In love with you, as always (grumble, grumble)...

I got a termination notice from the City of Dallas Water Department today. Apparently, I haven’t paid my bill in a couple of months.

Here’s the thing, though. I haven’t received a f-ing bill since we moved into our new house. Over the summer, I made monthly phone calls about this issue and complained to several individuals who – in typical City employee fashion – could have cared less. So, I created an account online, and asked to receive email notifications of my bills since it was apparently impossible to receive them the regular way.

It took a couple of months, but the City FINALLY started emailing me bill notifications. But I guess around late October they decided to stop sending me those as well. Because they like to screw with me like that. And, well, I just forgot about the d@mn water bill. I am used to paying bills PROMPTLY upon receiving them. But how in the HELL am I supposed to remember to pay a bill:

1. I am never notified about?



2. I have to remember to call a Dallas Water Utilities costumer service agent MONTHLY to find out the amount? Something – as discussed in previous posts – is often easier said than done.



3. Without any kind of invoice number to tie it to?

All these points are ESPECIALLY important considering they sent me the notice TODAY informing me that they plan to turn off my water on MONDAY during a week when City offices are only open through TOMORROW.

And, then, there was this little dandy:


Luckily, after much trial and error, I was able to access my account online, and managed to pay my bill. Albeit, for a bill that listed my CURRENT address under a label that referenced my OLD address (which is most likely the root of the problem). I also enjoy the fact that this “confusion” has apparently taken place MONTHS after relocating back in JUNE. And that I get to PAY for their mistake with late payments and threats to discontinue my water.

Plus, it drives me up the wall that I really only have myself to blame. After all, I’ve known they were incompetent for years now. I need to remind myself to remind them to bill me properly, or pay the price.

Of course, I am still fascinated that they have NO problem mailing me a termination notice. It is just regular monthly billing that is the problem.

And, yet again, I am reminded about how much I hate that the City of Dallas has a monopoly on water. If there was a competitor out there, I’d switch in a heart beat.