I’m a rule follower.
I don’t wear white after Labour Day; I don’t go swimming until two hours after I’ve eaten; and I never peak at my presents before Christmas morning.
Okay–I do peak at presents, but for the most part–I’m a rule follower.
When I get a bill, I pay it…before it’s due.
So when I got my final BC Hydro bill for $130.23 back in September, I didn’t even open the message. I just went to the bank the next day to pay it.
Shortly after that I started receiving strongly worded emails from BC Hydro. They wanted their $130.23 They mentioned a Collections Agency if I didn’t pay them ASAP. Ack!!!
Attempting to clear up this misunderstanding by replying to the email, I learned that while BC Hydro is able to send threatening emails to their customers, they don’t read responses.
Contacting them via their 1-800 number resulted in frustration–over fifteen minutes on hold before my call was dropped. A letter to their head office went unanswered.
After yet another, even meaner email, I set aside a couple of hours to call BC Hydro.
So–it turns out they hadn’t credited my account for the last TWO bills I paid, even though they have a record of both payments. Since they’d rolled the penultimate bill into the final one, I paid it twice and they owe me $113.74. (See–send me a bill, and I’ll pay it, even if I’ve already paid it. I’m a utility company’s dream!)
I hope I receive my refund cheque from BC Hydro soon. I’d hate to have to alert a Collections Agency.