Odd interaction with the government

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,569
3,762
126
I recently contacted my local township about an issue and the whole interaction was weird. My township requires certain items being picked up with the trash to have a pre-paid label attached to them. I had a toilet I replaced because it thought my plunger and I should spend more time together on brown water dates but the disposal procedure for a toilet wasn't listed anywhere I could find. So I called.

First - I got a real person on the second ring. Second - she was really friendly. And not just 'Hi, how can I help you friendly?' but the 'I need an organ transplant and want you to like me and give me a kidney' friendly. Third - she didn't need to transfer me to anyone.

This, of course, immediately raised the hairs on the back of my neck as I protectively clutched one of my kidneys. I tentatively asked my question about how to dispose of a toilet. At this point I expected the hammer to come crashing down, figuring she delighted in appearing friendly before crushing callers by revealing hefty fees.

"Oh no problem sir. What day is your trash pickup? Ok - just make sure it's out by 6am and I have made a note for them to pick it up."

Ah -the game is afoot! Clearly this is a ploy to get me to waddle the toilet out to the curb only to have the trashmen laugh as they pass it by. Perhaps they will take a picture, write 'Dumbass' on it and tape it to the toilet in their glee.

But curse her siren song for she used the one phrase that will ensure my ensnarement in her evil web: "No charge."

Damn you woman!

I played along though. Who knows what other devious thoughts she would come up with if she knew I was on to her. I replied to her sickeningly friendly follow up questions "Anything else I can do for you today?"

No.

"Ok. Well if you ever have any questions let me know. Here is my direct number if you have any problems with the pickup sir."

So I can call you and let you gloat? I think not.

The night before I carried the toilet to the curb in the rain. She was probably lounging with her trashmen henchment, drinking hot chocolate and laughing knowing that I either was stuck dealing with the rain or having to sacrifice an hour of sleep to lug this evil bastard of a non-flushing toilet to the curb for a pickup that would never happen.

I went to bed, fully expecting the toilet to be there in the morning and again when I got home from work. Imagine my surprise when I left my house at 7:30 and the toilet was gone! Fear and uncertainty shot through me. Clearly this Agent of Torture was playing the long game but I couldn't figure out the angle. My kidneys screamed in terror. My heart thudded in my chest, reminding me that it was quite happy where it was.

I left for the day, trying to put it all behind me. But She wasn't done with me. Oh no. When I got home there was a letter from the township in the mail. I hurriedly tore it open, praying for it to be a bill. That would explain everything that was going on, right? That would end the madness.

But She is too evil and sinister for that. It was a helpful pamphlet of information where she had circled the recycling and yard waste pickpup dates for my address and crossing out items that didn't apply to me. Even worse - a handwritten thank you note! Thank you for calling? It was a pleasure to speak with you and help you with your trash disposal needs? If you have any further questions feel free to ask?!

Yeah - like why am I in this tub of ice and why are you standing over me with a knife?

I sent the letter of for handwriting analysis but I am not expecting much help. She is too smart for that. Probably had one of her other victims write it.

In the meantime, anyone know of a good bodyguard service?

Cliffs:
-Needed to dispose of a toilet
-Called township
-Gave me better customer service than I have gotten from Hilton or Amex
-Everything, including pickup, happened quickly, exactly as planned and without charge
-Received pamphlet the same day in the mail with all kinds of helpful information and scheduled times
-Also contained Handwritten thank you note
-This seems odd for a government entity
 

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
They are just building up a little trust.
Soon they start bringing you used toilets every week, with no way on earth to dispose of them.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
They are just building up a little trust.
Soon they start bringing you used toilets every week, with no way on earth to dispose of them.

/this

never trust a friendly person who claims to be from the "Government"!
 

sourn

Senior member
Dec 26, 2012
577
1
0
She has you right where she wants you. And that is questioning everything. Now she's gonna wait for you to relax, and think to yourself "this was only a fluke no big deal".

Then one morning it won't be a kidney you're missing, but an arm and a leg. Only to be replaced with a plunger for your leg, and overflow pipe for an arm.

While she sits in her office giggling, "and he thought he got away".
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
She should have gave you a name of a person you should call and not just call forward you to them. This is what you're used to and that's what you should get!!!
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,569
3,762
126
They are just building up a little trust.
Soon they start bringing you used toilets every week, with no way on earth to dispose of them.

