When Bad News Turns To Good News!!!

Ever have bad news turns into Good News!!!

I own an old victorian home that housed my old office on the first floor and an apartment residence upstairs. It's quaint, slate roof, over 100 years old, charming, and attractive...my old office was only about 750 sq. ft.

When I first opened Patriot Land Transfer, my title agency, back in 1996, I had the heating system upgraded to include two separate high efficiency gas fired furnaces...one for the upstairs residence, and a seperate one which included central air for my downstairs office...seperate gas meters and all!!! Get the picture?

Well, about a month ago I get a call from the local gas and electric company advising me that new meters had to be installed as the old ones were defective for some reason. I make arrangements to facilitate the meter replacement, and all is again well!!! Just in time for the upcoming heating season!

The other day I get a bill for gas, in the amount of $13,400.00... yes all the decimal points are in the right position. My son in law who is also operations manager, goes bonkers over the new bill and immediately the next day begins to make some urgent phone calls. After many hours on the phone with several different representatives, none of which were willing to concede that possibly an error had been made that needed investigation.

Finally, he was able to get someone on the phone who was familiar with these type occurrences...who assured us the matter would be looked into ASAP.

The very next day this same extremely capable customer service rep called us back to confirm that not only was there an error made resulting in them issuing us a new bill, but the bill which formerly had us owing $13,400.00 was being corrected to show a credit back to us for over $400.00. You see the defective meter was replaced because it was over-calculating gas usage at the building in the first place!!!

Now we're fighting over who gets to spend the rebate!!!

                                                                             

 

 

 

 

11 Comments on When Bad News Turns To Good News!!!

That's wonderful news Fran....whew.  You had me scared there for a second...

Don't spend it all in one place...

((-:

Jo 

12/06/2007 09:43 AM by Jo-Anne Smith-Belleville, Quinte and Prince Edward Region Real Estate, Ont. (Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage)

That is great news, just in time for X-Mas.

12/06/2007 09:51 AM by Mott Kornicki • Real Estate (SIB Realty)

Man! I think I would have 'popped' a vein or something. YIKES!...Good thing you didn't just take it at face value and pay it. $400 will get you the new PlayStation 3....

12/06/2007 10:18 AM by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

In the colder climates, electric meters are prone to go nuts like that too.  I don't know the physics of it, but i do know they don't appreciate you telling them their meter is defective.  Those battles are measures in months.. not days.

I know its going to be a Merry Christmas in the Gaspari Residence this year. 

12/06/2007 01:16 PM by Daniel Sundberg Foreclosure Specialist (FlexIt Realty)

Jo: It did turn out well...it got me to thinking...how many other things have I overpaid and nobody noticed!

Mott: You got it bro!!!

Rich: Thanks...but I don't need any suggestions on how to spend the 'windfall'!

Daniel: Errors rarely end up in our favor...do they!!!

Thanks,   Fran

12/06/2007 03:52 PM by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Hey Fran,

That's great news. When I had apartment building, one of my building "house" meter for the outside lights and hall way lights was broken. For three years, every month I got an electric bill for that building for around $1.00 a month. You would have thought that the electric company would have cauht onto that at some point. I'm surprised the meter reader didn't catch it. Who knows how long it has been reading like that because it must have started before I bought em and was still doing it when I got rid og them.

Sean Allen

12/06/2007 08:15 PM by International Financing Solutions

Sean,

Could you believe a large electric company doesn't have some process for screening a $13,000 dollar electric bill before mailing such a ridiculous bill to the consumer who has been used to paying less than $200.00 per month!!! Thanks,   Fran

12/06/2007 08:50 PM by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Fran, that sounds like one of those cards you pull in a Monopoly game - "Gas Company error in your favor: collect $400!"  Congrats!

12/06/2007 10:03 PM by Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company)

Fran,

There's nothing better than getting a customer service person who actually does that...gives customer service.  I find that when I'm calm and helpful, the customer service person is usually willing to listen and work with me.  I'm very happy it worked out for you.

12/06/2007 11:58 PM by Fran Gatti - Crescent City CA Real Estate (RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods)

Fran, glad they found the error and that one person took the time to find the prob and correct, not to mention call you back with some great news for you. What customer service they have.

12/07/2007 12:03 AM by Marey Hoeppner- Kalamazoo, MI Virtually assisting you anywhere.. (Virtual Assist Expert)

Patricia: It does, Doesn't it!!!

Fran: Gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it!

Marey: It was excellent of her all the way around!!!

Thanks,   Fran

12/07/2007 12:18 AM by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

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Title Company: Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)
Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ
Limerick, PA
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Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.

Office Phone: (610) 495-9855
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