Electricity Question (credit, loan, house)

[Susan2007]

I have a question. My neighbor across the street asked me to borrow some money because they are going to turn off her power on Wednesday. She has a couple of grandchildren who live there along with her daughter.

Can a power company in South Carolina turn off someone's electricity if they have small children? I know in some states they legally cannot. I told her she needs to contact them and tell them she has small children in the house.

I don't know whether or not to loan or give her money to help with her bill. I do know her daughter does not help with the bills but she works.

I have to decide what to do, but I do want her to try to make better arrangements

Does anyone have knowledge about the power company?

[Rapunzll]

I can't answer your question about the power company and what they legally can or cannot do. If you can afford to help, help, without thinking of it as a loan. Another thing you could do is direct her to the Salvation Army or another charity locally who might be willing to help.

[Susan2007]

Originally Posted by Rapunzll

I can't answer your question about the power company and what they legally can or cannot do. If you can afford to help, help, without thinking of it as a loan. Another thing you could do is direct her to the Salvation Army or another charity locally who might be willing to help.

Thanks, Rapunzil. I can afford to help, the question in my mind is will I really be helping or will I be enabling behavior. The bill is not just one month and the woman has a daughter who lives there with 2 children who does not give her money. Not only that, she had a mobile pet service come to her house for her 10 year old dog last week and spent 110.00. Sometimes a person needs other than money to help them.

If I gave her the money I would not expect it back. I also won't expect to be a payday loan or to be asked to borrow money repeatedly, even if she did pay it back.

My husband and I are praying about what we should do. In the meantime, I was wondering if she can work something else out with the power company. She knew she had to have at least 200.00 by Wednesday, yet she spent money in other areas. Normally what a person does or spends is not my business, but if you ask me for money I have a right to ask questions. I want to be a good steward of my own resources.

The woman told me she has already been to all the agencies. Yet her daughter has not given her any money at all, and she has a job. So, I'm in a quandary of what is the RIGHT thing to do. Does she need help in managing her money? Or does she need to be firm with her daughter and make her help shoulder the household expenses?

So, as you can see it's more complicated than just throwing money at the issue. I want to help, not hinder.

[Gaelcat]

I think you and your neighbor would be better served by you offering to help her with a budget or just giving her some tough love advice. Some people just have no common sense with money. Like not getting a dog groomed when your power bill is due. I think she has lots bigger problems than getting this one power bill paid. I feel really bad for the kids. Not only are they having a hard time now but they don't have good role models to teach them to be smart and self-sufficient either. If the daughter was helping out and they were doing all they could to make ends meet, I'd feel differently about giving her the money. But, I personally, wouldn't go down that road. It's likely that next month she'll be in dire straights again. If you really want to help her, I'd get info on some organizations and classes that could assist her. If she'll take advantage of that, it will be far more effective than a one-time handout.

[Rapunzll]

Susan, I think that a sit down might be in order if you do decide to help. Tell her where you see money spent on luxuries when necessities are not being taken care of. I think that is fair, but be prepared for some ' who are you to tell me what to do' attitude.

[TheSwabbie]

Originally Posted by Susan2007

I have a question. My neighbor across the street asked me to borrow some money because they are going to turn off her power on Wednesday. She has a couple of grandchildren who live there along with her daughter.

Can a power company in South Carolina turn off someone's electricity if they have small children? I know in some states they legally cannot. I told her she needs to contact them and tell them she has small children in the house.

I don't know whether or not to loan or give her money to help with her bill. I do know her daughter does not help with the bills but she works.

I have to decide what to do, but I do want her to try to make better arrangements

Does anyone have knowledge about the power company?

Susan, after what you've said, I have some advice. I've been where you are and also like everyone else.. have had tough times too. The biggest RED Flag is the mobile dog groomer. Thats over the top. Thats not like she took a pet to the Vet because it was emergency.

Remember - Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD. The Neighbor asked you, this is not a good sign. I would rather cut my arm off that do something like that. Even when we had the worst of times, I found a way and I worked with my creditors.

