Legality of power issue in a state with dereged power

[AnthroAndStargate]

Hey everyone,

I live in a state that has deregulated power and I purchase renewable energy from a power company that is in my state. About 5 months ago my apartment complex "accidentally" switched our power to their account without informing us. We didn't get a bill for like 3 months and when I called the power company they said that someone had switched our service and that I would have to reactivate if I wanted service in my name again.

The apartment complex (which is owned by the university I attend but is run like a normal apartment complex) e-mailed me about 5 months into this "problem" and let me know that there was an error and they put us on their bill (along with several other units). They asked for me to pay the difference and I told them I didn't think I should since it was their fault and I never agreed to any rates/fees/etc. They said "please wait while we discuss this" didn't say anything for a month - then e-mailed me with the "running tally" of how much I owe.

Does anyone know the legality of this? Am I required to pay this since I never signed a contract with the energy company they used or gave authorization to switch providers (since it most likely wasn't even under my name). Am I in the legal (or possibly moral) right to demand not to pay. Its cheaper then it would have been with my green energy provider for those summer months but I feel like fighting this on principle since my school keeps hiking tuition and screwing the student wherever they can.

If I have to pay I will - but I will at least ask them to reimburse me for the reconnection fees with my power company. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cliffs:
1) Apartment complex deactivated my power and switched it to theirs without telling or asking me.
2) Now demanding money for the bills that were on their account
3) I want to know if I am in the legal right to deny paying since I signed no contract.

 

[Kelemvor]

Call an attorney.

 

[BrownTown]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Call an attorney.

thats silly, an attorney would cost way more than just paying the bill.

 

[mugs]

Wait - they switched you to cheaper power, and you're bitching because you didn't agree to the rate? You're basically just trying to get out of paying anything for the electricity that you used?

:thumbsdown::roll:

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: mugs
Wait - they switched you to cheaper power, and you're bitching because you didn't agree to the rate? You're basically just trying to get out of paying anything for the electricity that you used?

:thumbsdown::roll:

It sure sounds like it. WTH.

 

[novasatori]

If I were you I'd just try to negotiate them paying the fees for you to switch back over and pay the bills.

You're more than likely going to be required to pay it, because despite their mistake, you DID use the power, and one way or another you'd owe what they want or more...

 

[ElFenix]

if the power company does it it's called slamming and illegal. if your landlord does it i dunno. but if your bill was lower anyway, just pay it and switch back to green

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Call an attorney.

thats silly, an attorney would cost way more than just paying the bill.

i guess then you should just pay the fucking bill since you did use it eh?

why the fuck do people think its ok to steal from a company just because they are in the position to do it?

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Call an attorney.

thats silly, an attorney would cost way more than just paying the bill.

i guess then you should just pay the fucking bill since you did use it eh?

why the fuck do people think its ok to steal from a company just because they are in the position to do it?

I think SOMEONE should pay the bill but it should be the university that gets tens of thousands of dollars of my money every year. Its more the principle of the matter - they mismanage and screw students wherever possible - and while I don't feel like its that big of a deal I don't like to bend over and allow them to do it whenever they can.

I am just going to pay it and demand they pay my reconnection fees for green.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Call an attorney.

thats silly, an attorney would cost way more than just paying the bill.

i guess then you should just pay the fucking bill since you did use it eh?

why the fuck do people think its ok to steal from a company just because they are in the position to do it?

You do realize you aren't talking to the OP? Hrm, maybe not. Learn how to read waggy, then be an asshole to everyone, it will help you look less stupid.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
Hey everyone,

I live in a state that has deregulated power and I purchase renewable energy from a power company that is in my state. About 5 months ago my apartment complex "accidentally" switched our power to their account without informing us. We didn't get a bill for like 3 months and when I called the power company they said that someone had switched our service and that I would have to reactivate if I wanted service in my name again.

The apartment complex (which is owned by the university I attend but is run like a normal apartment complex) e-mailed me about 5 months into this "problem" and let me know that there was an error and they put us on their bill (along with several other units). They asked for me to pay the difference and I told them I didn't think I should since it was their fault and I never agreed to any rates/fees/etc. They said "please wait while we discuss this" didn't say anything for a month - then e-mailed me with the "running tally" of how much I owe.

Does anyone know the legality of this? Am I required to pay this since I never signed a contract with the energy company they used or gave authorization to switch providers (since it most likely wasn't even under my name). Am I in the legal (or possibly moral) right to demand not to pay. Its cheaper then it would have been with my green energy provider for those summer months but I feel like fighting this on principle since my school keeps hiking tuition and screwing the student wherever they can.

If I have to pay I will - but I will at least ask them to reimburse me for the reconnection fees with my power company. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cliffs:
1) Apartment complex deactivated my power and switched it to theirs without telling or asking me.
2) Now demanding money for the bills that were on their account
3) I want to know if I am in the legal right to deny paying since I signed no contract.

You should pay it because... you found out @ 3 months that your power was switched and you didnt go contact the university then... you waited till the univ contacted you @ 5months... to find out you owed anything...

No one gets a free ride.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Looks like the University screwed while doing something clearly in your best interest. Express annoyance at the screw-up, but wallow in the lower utility bills. Pay it, refuse any late fees since it is their screw up, but except it otherwise.

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
Hey everyone,

I live in a state that has deregulated power and I purchase renewable energy from a power company that is in my state. About 5 months ago my apartment complex "accidentally" switched our power to their account without informing us. We didn't get a bill for like 3 months and when I called the power company they said that someone had switched our service and that I would have to reactivate if I wanted service in my name again.

The apartment complex (which is owned by the university I attend but is run like a normal apartment complex) e-mailed me about 5 months into this "problem" and let me know that there was an error and they put us on their bill (along with several other units). They asked for me to pay the difference and I told them I didn't think I should since it was their fault and I never agreed to any rates/fees/etc. They said "please wait while we discuss this" didn't say anything for a month - then e-mailed me with the "running tally" of how much I owe.

Does anyone know the legality of this? Am I required to pay this since I never signed a contract with the energy company they used or gave authorization to switch providers (since it most likely wasn't even under my name). Am I in the legal (or possibly moral) right to demand not to pay. Its cheaper then it would have been with my green energy provider for those summer months but I feel like fighting this on principle since my school keeps hiking tuition and screwing the student wherever they can.

If I have to pay I will - but I will at least ask them to reimburse me for the reconnection fees with my power company. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cliffs:
1) Apartment complex deactivated my power and switched it to theirs without telling or asking me.
2) Now demanding money for the bills that were on their account
3) I want to know if I am in the legal right to deny paying since I signed no contract.

You should pay it because... you found out @ 3 months that your power was switched and you didnt go contact the university then... you waited till the univ contacted you @ 5months... to find out you owed anything...

No one gets a free ride.

The strange thing was when I found out from MY power company they told me they had no idea who canceled my service and switched it. I had no way of knowing who was "paying" the bill until I was contacted by said person (in this case the University).

But like I said I'm going to pay it.

 

[TechKnight]

This is interesting... Our last home was a new construction home and before moving in, the builder says not to switch the utility services into our accounts for 2 weeks because there was a backlog of people waiting to change billing info and it could result in disconnection of our services. 10 months later, the water was unexpected turned off one day and it took a couple of hours for us to remembered why. Needless to say, we called in to "establish" service.