:eek:......:hmm: I wonder if I can stack the toilets and make some sort of wall or fence...

never trust a friendly person who claims to be from the "Government"!

Thats what makes me so nervous :(

She should have gave you a name of a person you should call and not just call forward you to them. This is what you're used to and that's what you should get!!!
:eek: Stalker!
 
Feb 25, 2011
16,992
1,621
126
Hooray for effective local government.

You must go to her church or something.

They keep track.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
ok joking aside.

The company that picks up trash for me (they just got my trash and thought of this thread again..lol) is great. They will pick up anything if you set it out. except for trash cans. i been trying to get them to take a broken one for 2 months..lol

If its something big they ask to call so they can make sure they have 2 guys in the truck. Also we are limited to 15 bags but if we go over that's fine. just don't make a habit of it.

Only thing they really ask is to wipe stuff down if its a toilet or such.

not bad for $15 a month!
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Ooh, that is weird. She must be new and hasn't yet become a jaded, do-nothing public employee. But good for you, you got to her early! :)

Our trash pickup will take anything but tires and construction debris (and starting in 2013, no electronics due to a new state law). Don't need to alert them ahead of time, so I have no idea how they manage to get the big stuff when they don't know it's going to be there. Our "regular" trash pickup is a compactor truck with one guy doing the work and another guy driving.

Maybe they call in big stuff when they see it and there's another team that floats around in a different truck to catch those.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Someone probably saw the toilet and took it before the trash guys even got to your house.

Don't ask me how I know, things just disappear when they hit the curb and could be worth something.
 

T9D

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
5,320
6
0
In 3 years you're going to get a summons where they will auction off your house to pay for the extra disposal tax bill you never got.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Someone probably saw the toilet and took it before the trash guys even got to your house.

Don't ask me how I know, things just disappear when they hit the curb and could be worth something.

ok yeah. people scavenging things out of trash i get. but a used toilet!? eww
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
ok yeah. people scavenging things out of trash i get. but a used toilet!? eww

When I moved into my house, I put out two toilets and an old sink from remodeling. Didn't post on craigslist but put a paper saying "free" on them. Gone by the time I came out in the morning.

A week ago, I put a broken dishwasher out on the curb at around 11pm on a saturday night with a paper saying "broken" on it. Our "neighborhood cleanup day" where they'll pick up almost anything was on scheduled for Monday. It was gone by 8am the next morning.

Who knows.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,044
10,533
126
ok yeah. people scavenging things out of trash i get. but a used toilet!? eww

If it was a vintage toilet, I'd grab it. If it were from the early 20th century, I'd use it myself. For something a bit newer, a lot of people like high volume toilets, and I don't think they're available new anymore.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Ooh, that is weird. She must be new and hasn't yet become a jaded, do-nothing public employee. But good for you, you got to her early! :)

10% of people in government are new and hardworking, another 10% are lazy, but very experienced and efficient, thus able to get a lot of things done in the 30 minutes a day that they actually work. The rest, well...if you're lucky, they don't actually PREVENT work from getting done.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,773
10,077
136
9 / 10, would read again. Not quite NuclearNed though. Maybe it takes practice.

As for local government, that's the whole point. Keep it small, and it'll remain human. Enlarge / federal / centralize it though... and you're !@#$%^.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,044
10,533
126
lol you guys are harsh. I thought it was great!

NuclearNed's a high standard. There's no shame in coming second place to his stories. You don't have to be better than Bob Dylan to be pretty damned good :^)
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,569
3,762
126
Someone probably saw the toilet and took it before the trash guys even got to your house.

Don't ask me how I know, things just disappear when they hit the curb and could be worth something.

I have gotten rid of many a thing this way. There is a beat up truck that drives through our neighborhood about 8am to see if anything good is out. I don't think that was the case this time though - it was a tad too early and you can get a much better toilet for $5 at the local recycling center

So... sloths get pushed over to their deaths? :hmm:

^_^

In 3 years you're going to get a summons where they will auction off your house to pay for the extra disposal tax bill you never got.

You might be onto something there
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,569
3,762
126
If it was a vintage toilet, I'd grab it. If it were from the early 20th century, I'd use it myself. For something a bit newer, a lot of people like high volume toilets, and I don't think they're available new anymore.

Not even close. Mansfield 160 - king of the cheap shitty toilets