Price gouging for garbage/recycle pick up

[COcheesehead]

Maybe the lesson here is to be diligent and bid services regularly.

 

[thatguy]

Well, we're doing it now. I have a currently due bill for service that is 10 times the going rate

 

[skipro33]

Our newspaper pulled this same stunt; raised annual subscription from$150 to over $800. I caught it and "negotiated to $150 again, but the next year they tried again. But this time I didn't have auto renew, so when they billed my credit card, I contacted my legal service. They had the credit card return my money.

 

[athena53]

Better to have a free way to dispose of trash to avoid people throwing it out along the roads - which a lot of people did (do).

Yes. This is sad. I see it in my area, too. I'm torn between including trash pickup in the services the municipality provides (which probably means some politician's good buddy has a monopoly) and people choosing among a number of available providers and paying the bill themselves, which does lead to dumping trash along the road.

Yesterday I cleaned up a tiny corner of my world. I was in a shopping center with a Best Buy (which accepts electronics to recycle) and a donation box meant for clothing, books and toys had two ancient CRT monitors sitting on the ground nearby. I loaded them into my car (I'd forgotten how heavy those things are) and drove them over to Best Buy, where they charged $30 each to take them. I knew that was their practice and since ethical recycling involves removing some dangerous chemicals that can contaminate the ground water I understand. Developing countries have accepted these in the past, with ensuing health problems. (One BBC podcast noted that heavy metals were found in breast milk in a country where people took apart electronics to extract valuable metals such as copper.)

I explained where I'd found the monitors and the employee told me it happens a lot- people find that they charge for recycling and they just dump the items somewhere.

 

[Jerry1]

Well, we're doing it now. I have a currently due bill for service that is 10 times the going rate

I would not be so quick to pay that bill. Of course, you may have to in order to avoid losing service but I would use the bill to encourage a conversation about reducing the rate. Escalate the issue to the highest individual in the company and try to get the bill cut at least in half. Mechanically, try to negotiate a great rate going forward and try to get them to apply that price to the current bill. Start the negotiation by asking for the new price to be retro active for a year or two. You have nothing to lose. Throw a crazy number out there with a long tail of retroactivity and see what you can get. I think a realistic goal at the end of the day, is to get the new price cut substantially and applied to the current bill. Good luck.

 

[pb4uski]

At our rural summer home, there is no municipal trash pickup and private services that pick up trash by the street are expensive. My Saturday morning routine is to go to the recycling center and then drop my trash with the trash guy. $4 for a white kitchen size bag or $6 for a large bag.

In fact, one of the local radio stations has a program on Saturday mornings called "Music to go to the dump by".

 

[thatguy]

When I was a kid we would burn and bury trash. It was easy to dig sandy soil. Later there was a town dump where you could dump your trash, There were no attendants, no fees, just a place on a rural county road where trash was dumped. I think some people went there to target practice shooting rats.
I don't think in those days we produced anywhere near the amount of trash generated today.

We are not going to be hauling away our trash. I don't have a truck for it. I don't want likely leaky trash bags in our cars. You would have to pay a fee to anyplace that could take it. There is a free seasonal recycle place that serves this county. Discarded electronics is among the stuff they accept. I took some old CRT displays there

 

[thatguy]

I have to put this in perspective and get this rip off service ended. At this point with most delayed retirement sources of income coming in. A 1/4% market rise in our nest egg will recover years of this overcharge. Not that we need to access that. Whatever the loss is from this rip off, it hurts our feelings more than our pockets, I had to get old to be in this financial position.
The garbage account page now shows the numbered case closed. There is nothing showing on the account about a price adjustment promised on the phone. I have to call again. Even If I have to pay the last bill, this has to end.

 

[pjigar]

Is it by any chance "Cards recycling"? Our local trash pickup provider was bought by this company and they have been steadily rising price.

 

[thatguy]

Is not Cards Recycling, never heard of them.

Called again. More promises. An attractive rate is coming, someone at another level is reviewing the account, there may be a refund. The online page will eventually update.
Was quoted a rate of $48 + fees. But fees on the current bill are $248. Was told fees will be different on the new rate. All's I can do is wait. Might still beat quotes from other services.

 

[MC Rider]

We pay $33 a month for weekly pickup. I could also haul it to the dump myself, no charge for household trash. At less than $8 a week for pickup I don't mind paying that.

 

[COcheesehead]

I would move my business in a heartbeat. The trust is gone.

