Comments on: New Series – Pleads for Help – They Will be Turning Off my Utilities on Monday, May 24, 2010

By: Incognito123

Incognito123 — Mon, 24 May 2010 03:10:11 +0000

WHO owns the home is irrelevant, however YOU are the true owner of the home, and the utility company does NOT have the authority to turn your electric off unless you also owe them money. Stand up to them, and go and push all the buttons you can to insist if they are being paid they MUST NOT turn the electric off. Some communities and churches can sometimes help, however that is a short term solution at best – especially in a depression economy.

By: lisamarie

lisamarie — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:14:40 +0000

Hang in their girl. We all hit hard times and i’ve been where you are. Yes, go to liheap. Here in my area Liheap is in the tri-county office. If you have a computer (or use the librarys if you don’t) look up energy assistance in you area. Liheap will pay your electric bill up to 300.00 if your in a bind. If you dont have Liheap, try local churches. and don’t leave your home. Respond to your foreclosure. Do a demand for production if you have to.
Pray. Don’t give up. And last but not least put that SOB that hit you in jail!!!

By: Robert Neilson

Robert Neilson — Sun, 23 May 2010 07:57:58 +0000

The first thing is to never panic. I generally agree w/ those who have written their comments above. Public utilities have to abide by strict standards. That is why they are granted “monopoly” status.

Legal Aid, or just going Directly to the utilitiy’s nearest office, to plead your case is best. Do not accept “NO” for an answer. Don’t sign any “waivers”. Take detailed notes of who and what you speak about.

Best to you and your 2 wonderful kids, Many Christians out there to rescue you all. Go to church, even if you don’t have one at present. Works all the time. Got attys too. They are there for you. Love, Bob

By: Forensic Mortgage Examiners

Forensic Mortgage Examiners — Sun, 23 May 2010 06:44:47 +0000

Utility service is not a “right”, although you do have rights as a customer. I checked this out and you should call the Public Services Commission. They are the commission that regulates utilities in Missouri. You can contact the PSC at 1-800-392-4211. I would do so as soon as possible on Monday morning! Here is a link to their website, there’s not a whole lot of info on there, but it appears there might be a rule that says that you have to have a written notice sent to you that they are turning off your service. http://www.psc.mo.gov/electric/

Again, best of luck with this!

By: carlos lizarraga

carlos lizarraga — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:37:43 +0000

you might also want to google LIHEAP and where in your area they r located.

By: MARIO KENNY

MARIO KENNY — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:33:17 +0000

Address the company with a letter for service as this is a right for anyone who lives in a house or under a bridge, ask them for service, if they refuse ask them to forward a claim to their Directors and Officers insurance company and copy a separate complaint with the same request to the regulator and the AG of said state but ask for that insurance policy.

I would not stand for this one bit never. A federal lawsuit is the way to go here, there are very specific rules in the public utility service and they cannot in no instant lock off utilities and water, in no way if you lay down they will jump on you for sure. Stand up and fight for your rights full on and do not plan to lost. Report them to the department of Children and families in DC and locally where you live

By: carlos lizarraga

carlos lizarraga — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:32:41 +0000

check with your local county government and inquire about the LIHEAP program.program is usually operated by local government social services agencies and/or state .i believe in some cases by private nonprofit social services agencies.liheap provides financial assistance for persons facing disconnection of their utilities as well as an annual credit.

By: Alessandro Machi

Alessandro Machi — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:04:35 +0000

I wonder if you need to put something in writing to the utility company. However, I don’t know what the wording would be.

By: MARIO KENNY

MARIO KENNY — Sun, 23 May 2010 03:59:48 +0000

I do not think the City has the authority to decide who owns what, and how are they able to turn on or off power if the bill is paid, Hello?

What kind of country are we living in now, is this a true story?

I think a small claims lawsuit could work here, if you do not have money to pay for filing tell the court that you can pay them at another time or that you cannot pay at all .

I think for the future Solar panels are the best for all house holds.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:50:16 +0000

A quick Google search shows the solution to this one:
http://stlouis.missouri.org/501c/hcf/Utility.htm

Summary: In MO shutting off utilities is apparently the same as a self-help eviction, which is illegal. Since your bank obviously hasn’t evicted you (or you wouldn’t still be living there) they apparently can’t stand in the way of you gaining access to your utilities.

So call the bank and follow the rest of the directions in that article. [This presupposes the bank’s already said no to just asking for their help; have you tried just asking them for help with the utility company until the foreclosure issue is resolved? Strange as it seems sometimes they’ll fight in court but if something would force the place to actually end up empty they may back off; depends on the bank.]

If you can try to find a find a solo property or personal injury lawyer, tell them all this, and tell them a quick call from him/her and even a short shutoff can result in a damage award. If the utility company buckles, which they should, all the lawyer’s lost is a five minute phone call. If not — even if the utilities are turned back on — they have a quick claim.