I hate stupid ignorant ASSININE people (Electric company)

[spongemom]

Usually the electric company must give you some sort of notice that they are going to cut off your electricity before they just shut it down. Since they didn't seem to do that, you might want to see if your local TV station would be interested in your story. You'd be surprised how fast things get done when people (including companies) face a little embarrasement.
Good luck.

 

[toddpolish]

Yeah, do what SpongeMom says. Publicity will help. Local news station - great idea.

 

[reefer44]

My dads a lawyer so i know a little bit about law and i asked him what would happen if this ever happened to me(asked him when i got the tank cause our electricity gets turned off sometimes even though we pay our bills) and he said i would have a case if we had paid our bills and there was no warning.....so u should win from my understandings.......I would try and take them to small claims court if u can u would have a better chance...also how much livestock did u loose (how much money u lost).....just letting u know this...i would sue there a*s
good luck

 

[michaeltx]

well I talked to several attorneys today and the co-op management. and I am even more of a stump than before. the co-op is listed as a NON-PROFIT org since all proceeds go back to members at the end of the year there was NO legal standing for a suit against them even small claims from some sort of immunity under TX law (not sure on that one but going to have to look into it a little more) something to due with the law says if there isnt real econimic damages ie. loss of wages illness or death of a person there is no legal action that can be taken against them as a nonprofit org. needless to say it has been a unproductive and mentally draining-
me and the co-op managment got into it big time after about an hour of civil talks with him he looked at me and said IT WAS JUST A FISH TANK! and there is no economic value associated withit. and there is absolutely not our responsiblility for any of it. If it was that expensive you shouldnt have it in the first place.
Well lets just say I was escorted off the property by the PD from the irrate display of attitude. but I be damned if someone is going to tell me that and not hear a ear full. but I was still somewhat civil in my eyes just told him the way it was.
I was able to save a few more things that what I thought at first.
I setup a 20 gallon tank and have a couple zoo colonies some lone buttons, GSP, and the cabbage leather looks like its going to make it along with some mushrooms that popped back up.
but I went from this to a ugly very sparse populated limping along 20 gallon that I just hope makes it through without any more major screw ups.
atleast I got a pic to look at.
if anyone has any thing that I could look into on it PLEASE say it no matter how stupid it may be it might actually help never know.
Mike

 

[nm reef]

I know its not much....but I feel for you. I saw this thread and thought that you'd likely have no recourse against a co-op....not right but that is the way things are. But with it being due to their error I'd think they would be more understanding...best of luck recovering your system...and you've just established yet another reason for me to seriously consider the purchase of a generator to prevent problems due to loss of electricity!!

 

[cyslyde]

WOW!!! first i am really sorry to hear about your loss....
second , try to get some Local intersted friends, any local govenment officals, other related ppl who might help put some heat on thier necks, to complain to the co-op, get them to start thinking they might loose a few customers to solar/wind power/ other co-ops whatever is available in your area, or possibly get investigated into for thier actions, maybe even your lfs can help out.... and try to calmly explain that yes a tank is a ecenomic value, you are purchasing a product from a local vendor which in turn pays his bills and possibly the co-ops... i know you really have to desensitize it but it might put it into perspective for the gentleman... ya know a doctor once suggested i spend more time in front of my tank because they are calming and i was suffering stress headaches ... maybe you could partialy pawn it off as a medical expense in that respect.... unfortunatly if you had to be escorted off the premesis the news thing might not help out that much anymore. but i have found out that a statwide 1 page add in every paper though expensive can really really get attention of higher ups to the point they might want to help... just remeber if you do letters use only facts not what you heard... if you can prove it with document video or voice tape it's not slander, but your walking on shakey ground, and you'll likely not be able to use thier services afterwards, just ask a local tire company on how well this worked. check your insurance, my renters insurance covers my pets (my fish and corals are pets right) it's not much, but it might help a little. lastly call animal planet there are a lot of ppl there who im sure would be very interested in the story.
hope this helps you out some

 

[zibnata]

Just a thought.It might sound stupid,but what about Homeowners Insurance. Does anyone know if tanks are covered ?

 

[lovethesea]

sorry for your loss.....your tank was beautiful!! These things make my blood boil. In St. Louis we have on one of our local new stations a "on your side" type of thing. It amazing what happens when the little guys get stepped on by these compainies that can hide behind the laws they created to exempt themselves from responsibilities they owe their consumers. Try the news thing as stated......you never know. good luck.
also check your insurance company, if they have to pay out anything, they may even go after the co-op for rembrisment.

 

[birdy]

Insurance will only cover the tank itself and I think any damage it might do if it were to leak, Insurance does not cover any type of livestock.
Sorry to here about all that mess Michael, I can't believe he said all that about its' just a fish tank and that if it cost that much you shouldn't have had it, what a moron.