I do NOT believe you should loan them money. This person needs some NO NONSENSE advice on how to manage money. If they refuse this and want the cash - Tell them to take a hike. You can do this. Dont get me wrong, I'm a Christian like you... I have a Bible College degree and I am an Ordained Southern Baptist Deacon. I spent 5 years in Youth Ministry and have been a foster parent too. I've helped A LOT of people, even when I could barely afford to. God will often call us to give out of our LACK instead of our Abundance. An old Pastor told me that once .. long ago. You dont know how many people came to the board of Deacons each and every week wanting money for every possible reason under the sun. About 95% of the time we declined.. and a couple of instances had to call the police to have the people removed because their attitude changed so abruptly when told no.

If this neighbor's attitude changes when you dont give them money and doesn't want the help to get them on the right track - WASH YOUR HANDS OF THEM. Otherwise all you are doing is, as you know.. "Enabling" them to continue to be irresponsible. I hope it turns out well and they listen to your advice.

[IamIam]

ITA if you can spend money on a pet groomer then you need to geet your priorities in order...pay your bills first! I'd help her find a solution but not give her the money. Tough situation.

[dlk33]

Sounds to me like this woman is trying to take advantage of you. The fact that she asked in the first place seems wrong to me. The fact that she isn't managing what money she does have the proper way shows her priorities are in the wrong place. You see the red flags, but your good nature is getting in the way of it. You say her daughter works, but doesn't give her any money, that makes no sense to me since she lives there & should have financial responsibilities. Please don't enable that family any longer! I suggest you contact whatever authorities you can to check out the welfare of those children, they are the ones who need help! I believe from what you've written, that you already knew it was the best idea not to give the woman any money. What you could offer her is some good advice so she can help herself.

[christopherinsc26]

Don't give her anything. Let her daughter sit in the dark for a few days. If she has a job like you said I bet she will cough up some money then.

[Susan2007]

I need to clarify. The mobile pet was a mobile VET, not a groomer. I actually thought they were coming to put the dog down, as I have heard it coughing for months. But the woman said her dog did not have heartworms. I guess she called them out to give the dog shots and to check him out. She did tell me that she is going to have the dog neutered next month because he has a growth on his testicle that the vet said was probably cancer. I asked her how old the dog is and she said 10 years old.

I've had tough times myself and I've had my utilities turned off for non payment in years past. So I know how things can be, but also I was not a good money manager at the time.

There is another car at their house today. I am still waiting to hear from my husband (he's out of town) what he feels the Lord told him. I believe that I (unless my husband says differently) will give her the money BUT make it plain to her that this is a ONE TIME event, whether or not she pays the money back. Then I will offer to help her work out a budget and I will repeat again to her what I did yesterday. That her daughter is the primary one responsible for those children and she needs to be helping her mother financially.

The mother (grandmother) is my age and the children are small. She is on disability and the daughter gets paid every week. The daughter must not care if the kids have no lights or A/C. Honestly, I could not call CPS at this time because the children always look clean, well fed, they are polite and I know it is their grandmother who is taking care of them.

My inclination is to NOT give her the money. My reasoning and what I think I know of her (they have lived across from me over a year) is that the woman would loan or give me the money if I asked her. But I really don't know that and it should not impact my decision. She has offered food to my chickens, and she has always been nice to me when we have talked. If it was just her, I would have no problem. My problem is that I believe her daughter should be helping her, and not me!

Thank you all for your replies. I will let you know what my husband and I finally decide to do.

The neighbor actually sent the 6 year old child to me when I was out in the yard. When I walked over, she asked me if I had 100.00 she could borrow. I told her I did not have 100.00 and went inside, called and talked with my husband. If it had not been for him, I would know no more, but he told me to go over and see what the problem was. That's when the neighbor told me the story. I still don't like the idea that she sent the child over to ask me. We are on little more than saying hello terms.

Susan