Need Advice Paying For $1300 Electric Bill

[Gizmo j]

I live in section 8 housing and they said there was a clarical error where I wasn't paying my electric bill for about a year.

My case manager said it wasn't my fault but If I don't pay the $1300 I can't get my electricity on.

My uncle was going to bring me a gas powered generator to help me.

I was thinking of getting a credit card to pay for the bill and try paying it off for the next couple of months but I never had a credit card, only debit, so I don't really know what I'm doing.

I get about a $1000 a month in SSI and my bank is Bank Of America.

 

[lxskllr]

Talk to the electric company, and see if you can get a payment plan started, and your electricity turned on. I checked my local company, and it says power can't be turned off for non payment. Varies by state I guess. Anyway, see what your company has available.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Absolutely tell them you need some kind of payment plan. Their clerical error is not your fault, and if they're unwilling to set something up with you tell them they can talk to your lawyer (even if it's a bluff). Expecting someone to pay essentially a double rent payment or whatever is horseshit.

 

[balloonshark]

I'm in a similar situation financially and I got my first credit card a few years ago from capital one and my credit amount is still only $500. I've been offered another line of credit by capital one but the cashback wasn't going to help since I don't eat out or travel.

You don't want to put it on credit unless you're going to pay it off ASAP. The interest will eat you alive.

If you live in apartment building using a generator is not going to happen.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Sounds like what my friend did. He would regularly not pay his bills, and instead, get delivery food and go to the dispensary.

He got the electric company to give him a sweet deal, as long as he made his payments of $X / mo, they would additionally FORGIVE $Y / mo off his bill too.

Ask around, don't be afraid to ask them for their supervisor as well, as the front-line people may not know about or be authorized to allow those "special" plans.

Also, you might tell them if you're disabled, you probably shouldn't be paying "Rate 1".

 

[bbhaag]

Next time you talk to your case worker ask them if they have any recommendations for charitable organizations in your area that will help you pay off your balance. Like others have mentioned reaching out to your utility provider and setting up a payment plan at a reduced rate is another option.

I do not recommend getting a credit card to pay for your utility bill. It's like barrowing from Peter to pay for Paul.

 

[Torn Mind]

My eyebrows are raised by the gas powered generator. I thought op's quarters was an apartment...in LA....windows have to open....and the noise

First thing is to detail the "error" and dispute them. Failing that...assistance should be available.

Anyway, applying for assistance from government, private orgs, churches, etc can be done for your situation. Income info is needed but if you have plausible employment hours and no history before, they won't probe too deeply.

 

[VirtualLarry]

My eyebrows are raised by the gas powered generator. I thought op's quarters was an apartment...in LA....windows have to open....and the noise

yeah, a gas-powered generator is a total no-go in an apt.

 

[VirtualLarry]

but If I don't pay the $1300 I can't get my electricity on.

Did this situation already get to the point at which the power has already been shut off? That may limit what they are willing to do for re-payment plans. Hit up some churches in the area, and explain the situation. Beware the board of health if you have no power.

 

[BoomerD]

The op could always go out and turn some tricks.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The op could always go out and turn some tricks.

He needs his electric bill paid, not a pile of GPUs!

 

[highland145]

Section 8 said you didn't pay or the electric company? Who made the error?

 

[VirtualLarry]

BTW, my friend on Sec. 8 does have to pay his own electric in his apt.

Edit: Not referring to or speaking for GizmoJ. Speaking of my RL friend that went on a payment plan. Although your situation, GizmoJ does resemble my friend's situation, he's not in LA.

 

[dullard]

That sounds like a terrible situation and I wish you the very best of luck in solving it.

Like others have said, a credit card bill that you can't afford is not the solution to a utility bill that you can't afford. At least with the utility bill you have lots of legal rights and charities that might help. I can't think of a single charity set up to pay off credit card bills. The credit card would still have you pay $1300 plus about $300 per year in interest until you do pay off that $1300. It isn't the answer you want.

