Virgil Showlion
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Moderator
[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:19:33 GMT -5
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Apr 5, 2016 13:40:50 GMT -5
I open our "hydro" (electric power) bill that comes once every three months in the mail. Normally we pay about $112.00/3 mo. since we're frugal about power use. The balance owing shows a credit of $1,812.14. I call my wife over and ask her "what's this?" She's as surprised as I am. "It's not my fault," she protests. We go online and discover what happened. Months ago, our power company sent us a bill for some surcharge (I can't recall what) that was roughly $19.00. My wife decided to pay it out of her personal account, but accidentally typed in $1900 instead of $19.00, and the power company was happy to accept. The truth was all spelled out in her transaction history. So I asked her, "Didn't you notice the money was missing?" (We're not rich by any stretch of the imagination.) She replied, "I just thought I'd spent it all." and gave me "the look".  "So how are you going to get it back?" I asked. "I'd prefer to just leave the money with them until we have no credit left. The interest on my account is zero anyway. If you want to get the money back, go get it back." I thought about it and said, "No. I don't want to deal with getting it back either." Hence by my calculations, we have four years of "free" electric power coming to us. |
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ArchietheDragon
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Joined: Jul 7, 2014 14:29:23 GMT -5
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Apr 5, 2016 13:48:06 GMT -5
hazzah! Fire up the hot tub and turn on the spot lights.
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bean29
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:26:57 GMT -5
Posts: 9,971 
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Post by bean29 on Apr 5, 2016 13:49:05 GMT -5
LOL. At least call one time and ask for a refund. it might not be as difficult as you think!
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ken a.k.a OMK
Senior Associate
They killed Kenny, the bastards.
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -5
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Location: Maryland
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Apr 5, 2016 13:52:25 GMT -5
It's not free. It's prepaid.  |
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Virgil Showlion
Distinguished Associate
Moderator
[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:19:33 GMT -5
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Apr 5, 2016 13:56:34 GMT -5
LOL. At least call one time and ask for a refund. it might not be as difficult as you think! Maybe. Although if they're anything like our phone company...  |
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Deleted
Joined: May 18, 2024 0:57:02 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 14:31:55 GMT -5
I open our "hydro" (electric power) bill that comes once every three months in the mail. Normally we pay about $112.00/3 mo. since we're frugal about power use. The balance owing shows a credit of $1,812.14. I call my wife over and ask her "what's this?" She's as surprised as I am. "It's not my fault," she protests. We go online and discover what happened. Months ago, our power company sent us a bill for some surcharge (I can't recall what) that was roughly $19.00. My wife decided to pay it out of her personal account, but accidentally typed in $1900 instead of $19.00, and the power company was happy to accept. The truth was all spelled out in her transaction history. So I asked her, "Didn't you notice the money was missing?" (We're not rich by any stretch of the imagination.) She replied, "I just thought I'd spent it all." and gave me "the look". "So how are you going to get it back?" I asked. "I'd prefer to just leave the money with them until we have no credit left. The interest on my account is zero anyway. If you want to get the money back, go get it back." I thought about it and said, "No. I don't want to deal with getting it back either." Hence by my calculations, we have four years of "free" electric power coming to us. I accidentally did this as well. It seems that when you type a comma instead of a period, a bill of $118.50 becomes $11, 850. The bank tried to pay it, overdrawing me AND my $5000 worth of overdraft protection. Since even that wouldn't cover it, they didn't honor it. The bank was fairly nice about it. They waived the OD charge as a "one-time courtesy," but I had to listen to a lecture. I don't overdraft. It was simply a mistake. I promptly paid the OD loan off and the small amount of interest for two days plus the amount to transfer it. I think that was about $25. Then the bank wanted to charge me interest again for the next month. I convinced them I had been punished enough. |
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toomuchreality
Senior Associate
Joined: Sept 3, 2011 10:28:25 GMT -5
Posts: 15,852
Favorite Drink: Sometimes I drink water... just to surprise my liver!
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Post by toomuchreality on Apr 6, 2016 6:36:30 GMT -5
If I accidentally mail you a few of my bills.... Now what was your address again?  |
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dannylion
Junior Associate
Gravity is a harsh mistress
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -5
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Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
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Post by dannylion on Apr 7, 2016 10:16:59 GMT -5
It's not free. It's prepaid.
Yeah, I think Virgil might be using a different definition of the word "free" than the one most of us recognize.
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NoNamePerson
Distinguished Associate
Is There Anybody OUT There?
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 17:03:17 GMT -5
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 7, 2016 22:21:21 GMT -5
hazzah! Fire up the hot tub and turn on the spot lights. Not sure you want the spot lights on if you are in the hot tub - just sayin'  |
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Virgil Showlion
Distinguished Associate
Moderator
[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:19:33 GMT -5
Posts: 27,448
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Apr 7, 2016 23:17:10 GMT -5
It's not free. It's prepaid.
Yeah, I think Virgil might be using a different definition of the word "free" than the one most of us recognize.
If you prepay with money you didn't know you had, that still counts as "free", right? |
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dannylion
Junior Associate
Gravity is a harsh mistress
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,197
Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
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Post by dannylion on Apr 8, 2016 8:21:23 GMT -5
Yeah, I think Virgil might be using a different definition of the word "free" than the one most of us recognize.
If you prepay with money you didn't know you had, that still counts as "free", right? Um, no, Virgil. No. It doesn't.
But you seem to be happy with your discovery, so it's all good.
Enjoy your "free" electricity in good health.
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NoNamePerson
Distinguished Associate
Is There Anybody OUT There?
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 17:03:17 GMT -5
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Location: WITNESS PROTECTION
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Post by NoNamePerson on Apr 8, 2016 8:25:47 GMT -5
Maybe MRS. V needs to join YM and learn the advantages of checking statements more often to track payments. Sounds like like this was 3 months ago  |
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mmhmm
Administrator
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 18:13:34 GMT -5
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Favorite Drink: Water
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Post by mmhmm on Apr 8, 2016 8:42:58 GMT -5
ROFL! OMG, Virgil! I did the same thing in January of this year - except it was the water company, not the power company. The bill was for a bit over $20. Thanks to my tremor I paid $2000 and change. I laughed myself silly when I saw it. The gal I spoke with at the water company joined me in a healthy guffaw when I told her what had happened. Since I was moving, I waited until I moved and had the utilities shut down before I had them subtract the final charges and return the difference. I thought I was probably the only person in the world who would do such a thing! Give Mrs. Virgil a hug for me! She made my day! |
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Virgil Showlion
Distinguished Associate
Moderator
[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:19:33 GMT -5
Posts: 27,448
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Apr 8, 2016 19:14:53 GMT -5
ROFL! OMG, Virgil! I did the same thing in January of this year - except it was the water company, not the power company. The bill was for a bit over $20. Thanks to my tremor I paid $2000 and change. I laughed myself silly when I saw it. The gal I spoke with at the water company joined me in a healthy guffaw when I told her what had happened. Since I was moving, I waited until I moved and had the utilities shut down before I had them subtract the final charges and return the difference. I thought I was probably the only person in the world who would do such a thing! Give Mrs. Virgil a hug for me! She made my day! Will do. |
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dianartemis
Well-Known Member
God made me and started laughing
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:43:10 GMT -5
Posts: 1,722
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Post by dianartemis on Apr 15, 2016 16:29:16 GMT -5
Yeah, I think Virgil might be using a different definition of the word "free" than the one most of us recognize.
If you prepay with money you didn't know you had, that still counts as "free", right? It's free for Virgil. If I read correctly, Mrs. Virgil paid with her personal account.  |
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