Posted on 12/07/2005 10:56:26 AM PST by southlake_hoosier
I know that Vanity items are mostly looked down upon, but I need some help. I am hoping that someone can lead me in the right direction, or point me to it, or someone in Illinois works for a organization that can help.
My Brother-In-Law was diagnosed with Luekemia about 4 1/2 years ago. He was given 5 years at the most. His wife in the meantime has had lung and heart problems. At the moment she is at home, Hopsice is there and she has at most 48 hours to live. My wife has been taken care of his wife for about the past month, and is with Hopsice at this time. My Brother-In-Law has continued to work, in order to keep healthcare on his wife over the last four years even though he himself is diagnosed terminal.
With all the expenses lately, his electric bill, I just found out is $2600 overdue. ComEd wants $750 of this by December 13th, or they will shut his electric off. None of us have a lot, and even if we pitched in what we have we could not come close to that much money. We pretty much live pay check to pay check.
I am an Eagle Scout who, at one time, contributed to the UW. When they began pulling their anti-Scouting crap, they lost ALL financial support and goodwill from me....
Yet another reason why they may well be protected under the laws of their state of residence and,also,why the power company would not want this story to hit the local press... or the press in their state capital.
$2600 overdue ? Sounds like bunk to me ...
There is a state and federal funded program called HEAP that helps out the disadvantaged with heating bills. Their utility company will be familiar with it, just call them to explain.
Fine, but still, they are a source of information for good charities to go to. This man isn't asking who to contribute to, he's asking who to get help from.
LIHEAP is not an option, just got off the phone with them.
Point taken....
Imagine if everyone had your outlook.
This is very real. Imagine that.
Can you pronounce that for me?
Call the electric company and find out the minimum payment they would accept to keep the electric on. Usually they will allow a "catch up" amount to keep it on for 30 days or until the next billing cycle. You are probably looking at the deposit fee in that $2600 since they have been consistently late.
Try Catholic Charities, try the Leukemia Foundation, try the Churches and also if you have any Mormon churches in your area, they might help.
Can you pronounce that for me?
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Ombudsman
At $600 a month that would be over 4 months of not paying the bill. The power would have been turned off after 2nd or 3rd month of no payment recieved by the power company. My gas was turned off because my check arrived a day late. Story smells real fishy to me.
$750 due by December 13th
Exelon will not talk to me. Just tried them.
No suggestions only prayers.
The PUC no doubt has a Consumer Affairs division, you can call them for advice.
And I've had a lot of experience working with creditors. Going to the media is a high - risk proposition. Once you tick them off, they play strictly by the rules, and won't work too hard to give you extra accomodation. You should go to the media only after you exhaust all other options.
Better than the media is going to your congressman. The utility will have a legislative affairs department whose job is to keep legislators (state and federal) happy. A letter from your congressman will NOT be ignored.
There may be regional variations, but they should recognize this:
om (tom without the 't')
buds (like the beer)
man
Put a slight emphasis on the second syllable.
om.BUDS.man
This could be true in some situations but this is the kind of case that,after having hit the press,could catch the eye of a state legislator, and that's something that most publicly regulated utilities don't want.
Talk with the Hospice counselors. They know the law and many ways around it.
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