NW Natural Gas You'd think "Gas Company" worker would have a way to call the office! It is 2010, Internet
Times are tough in the contracting world right now, so we had to get help from a Church to pay our gas bill. Hubby was working out of cell range in the hills.
Got a knock on door - Guy says he's there to shut off or collect payment
I don't remember seeing any ID or recall any name - No Gas truck that I could see
Explained to him that bill had BEEN PAID.
I couldn't believe it . . . he wanted to use MY PHONE
I've been attacked before and am very cautious about who I let into my home.
There was NO WAY, I'd let him in my home. Nor would I give my cell phone to him.
Closed door to call hubby. Hubby then calls gas outfit.
They then "CANCEL" shut off, and they need to relay that fact to worker.
So I open door and relay that to worker, who was very rude, gives me orange slip.
I didn't know what to do, so I told him to wait a few minutes - closed & locked door,
so I could figure it out. OK exactly one minute later - he's gone - GAS turned OFF.
I couldn't believe it. I thought he'd go to his truck (which was parked down the street)
and contact his boss the gas outfit and go on his merry way.
But, no . . . it's below freezing and we don't have heat or hot water.
Hubby has stitches in his hand that he can't wash properly
plus can't get paint from his work washed off either
My menses are bad and now I can't take a shower.
Can't cook food, because I can't wash dishes.
Hubby missed half the next day because he was on the phone to gas company
They wanted $250 to turn us back on - it was their MISTAKE, not ours
Now, they are charging us a $75 re-connect fee. Plus making us pay more.
If we pay them extra $200 - we risk getting our car reposessed.
They didn't get out to turn our gas on until 8:30 the next day.
I've looked online and found many utility companies have policies about when
their workers visit homes - that whoever is there - is supposed to call office
so it can be verified if the person at their door is IN FACT one of their workers.
This should be NW Natural Gas Company's policy as well.
I am totally disqusted and did file a complaint with the Utilities Commission also.