Utilities

In my mail last week I received a bill from Flat Creek Water. I noticed quickly an inordinate amount of red ink on the bill. (Post card size and not in envelope). The red inked informed me this was my final notice, although I had received no other notice, and if I didn't pay the above amount by 7/2 I would have my service cut off and would be charged a reconnection charge.

Now I have been in the same house on Flat Creek water for 35 ½ years and have never missed a payment or been late by my reckoning. So being a little surprised, I looked at the amount. The amount unpaid was $.20 and just above the $.20 was a hand applied $.27 stamp!!!

Being the good citizen I am, I obtained twenty pennies and went to Flat Creek to pay my bill. When I arrived, no one was there and the door was locked. I went to the store and was told they probably would be back soon. This was about 2-3 in the afternoon. Sometime later a lady appeared and unlocked the door and allow she worked so hard she just didn't know how my bill happened.

I wondered, as I left, if this could happen to me and I am an owner, what it would have been like if I were merely a customer.