Contact the electric company first. Be your own advocate. Be polite, explain the problem, and ask for help. Do it many times with different people at the electric company until you find someone willing to assist. And as others here have said, ask your case worker for advice on organizations that can help. There are charities that assist people get their basic utility bills paid.

I volunteer at a local charity (I buy/cook/serve food for ~100 people once a month then clean up). In that charity there are a whole series of other people that help out with these types of tasks. I'm sure you'll have similar ones where you live. I bring this up since my local charity also has clothes washers/driers, showers, and a charging bank for electronics. You can get by without electricity where I live because of that. Charge a couple headlamps and your cell phone and you'll be able to function--especially since the other big energy hogs are covered by the charity (clothes washing, showers, and refrigeration).

 

[Red Squirrel]

Ouch that sucks, it's their own fault for the error it shouldn't fall on you, but the system sucks for that sort of thing. It's always the little guy that pays.

I would try to see if they can set up a payment plan where it just pays like $50 extra per month on the bill until it's paid off. Wouldn't go the generator route as it will cost you more in gas than the hydro could cost.

Had something similar happen to my internet, they upgraded their billing system and never inputted the info so it stopped taking the payment and I got a late notice like several months later. Lot of people got screwed with that. Thankfully it was only a few hundred bucks and not over a thousand though...

 

[Gizmo j]

Good news, I was approved for a credit card with a $1500 limit, but I have to wait a week for the card to be mailed.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Be careful with that, it might end up costing you more if you don't use it wisely and rack up interest. I would still talk with the hydro company to see if you can do a payment plan, as long as they know you're paying your bill, even partially, I don't think they will cut you off.

Only put something on a credit card if you know you can pay it off within a month.

 

[Gizmo j]

Be careful with that, it might end up costing you more if you don't use it wisely and rack up interest. I would still talk with the hydro company to see if you can do a payment plan, as long as they know you're paying your bill, even partially, I don't think they will cut you off.

Only put something on a credit card if you know you can pay it off within a month.

My power is already off, that's why I asked my uncle for the generator, I had some trouble turning the generator on though, my neighbor told me he'll try to help me when he gets back from work.

 

[lxskllr]

Sounds like bad news to me. You should thoroughly explore other options before using the card.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Only put something on a credit card if you know you can pay it off within a month.

Obligatory sane advice when dealing with credit cards.

 

[nakedfrog]

LOL
Classic internet.
OP: "I have a bad situation, what should I do?"
Posters: "Here's some tips and ideas, and these are the things you should NOT do and here's why they're bad ideas"
OP: "Okay, I'm going to do those bad ideas anyway!"

 

[nakedfrog]

My power is already off, that's why I asked my uncle for the generator, I had some trouble turning the generator on though, my neighbor told me he'll try to help me when he gets back from work.

Maybe it would be worth talking with neighbors and seeing if one will let you run an extension cord for a limited time. It would probably suck to get kicked out of your housing for running a generator indoors. Have you heard a generator running before?

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah…a generator in an apartment? What could possibly go wrong? I think he should do it. Maybe put it in his kitchen so he doesn’t have to run extension cords so far…

 

[Red Squirrel]

The generator is going to cost a lot to run. Especially with the price of fuel now days. Whatever you've been doing since the power was cut off until now, just keep doing the same, until you can pay the bill. I would call the hydro company, surely they can set up an equal billing plan so it makes up for the unpaid portion and turn power back on.

Before using a generator or the credit card, I would ask a neighbour if you could run an extension cord so you can at least keep the fridge and other necessities going.

 

[WilliamM2]

My power is already off, that's why I asked my uncle for the generator, I had some trouble turning the generator on though, my neighbor told me he'll try to help me when he gets back from work.

YOU CANNOT RUN A GENERATOR INDOORS!!!!!!!!!!
OUTDOORS IT WILL BE STOLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRY TO USE YOUR HEAD, JUST THIS ONE TIME.

What is the interest rate on that cc?