a courtesy for them to send a reminder before cutting you off. Yeah, I know. Seems oxymoronic -- just a courtesy to let you know we're shutting you down.
I don't know about your electric company but we live up north and the gas and electric company is not allowed to turn off the electricity and gas during the winter months, even if you're overdue.
Seems reasonable that the same thing should hold true for southern states during summer.
You should be able to find out about that by asking them to send you a copy of their policies.
You could also check with any local legal clinics for assistance on this.
2006-08-15 13:00:59 · answer #3 · answered by stimply 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The PUC is the company that regulates TXU. Contact them for information.
In the meantime, if you can, go to a local office of TXU and pay the bill and stop payment on the check you mailed.
2006-08-15 12:21:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
O.K. The check was in the mail. But did the check clear the bank. Call your bank to see if they took their money out of the checking account. If they cashed the check, then you have proof that they did receive it. If not, it may still be laying on someone"s desk at the electric company.(or file #13-waste basket) If that be the case, you cannot prove anything.That sucks.
2006-08-15 15:04:58 · answer #5 · answered by old_woman_84 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's legal as long as it's 30 days past due (in most states)...MOST companies wait 60 days though..UNLESS they have not received full payments ..and have only been getting partial payments along the way (that have not been agreed upon) those do not count as "payments"..
But, bottom line is if your payments were all square prior to this one being due...and they just shut you off less than 30 days after it was due...then no, it's probably not legal...
Seems like somethings not quite stirring the kool-aide here though...One payment missed (and only by days) if the account was all paid up prior to that..seems kind of crazy to me....hmmmm
2006-08-15 14:27:14 · answer #6 · answered by svmainus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TXU are a bunch of toons. We had free electric for a year because no one ever came to read the meter, and they swore we were not on their grid, even though the lock on our meter box said 'property of TXU'. I wasn't about to fight them to pay their bill. But, yeah, that sounds pretty f'd up. I'd call the county commissioner about it.
2006-08-15 12:17:40 · answer #7 · answered by Goddess of Nuts PBUH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ya, check is in the mail.... TXU is evil. It is legal, because they have not recieved payment. We live in Houston, had the same thing happen with Reliant.
2006-08-15 12:19:19 · answer #8 · answered by emmadropit 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must have some type of public utilities board to oversee matters dealing with power. Check out the Texas government web site.
2006-08-15 12:17:16 · answer #9 · answered by Kenneth H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Dallas and have NEVER heard of an electric company shutting the power off after only being late a few days. Sounds to me there is more to this story than is being told here.
2006-08-15 12:15:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it probably is. We have to pay our electric bill two weeks ahead of the due date to our company in PA. That is just the rule for everybody here.
2006-08-15 14:12:02 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