 

[Jerry1]

I’m with the OP - just get what is simple and move on. Not worth the stress.

 

[thatguy]

Another call, More verbal promises I asked for something in email to document changes. I said I want to see what's been promised appear on the online billing page, Don't want to end the call with only a verbal promise.
Can't get email conformation, Changes should show up online tomorrow. Someone is supposed to call me back tomorrow. So, call ended again with nothing documented.

But they said, I will be credited for the $827 now past due. I should see the changes online tomorrow. A new rate will be $90ish, but I won't see it till the January bill.
The new rate is at least $30 less the quotes from 3 others.
So, we'll see. The easiest thing is to not change service, if it's at the promised rate. But, I'm totally ok with the $117 rate I got quoted from another service.

 

[MC Rider]

Just don't let them jack you on the $827.

 

[GoBirds]

Elder abuse

 

[thatguy]

No one called. No evidence of promised changes on online billing page.

Called again. Agent was able to find and send us a email confirming the new rate. Agent was not able to find any confirmation of the promised credit for the $827 due bill.

From the email:
"This is confirmation of our conversation today. I have entered a rate change on case # xxxxxxx. Your next invoice will be approximately $89.80.
I have entered a request to our billing department to address the current invoice that you were advised would be canceled; the case # xxxxxxx

 

[Stormy Kromer]

People in the garbage business scare the !!! out of me. They are in a very "organized" business.

My friend had a disagreement with his garbage service and his store burned down.

 

[COcheesehead]

Move on. You’ve given them plenty of chances. When someone proves they are a liar, believe them.

 

[FIYes]

We have private garbage collection on our street. I have called several times to get the price lowered when excessive increases showed up on my bill. We have two companies that service our street and I have also switched back and forth to keep the price reasonable. Several years ago I discovered that my elderly, single neighbor was being charged significantly more than we were being charged. It really irritates me that the price is what they can get away with instead of a reasonable price for all.

 

[jazz4cash]

Yes. This is sad. I see it in my area, too. I'm torn between including trash pickup in the services the municipality provides (which probably means some politician's good buddy has a monopoly) and people choosing among a number of available providers and paying the bill themselves, which does lead to dumping trash along the road.

Yesterday I cleaned up a tiny corner of my world. I was in a shopping center with a Best Buy (which accepts electronics to recycle) and a donation box meant for clothing, books and toys had two ancient CRT monitors sitting on the ground nearby. I loaded them into my car (I'd forgotten how heavy those things are) and drove them over to Best Buy, where they charged $30 each to take them. I knew that was their practice and since ethical recycling involves removing some dangerous chemicals that can contaminate the ground water I understand. Developing countries have accepted these in the past, with ensuing health problems. (One BBC podcast noted that heavy metals were found in breast milk in a country where people took apart electronics to extract valuable metals such as copper.)

I explained where I'd found the monitors and the employee told me it happens a lot- people find that they charge for recycling and they just dump the items somewhere.

Well done. I wish they would charge a fee when items are sold unless someone knows a better way. I think our county accepts video tube products and seem to be trying to make it easier. They will pickup almost anything you put out on trash day and people still dump stuff.

 

[thatguy]

It occures to me the 827 due is for service till January. Perhaps a suggestion to adjust the quarter to the new rate, rather than a full credit, would sound like a compromise to them. I really don't want to pay the 827. I'm gonna ask if I cancel the service will I receive credit for the days of service not received,
I'm retired with nothing to do. I can make a few more phone calls.

 

[thatguy]

Finally, we received a email announcing a credit, Shortly after that we received a phone call with the same information, leaving a balance of $65, Was able to pay with a card and have a conformation number for the payment. They didn't see any late fee.
We have receive a email that confirms the payment
This should be the end of it but the online account page has not updated to show any of this yet. May have to wait for the January bill to be sure. If it all comes to be, they will be $25 or $30ish below other quotes for service

 

[Jerry1]

Yay!

 

[COcheesehead]

Finally, we received a email announcing a credit, Shortly after that we received a phone call with the same information, leaving a balance of $65, Was able to pay with a card and have a conformation number for the payment. They didn't see any late fee.
We have receive a email that confirms the payment
This should be the end of it but the online account page has not updated to show any of this yet. May have to wait for the January bill to be sure. If it all comes to be, they will be $25 or $30ish below other quotes for service

If you have been paying via card for the service, keep in mind your ability to dispute charges. I am not sure how far back you can go, but that is one of the benefits of using a credit card.