Many of us are struggling to make ends meet these days, which makes it easy to fall behind when it comes to paying accounts, etc. Obviously companies have the right to expect payment but in most cases fair warning of the consequences of non-payment are given. Not so in the case of municiple accounts. Usually punishment is swift. A technician arrives at ones property and disconnects the power without a second thought, let alone a chance to try to resolve the situation and totally disregarding the fact the one may have a critical need for electricity, such as a small baby, children requiring nebulizers or old people with oxygen tanks. I was away from home undergoing treatment for cancer when my handicapped son, who was alone at home, called to say that our electrcity was about to be disconnected. The account was indeed overdue but not entirely due to my own negligence. After pleading via telephone with the technician to at least allow me to get home and sort things out I was informed that he had been told not to listen to any excuses. As a result I arrived home from hospital to a dark, silent house & spent the evening and following day negotiating with my landlord to have the power switched back on. Not to mention that we also became sitting ducks for criminals as our alarm system was rendered useless. It's time for a change to this heavy handed attitude.
