Utility companies. Not that I'm proud to admit this, but I was recently behind on my electric bill, enough so that last month, I needed to pay it on the due date or risk being disconnected. As a freelance writer in a dodgy economy, it's a situation I've become used to. Last month, I called my utility company, Duke Energy, to inform it that a magazine I occasionally write for was finally sending me a paycheck on the very day my electricity was scheduled to be disconnected. I asked if it would mind moving my disconnect time from 8 a.m. on Sept. 20, the earliest point I could be disconnected, to later that afternoon or even the following day to ensure I'd have enough time to get my check, cash it and pay the bill.
Nope, I was told. I asked to speak to the supervisor and once again was told that they couldn't budge. The supervisor conceded that my request wasn't ridiculous and that in the past, they would have given me some wiggle room, but that the policy had recently changed.”
Nope, I was told. I asked to speak to the supervisor and once again was told that they couldn't budge. The supervisor conceded that my request wasn't ridiculous and that in the past, they would have given me some wiggle room, but that the policy had recently changed.”
And the list goes on to include Airlines (bag fees), Cell phones (directory assistance fees, seriously who uses directory assistance? It’s called google), Buses (I’m not even sure what the complaint is), and newspapers (charging if you want tv listings included, or you could scroll through that handy guide on your screen, or google, again.)
Are companies getting meaner? NO. You’re just a deadbeat. It’s a recession lady (I actually just noticed the article was written by a Geoff, given the style and general bitching throughout the article I just cannot accept this as true).
Your part time freelance scribblings aren’t getting the bills paid? Get a job at Starbucks with the rest of the self loathing English majors. You don’t see me quitting my actual job just because I enjoy publishing my opinion for all to see, its called a hobby not a career.
This current government is doing everything but inserting cash into the wallets for malcontents and complainers like you, and what do you do? You complain that businesses aren’t giving you handouts. I hate baggage fees as much as the next person (by the way, Southwest might not charge baggage fees but their flight prices have been so much higher than other airlines lately that it all evens out, you either pay one high flat price or you pay the cheaper price and try to cram your shit into a carry on, your choice), but I understand that businesses need to make money somewhere to stay afloat. Something the writer probably could have learned in college if they weren’t busy reading 19th century English lit writings, which will come in handy never.
