So the Gas Company is trying to ruin us

[Indenturedebtor]

This winter here in Sunny Tucson, we had to run the heat at night... got down to about 40 degrees many nights. Just running it at night we ran up about 250 bucks a month for a gas bill. So it was late every time as we scraped everything together to pay them, but we did pay them and paid their fargin late fees as well.

Well now that spring is here we got a notice that we would be required to pay our last 250 dollar heat bill PLUS a 450 dollar deposit because we were late a couple of times. We don't have 450 dollars! Largely because we were paying 250 dollar freakin heating bills in freakin Tucson AZ all winter! How in the hell are we supposed to come up with 450 bucks?

On top of that our HOA has decided that it's time to fix all of the roads in our complex. So they sent us a polite letter informing us that we have to come up with 3k to pay our share of the road repairs! WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?! If we don't pay it I understand that they can put a lien on our house.

Everyone has their freakin hands in your pockets. Where is this money supposed to come from? We can barely make it just buying food and paying for the things that we need to work. How are we ever going to get anywhere with crap like this popping up all the time?

[CC]

1. Can't help with any of that but maybe

before next winter look into getting some econ-heaters. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x279

I avoid HOAs like the plague. If I were buying anywhere is there an HOA would be one of my first questions. Course the flip side is you can end up with a neighbor that doesn't mow etc. but most towns/counties do have rules covering things the HOAs cover unless it is the ridiculous stuff I have seen some of them come up with. Also we are stuck doing our own maintenance so can get unexpected bills if something breaks. The county/state maintains our roads and that is covered by property/income taxes.

[rurallib]

2. Do you have 3 jobs that the pResident thinks is 'uniquely American'?

If not I strongly suggest you do your part by getting a 2nd and 3rd job.
Humor aside, this is getting ridiculous ain't it? We used to have some extra money each month. Now we are about even each month. With the price of gas and food skyrocketing --- whew.
Unfortunately, a solution like a pellet stove costs money. At 40 degrees pipes won't burst. Maybe you can tough it out with extra blankets and a very low thermostat?

[flvegan]

3. Reread that road letter from the HOA.

Usually (and I say "usually" based on my experience alone) the road maintenance is decided by Resolution, done by the utility, then posted to the non ad valorem tax roll to be paid over time. It becomes a yearly assessment. Worth a phone call to find out which it is. Of course, if these are all privately maintained roads, that wouldn't be the case.

Sorry to hear of your financial trouble.

[JackintheGreen]

4. Our company out in Philly did the same thing to us

It's common practice out here, apparently, because they give absolutely NO grace period; not a week, not a day, not a second. They hold it in "escrow" just in case you can't make a payment, but really they just get to hold $500 each from some 10s of thousands (if not 100s) of customers, which they can put away in a bank to earn interest. So what's that? 5 million dollars earning interest for them and not us?

Oh, but they were nice. We got to pay in installments (2), and if we make our payments on time for 6 mos. we get our money back (without interest), until they decide to hold a check for a day or two the next time.

You could try what we did: call them up, ask WTF?, then say something like "do you have the number for the in Phoenix? I would hate to call every department in state government to rectify this injustice." We were a bit more savvy than that, but it worked. Here in PA they do not want this to be noticed, apparently.

But seriously? You turn the heat on at 40? I don't close the windows unless its under 50. To each his own, I guess.

[Indenturedebtor]

5. Thanks for that advice

I will call them today and see if I can work something out. It's criminal that they are allowed to do this. And besides it's natural gas... that shouldn't have much to do with the price of oil? Right?

Unfortunately as far as the roads go they are private roads. Sadly the community didn't see fit to do something about it until after we moved in. I have to pay for the roads that 30 years of previous residents didn' want to deal with. The commitee is run by retirees who have nothing better to do than come up with rules. Pretty much every neighborhood in Tucson has a HOA :(

But yeah we've been here a few years now hehe. 40 is cold to us... but 105 isn't too hot heh. Go figure :P