 

[jonthefb]

michael good luck on your case....i probalby would have flipped out and gone postal....what an ass!
good luck
jon

 

[xrayman]

Check with local news channel are back here has like a consumer hotline try putting some heat on them.What they did really !!!!!!!

 

[michaeltx]

yeah I am not to happy with the ideals..
ITS ONLY A FISH TANK
and
You dont have legal action. (to me I should have it but according to the law I dont so ) I am going to petion a change in that and see what happens might not help me out but might someone else if this happens to them. (God forbid)
I have moved everything into a smaller tank and I think I am going to stay with the smaller tank for a while and let my pocket book rest.
I think I am going to set my 100 gallon tank as a FW planted tank less money LOL atleast I can have a full tank until I reset up a larger reef next year sometime. this just bumms me out everytimw I think about it.
I did contact the local news and its somehting they have done over and over according to them and nothing ever comes of it. so they didnt want to run with it.

Mike

 

[daniel411]

If your petition to the state were to really go all the way and encourage no immunities. It probally wouldn't be in anyones best interest except the insurance companies.
Insurance to cover such potential losses would be outrageous, it would be past onto you as a consumer. In the event that large claims were filed do to some incident. Sure you're get your money, but you're also find all your rates increased as the insurance companies try to protect their profit margins.

 

[michaeltx]

yeah but the way it is now you have to die for any type of legal action can be take against them.
To me if anyone is at fault for me loosing money or any invested moneyies because of them they should atleast have to pay something on that.
I mean really if I go into a store that sells fine china and crystal and knock something over and break it I have to buy it because it was my fault that it got broke. why should the company be out the money because of my actions. BUT if its the company towards a individual there is no recourse in that.
thats what makes no sense to me.
but then of course
you can talk on the cell phone while driving here BUT you cant have a LP cover that blocks any of the state name even alittle your fined 200$.
go figure
I do understand what you are saying though.
MIke

 

[guppy slayer]

I pray the lights wont go out when it rains but it would be cause of mother nature not some co-op screw up. I survived Isabel, not even a flicker...didn't even loose my cable. Sorry for your loss.
but anyway, driving and yackin on the phone... it get's to me too but check this out. I was coming home from work a few months back and this guy on a Harley Davidson was on the phone

 

[karajay]

Originally posted by MichaelTX
I mean really if I go into a store that sells fine china and crystal and knock something over and break it I have to buy it because it was my fault that it got broke
Actually, stores cannot legally force you to pay for something you or your children break in the store. Even if they post "You break it, you bought it" they have insurance to cover that sort of thing and CANNOT force you to pay for it. Just FYI

 

[doodle1800]

Happy Birthday Mike!!!

 

[wrassecal]

Mike, I am very sorry this happened to you. Be prepared, this will not be the only time "big business" will err and you, the consumer will pay the price. Many years ago the phone company messed with my uncle. For years he made his checks out to "Ma Bell Monopoly" They went right through like any other check they got. I totally understand your frustration but, IMO your best bet is to call it a lesson learned and move on. Buy some battery powered powerheads to move water and know that ultimately you are the one responsible for keeping your tank healthy. Think of it as a first aid kit for emergencies. I totally understand every emotion you've felt over this but, I if your area is anything like mine you have no other other choice but to use the co-op for your electricity needs. So you are going to have to deal with them no matter what. Don't let them keep taking up space in your brain and dictating your mood. They aren't losing any sleep over this, it's not affecting them at all. Don't let it continue to affect you. Use the brain power, money, and effort that you are putting into this problem and use it to make your tank better than ever---and don't forget the emergency kit. Especially don't let this ruin your birthday!

 

[cindyski]

wow mike, i just read this entire thread that really sucks!! i am really sorry!
Try and have a nice birthday
cindy

 

[michaeltx]

there is another company here but they are just as bad a few more corals that what I thought are going to make it and I have lost all the fish but a lone clown.
its been a good day so far. I left yesterday and just got back home went to dallas to watch a movie and stay the night by order of my mom- she came too. but it was just weird. well I got home opened the door and everything was rearranged and this is what I got from her for my B-day she was so upset about it to but knew that it really efffected me in a hard way.
I told her what I was thinking of doing and this is what she hired someone to do. different but I kinda like it LOL she traded in all her tanks and equipment since they died in this to do this. makes me feel bad but she said that she still has mine to look at this way she doesnt have to do anything LOL
and the next pic is what I have left of the corals the ones that are in the tank look like they are going to make it stil got a few that are still a little iffy. I put them in a 20-25 gallon tank with 110 watts of PC so they have plenty of light to grow and help them recover. so far so good with them.
thanks everyone for the support I dont knoe what I am going to do in the end but al my choices are pretty limited there may be absolutely nothing I can do though if thats the case back to the planning board and all that good stuff. but a good thing is that I still have a couple tanks to look at.
still pisses me off though!!!
Mike