meter reader did massive damage to my yard

[blackdogdeek]

That does not absolve them of the damage in any way. Can't get there, I guess we estimate your bill and let you know we need access.

i agree with both you and bruceb. but i'm stating, for NN's purposes, what they will likely counter with, so that he may better prepare his complaint defense.

 

[highland145]

Easy. Kill him.

Agreeing with Num, again.

 

[Tristicus]

and hide his body in your cave

Um...use his body to replace the parts he dug up.

DUH

 

[NuclearNed]

Should have taken pics during the incident to ID the truck and the driver.

That's the problem... the wife said she was vacuuming, and didn't hear any of this happening. He didn't bother calling us or anything. By the time the wife saw the damage, he was long gone. It's pretty easy to ID him, though. We live behind a gate, so the very few people have access to my property. There are tracks in the snow to the meter, so it would be pretty easy to prove who did the damage.

 

[highland145]

watch out though. If you live anywhere near Analog, he might shoot the coyotes before they get to dispose of the body.

Just send Analog a pic of the meter man and write COYOTE across the bottom.

 

[Darwin333]

Sorry guys; I have a new job that has actual responsibilities and expectations. It's hard to find time to write anymore.

You must quit your job so that you can entertain us with your writing skills. The "meter checker" incident this morning was simply a warning, failure to comply will result in increasingly worse incidents.

Don't make us take it to the next level.

 

[Modelworks]

Complain.
Laws like the right to access the meter fall back on the 'what a reasonable person would do' . A reasonable person would see all the ice and snow and consider they might have problems. Right of access doesn't mean they can do whatever they want to get to it, only what is reasonable.

 

[highland145]

That's the problem... the wife said she was vacuuming, and didn't hear any of this happening. He didn't bother calling us or anything. By the time the wife saw the damage, he was long gone. It's pretty easy to ID him, though. We live behind a gate, so the very few people have access to my property. There are tracks in the snow to the meter, so it would be pretty easy to prove who did tht damage.

Pic of the current meter reading for something to compare your bill to if needed in court.

 

[moshquerade]

shit happens.

you may find if you call and act rational and reasonable while explaining what happened that they will compensate you fairly.

if not, then take it to a higher level. it's their mistake to make right.

 

[Darwin333]

Pic of the current meter reading for something to compare your bill to if needed in court.

Outstanding idea, a picture of the current reading would prove when the meter was read

 

[Lifted]

you may find if you call and act rational and reasonable while explaining what happened that they will compensate you fairly.

ARE YOU NUTTSSS???!?!?!? He has to go down there with a sawed off, demand some restitution, and have his wife record the entire thing and upload it to youtube as evidence of the shitty way he is treated by them.

Only after this is done will ATOT be able to judge the case on it's merits and determine the guilty party.

 

[SandEagle]

another fine NuclearNed tale! :thumbsup: NN delivers !! would read again.

 

[edro]

...worthless without pics...

 

[satyajitmenon]

I thought this was going to be another epic NN thread.

 

[mrblotto]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

This

 

[jhbball]

Oh no. My yard.

 

[NuclearNed]

post-lunch edit; see OP

 

[Homerboy]

good thing its not that bad. Ive had these "OH MY GAWD!!!" phone calls from my wife before too, and its always less than imagined.

That being said, I'd still call and explain what this dude did. He shouldn't be let off the hook just because the damage is livable in your eyes. His employer at least needs to be aware of the situation

 

[Drako]

post-lunch edit; see OP

And still no pics

 

[satyajitmenon]

post-lunch edit; see OP

I guess your wife's stories don't have the same "je ne sais quoi". :\

Still no pics of the carnage?

 

[Rubycon]

On top of it all he/she will probably mark down E (for estimated reading) and you will get a bill four times what it should be!

 

[olds]

... I would have respected the guy had he called and owned up to it, but he's apparently not the responsible type. Oh well.

This is why I would complain to them.

 

[BoomerD]

There's no way I'd let the utility company off the hook. Even though the damage appears to be minimal, I'd definitely call and bitch...and insist on some form of payment from them.
if you're going to do the repairs yourself, bill them at the same "hourly wage" you get paid at work, plus materials and the cost of any gas/delivery charges.

Otherwise, get a GOOD landscaper to come give you a written estimate and submit that. (even if you do the work yourself)

Don't look at this as:

the grief to argue with the utility company over this when all of it is so easily fixable.

Look at it as a challenge to get them to fix what one of their employees fucked up.

 

[olds]

...
Look at it as a challenge to get them to fix what one of their employees fucked up.

And to deliver the message to the employee that is action/lack of action is not acceptable. He may do it to someone else and cause greater damage.

 

[BoomerD]

I worked as the crane operator for one of the local electrical utilities for about 7 years.

This was the common attitude:

ALWAYS do your best to hold them accountable for their actions. You know damned well that if you backed into something of theirs, you'd get billed for a crew of 10...all supervisors, and all on overtime.