Utilities and telecom

[meellis]

I am really getting fed up with what I am witnessing now. When I am late paying my BT bill I get demands and threats of court action yet I read the outstanding bill and the majority of it is for line rental for the following months. My girlfriend lives in a flat on her own and being Thai doesn't completely understand all the correspondence she receives.She showed me a couple of water bills today, the first was for the first six months of this year (April-March) and it said she had ten days to pay it. If she didn't pay in the ten days then she has to pay the full year. The second bill was for the full year because she hasn't paid the first one and they have given her a short time to pay or the will start legal action. I am not interested in the right or wrongs of contracts or whether we should or shouldn't pay for utilities but how have we got into a lifestyle where these companies can be so aggressive chasing bills for future services, ie ones that haven't even been provided for yet. If my girlfriend moves in the few months do you think they will be so quick and easy at reimbursing her, I doubt it.
Rant over for now

[labman]

Re: Utilities and telecom

I have a degree of sympathy with you I must admit, and of course by getting our money so much in advance, who gets the interest on it? It certainly isn't us! No wonder their profits are impressive.