93-year-old froze to death, owed big utility bill - Yahoo! News
I receive NICOR Gas to heat my home. On January 2, 2009 I received a "pink" notice from NICOR Advanced Energy stating "Your NICOR Advanced Energy service will be terminated on or after Tuesday January 20, 2009 because: You owe $293.25 in past due bills. If you do not want your NICOR Advanced Energy supplier service terminated, you must pay $293.25 before Tuesday January 20, 2009."
I called NICOR requesting an explanation for sending me this notice informing them they cannot turn off my service in the winter, and that my bill was not overdue, it was my current bill that is due on December 29, 2008 that I paid on January 2, 2009 before I received this "pink" notice. I informed them that 4 days late does not justify a "final" notice on a heating bill in the winter.
I received a lot of crazy explanations from lower level staff regarding this issue including Dan a supervisor who told me their system looks at days past due. Therefore, I contacted Vice President Paul Delacey who investigated my situation. Mr. Delacey informed me the "pink" notice was generated because I owed $1.13 form a previous bill that was not listed in my current bill for my viewing. Mr. Delacey informed me this would not happen again. I informed Mr. Delacey that they cannot cut someone's gas/heat off during the winter months.
On January 21, 2009 I received a call from Anna of NICOR Advanced Energy stating I was receiving a computer generated call for a past due amount of $669.51, to which the $293.25 was part of this charge. I informed Anna that I paid $293.25 on January 2, 2009. Anna informed me that their system did not list the payment until January 14, 2009, therefore creating the computer generated call. I also informed Anna that the payment for $669.51 was not due until January 29, 2009. I called Mr. Delacey and informed him of the situation. Mr. Delacey investigated the situation and informed me that he would have my account "marked" so that I would not receive calls and notices again about my bill. I told Mr. Delacey that I did not want "special" treatment about my bill, but wanted the general public treated in a fashion where they were not harassed or intimidated by NICOR to pay their bills without an investigation into the matter. I informed Mr. Delacey that NICOR Advanced Energy had some serious computer problems that need attention. I paid the balance of $377.32 on January 25, 2009, which is due on January 29, 2009. Will I receive another "pink" notice? Lets wait and see.
