My payment is past due 2 wks today and I wanted to get an extenstion on payment for 1 day because I get paid on Fridays (today's Thurs). The customer service rep told me she needed a payment today before 7pm in order to not disconnect. I mean, it's not like it's even a month overdue. My boyfriend swears up and down that it's illegal for the electric complany (SRP) to disconnect the electricity in the summertime here because the temperatures are so hot you could die without air. I want to know if that's true. Not that I would ever try and push my luck, I just want to know from someone who knows for sure or if it's just a rumor. Thanks.
2007-06-14 04:56:13 · 6 answers · asked by goturanswer 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I didn't think this would be an issue, but my bill was due 6-04-07, like I said it's 2 wks overdue!!!! I have had my electric for 1yr and a half and never been disconnected or late. So you can understand my frustration here. Hence then entire purpose of me asking!!! I didn't know it was procedure to call and hassle customers who are 2wks late about disconnection. I received a call yesterday and I received a disconnect notice in the mail. I am baffled at this treatment and wondered if it's routine to do this since I've never been late before. Obviously I wouldn't waste my time typing if I was habitually late and already knew the answer....duh.
2007-06-14 05:21:05 · update #1
Not if you have small children or elderly people reliant on oxygen or any other electrically powered medical device! The heat is minimum, becaus it is dry and arid and not as hazardous as it is in the Midwest, due to high levels of humidity that causes heat stroke!
Will S
2007-06-14 05:01:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
I have never had my electric or anything else turned off because I was "just" two weeks late so I don't believe your story. Most companies will give you more than a month or two to catch up or pay something when you get behind. I had alot of health problems several years ago and got my phone cut off twice (money was going to doctors and hospitals) because I was over two months late.
When you are delinquent and don't have any health problems (on a respirator or oxygen), they have every right to discontinue services. Better watch your P's and Q's next time so this won't happen again and at least send in $25 or $30 to show good faith on your part, then try to catch up the next pay.
2007-06-14 05:07:13 · answer #2 · answered by KittyKat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not true, they can disconnect for non payment at any point. If you account has been in bad standing before or your payments have been unreliable they are probably not going to cut you any slack. Get a pay day loan and pay that bad boy tonight. Pay off the loan tomorrow when you get paid.
Had my power shut off for a week in the deal of a Winter (no heat) for 5 days due to a clerical error.
2007-06-14 05:03:30 · answer #3 · answered by smedrik 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Legally speaking, they can turn it off. The service is not paid for, they are not obligated to provide it.
Now, legally speaking, your boyfriend has a point. If someone dies from heat exhaustion because of loss of power, and it's proven that the electricity being turned off was the major factor causing death, and it's proven the electric company should have known better (or in other words, was acting negligent) - then the electric company may be liable in civil actions for the damages caused.
Civil law and criminal law are different. Doing something that may make one liable in civil cases is not illegal in most cases. However, if those determinations are made in this case, then it would seem appropriate that a criminal charge of negligent homocide was attached.
2007-06-14 05:10:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
ONLY if there was a medical reason...
They have EVERY right to disconnect for failure to pay.
2007-06-14 05:16:03 · answer #5 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't pay, they can and will shut you off!!!!
2007-06-14 05:01:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