At least that’s what part of me wants to do, while the other part is like “well, of course…”
No phone and no internet connection yet, despite me organising it almost 2 weeks ago. So I log into chat (how cool is that – chat help!!!) and find out that there is an amount of $173 owing under my name from 2004. Yup, that’s right, while I was in Japan.
I’m not completely surprised. When I went to change over the landline account into my housemate’s name, I can’t remember why but Primus couldn’t do it before I left for Japan. So I had to take the risk of trusting her to fill in the forms and pay any bills she acquired. A trust I would not have given except that I really had no choice. No actually, I should have just shut off the phone and told her that given her history with having the phone cut off, I didn’t trust her. But she was looking after Ophelia (again, a no choice issue – something else I wasn’t happy with and rectified as soon as another option I was comfortable with came along).
I think the thing that pisses me off the most about this, apart from being very inconvenienced – I really wanted to have the phone and net on so that Shanta and Shannon weren’t cut off from communication while they stay with me – is that while Dee was racking up bad credit in my name, I was diligently sending her money for care of my cat; more than she would have needed because I didn’t want her to end up short at all.
gah.
So suddenly the hope of having landline and internet set up this week is gone and I have another fight on my hands. Not real impressed.
Oh no – more crap that you don’t need or deserve 🙁
How much short are you from paying it? I may be able to help.
I don’t intend to pay it. It’s not my debt. I paid eveything I needed to before leaving and I am not wearing someone else’s inepptitude and irresponsibility with money. The only thing I think I did wrong was not getting the phone disconnected outright – though I imagine that would have still taken a month or more to organise as well.
I probably can afford it if I want to, but I want my bookcases and couch and bed and random householdy stuff and don’t see why someone else’s ineptitude with money should be worn by me, especially not when I’m already out $100 over the counterfeiting thing. At least this one is purely my fight and fight it I will.
Your offer is greatly appreciated though.
Good for you!
I wasn’t sure if you had any option regarding it, but seeing as you have then I’m glad you’re sticking to your guns. Enough people will try and use and abuse others without us helping them.
They’re emailing me the account statements which show the dates the overdue amount was incurred. Apparently the date it was due was November 2003, then it went to debt collectors in 2004. I left for Japan July 27, 2003 so as long as the amount was incurred after that, I have a good chance of fighting them.
I’ve also requested them to find my request for the account name to be changed over and the documentation regarding that. Next step is to talk to Dad and see what he remembers about that as he had to sign forms too, as my power of attorney.
In the meantime I’m trying to decide whether I try another telco, just so I can get set up or wait the fight out.
*hug* :oS
If there’s a record of you requesting the changeover then I’d say you’re pretty safe. Especially if you can point them in the direction of the correct person to chase for the payment.
Oh crapola. Hugs from here too. Not fair. Not fair. Sending you successful fighting vibes.
Argh!!
*hugs*
Oh, and Travis and I are RSVP’ing to your b’day.
Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you both 🙂