I swear it's a full time job, just to make sure people are not stealing from you

**J-Dogg** · 10-17-2009, 08:08 PM

What a week!

So far this week, I've caught about 2,500 going through the books for different charges that are not even mine.

I have employee's and none of them steal from me.

So far this week, I've had my local City try to rip me off, electric company, gas company and my waste hauler.

All big companies, the local government, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and Allied Waste.

Allied Waste/City: I order large 12-30 yard containers from allied waste for various construction jobs, I order at least 1 large container a week and often 2 depending on the scope of the jobs the crews are working on. I purchased a home to remodel for myself, to earn some equity and eventually sell. I am able to purchase smaller dumpsters at my residence, and the scope of the work is much smaller than commerical jobs we do so I order small containers. The City and my waste hauler, called me a liar, said I am using these small containers at a commercial dumpster, and billed me for commercial use. After having a meeting with my City Manager, and getting the documentation from my customer rep from Allied Waste, it was cleared up.

DTE Energy: I had sold a multi-unit complex in 2008. When the tenants that were vacating the units, moved out. Rather than turn the gas off, DTE energy left it on, and billed me for it. They never mailed a bill to my address, but to the address of the property I no longer owned. So the gas bill for 4 units, was in my name for multiple months, I was never made aware of it, and I don't even own the property anymore. I had to go through the Michigan Public Trade Commission to sort it out. I did not even know about it, until they turned my gas off at my primary residence, because they transfered the balance of those accounts, to my primary account, and put a mark on my credit score. It took a full day and a half to get this straitened out. I had to pay all of the balance to get my gas turned back on while it was investigated, and now have a check on the way to reimburse me.

Consumers Energy: Same exact thing as DTE.

All these utility companies and cities, are about impossible to deal with. It is so time consuming. I honestly feel I should be able to press charges, DTE/Consumers are just putting utilities in my name with no consent from me, what so ever. My rep from the Michigan Public Trade Commission said it happens all the time and I was in shock. I told him, that is like stealing, and the state has to start a tax based organization to solve these issues? wow

**lovbyts** · 10-17-2009, 09:03 PM

Sounds typical...

**elpropiotorvic** · 10-17-2009, 09:12 PM

Man wireless carriers ... I put events on my outlook just to not forget to check cause they always always happen to make a mistake that makes u pay them an extra 500 bucks

**Dukkit** · 10-17-2009, 09:16 PM

makes a person wanna go all last scene of fight club on some shit dont it?

**J-Dogg** · 10-17-2009, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by dukkitdalaw

makes a person wanna go all last scene of fight club on some shit dont it?

It really is frustrating, because you can't even talk to a manager at most of these places, and the employee's all have automated responses for these cases because they are so common.

How many people don't catch it? At times, I would be impatient enough, frustrated enough that it was not even worth the time and aggravation to go through the pain-staking issue of being re-reimbursed for my expense.

The tactics they develop for this, credit card companies too, are made like this for a reason, so you do just give up and let them get their money.

**Tjohn6231** · 10-17-2009, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by J-Dogg

It really is frustrating, because you can't even talk to a manager at most of these places, and the employee's all have automated responses for these cases because they are so common.

How many people don't catch it? At times, I would be impatient enough, frustrated enough that it was not even worth the time and aggravation to go through the pain-staking issue of being re-reimbursed for my expense.

The tactics they develop for this, credit card companies too, are made like this for a reason, so you do just give up and let them get their money.

Im a small business owner myself. Its getting harder, and harder to keep money flowing because of bullshit expenses that are worth about half as the cost. Taxes, and workers comp eat me up, and the price goes up every single year.
The small businesses are fizzling out in this country. I could count of at least 6-8 companies that Ive done business with that have shut down in the last 24 months.

**J-Dogg** · 10-17-2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Tjohn6231

Im a small business owner myself. Its getting harder, and harder to keep money flowing because of bullshit expenses that are worth about half as the cost. Taxes, and workers comp eat me up, and the price goes up every single year.
The small businesses are fizzling out in this country. I could count of at least 6-8 companies that Ive done business with that have shut down in the last 24 months.

It effects not only business', but just every day life for people just paying bills too. DTE told me, I could avoid my gas being shut off next time, by having a direct with draw setup, so they just take what I "Owe" them next time.

Like I trust the crooks with my banking information.

My business expense is off the charts, I started with nothing, and own multiple properties now, most are investment properties. I pay more in property taxes, than I do in mortgages a month, the city assessor, says that's normal. After attending council meetings, complaining and speaking at a meeting, I was finally able to get them down, a little.

Employee's I pay 12 an hour, cost me 22 an hour.

The cost of setting a business up legit, is not worth it. I've yet to do everything by the books and at the end of the day say "Man, I'm glad I did it that way".