Question about CPS

[bigtexan99]

Originally Posted by lizzy596

I couldn't just activate or terminate services in some random residence in San Antonio I don't own or rent.

I also couldn't pay the mortgage of some random house that doesn't belong to me (I could give money to
the people that own it to help them pay), but I wouldn't be allowed to pay it for them.

Once my lease ended---my lease of that meter also ended. I was no longer authorized to have 'active service' there whether I terminated it or not right?

'

Your logic is flawed in the above quotes section. When I turn on power to an address, I call them and tell them the address. That's it. I don't have to prove ownership or show a lease. CPS runs your SSN, and if you are credit worthy thats the end of it, if you are not, they take a credit card for a deposit. Until you call them and close the account, you are liable.

Yes, you could pay the mortgage of someone else, if you know the name and account number. Wells Fargo gets a check from you, with a note that says for payment of account xxxx and they process it. They could care less who sends them the money.

You are making up terms like "active service" and "authorized" to try and support your viewpoint, but they are not cogent to the discussion. The meter is yours until you call to cancel it.

[lizzy596]

No.

Actually I'm using their terms.

When you call they ask you: Are you authorized to activate service?

If you say "yes" the power is switched to your name (from the apartment complex), if you say "no" they don't.

Now, it is true that they don't do any rigorous check to find out whether you are indeed authorized. They take your word for it. Nevertheless it is still true that it would be ILLEGAL for me to randomly activate the meter of an apartment I wasn't leasing because I wouldn't have the authority to do that. (I asked them that).


If I bought a stolen car and the thief 'sold me a lemon'....I couldn't then go through the legal system to get reimbursed for my illegal purchase...even if I'd had a contract with the thief guaranteeing the reliability of the car.

That contract wouldn't be legal because it was illegal for me to 'contract' with him in the first place.

So for the months of Jan and Feb, ever since my lease expired, I've essentially been in an 'illegal' contract with CPS.

So how is it 'legal' for me to pay for something that's technically 'illegal' for me to have?


That's my question.

And there very well may be some sort of latin phrase that would answer that question and tell me why it's still legal...I just don't know it...and that's why I was asking...


Anyway, I think this concept will remain a lost cause here...citydata was just the wrong place to ask a question like that

Have a good weekend guys

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Usually when you call CPS to start service at your new apartment, they ask what day you want the power off at your old place.

At least it's only $50...that's not terrible for a life lesson, since you'll never forget to do this again.

[bigtexan99]

Originally Posted by lizzy596

So for the months of Jan and Feb, ever since my lease expired, I've essentially been in an 'illegal' contract with CPS.

Another made up phrase to try and support your viewpoint.

In reading the other responses, I don't get why you are so affronted with them. They don't seem unusually harsh. Rather, it seems like since they don't provide you any agreement with your desired point of view, you got all huffy.

The whole scenario you described is pretty cut and dried.

[lizzy596]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

Usually when you call CPS to start service at your new apartment, they ask what day you want the power off at your old place.

At least it's only $50...that's not terrible for a life lesson, since you'll never forget to do this again.

Yeah, that makes sense. Since, I moved into a guest house one someone's property I now pay CPS indirectly through my landlord and didn't have to activate it this time...had I moved into another apartment I'm sure I would've avoided this.

I don't know why I didn't just ask my leasing office at some point before I moved

[lizzy596]

Originally Posted by bigtexan99

Another made up phrase to try and support your viewpoint.

In reading the other responses, I don't get why you are so affronted with them. They don't seem unusually harsh. Rather, it seems like since they don't provide you any agreement with your desired point of view, you got all huffy.

The whole scenario you described is pretty cut and dried.

Another non-responsive answer. So why offer it? I've said this is essentially just a logic problem and all I wanted was for someone to find a flaw with the premise I gave...

It really has nothing to do with a desire or hope to actually get out of paying this bill. It is just genuine curiosity for what the counter-argument to the point I offered would be.


You say my phrase is made-up...but it's not. It may indeed be wrong...but it's certainly not made-up.

I "showed my mental work" (i.e. how I arrived at the phrase 'illegal contract')...but your not 'showing me' how you're arriving at the assertion that it's 'made-up'.

I'm not affronted, I'm merely confused and disappointed that someone would consider this a 'cogent argument'.

"You're still responsible for the bill and that's it !!!!"



Answering that "the meter's are owned by CPS" was the most in the ballpark of countering my point with something valid...I don't think it completely counter's it though.

Anyway, this concept is clearly being lost here...and that's cool

Take Care

[The Man in SATX]

Essentially what you are asking is whether or not you would be held liable for the amount of energy consumed by either a vacant apartment or someone else who had failed to start their services. I believe it to be that the apartment still stands empty so essentially someone moving In would not assume that the services never got disconnected because if I remember correctly.. CPS never usually "disconnects" service to an apartment because they turn them around too fast. I could be wrong... but to answer your question..

what you are asking is a legal question and I believe that most of us would refrain from answering that as we are not practicing lawyers. Your logic seems to make sense but I am pretty sure that in a court of law you will be held responsible for some or all of the bill. If you were to go to a court you would probably see a judge and be at his mercy. Depending on how he perceives the case would be your result. It could go many ways. I don't see a clear cut answer to this. Your logic does seem logical.. but not practical. I believe that in the end CPS would prevail and you would wind up paying for the service you never received.. one of those life lessons learned.

Sorry I cant give you a clearer answer but I have looked some of this up and never found anything on it. Hope everything goes well for you.

[TexasRedneck]

You are responsible for the usage from the time you notify them to turn it on until you tell them to terminate it. There's no anger - it's just a statement of fact. I'm sorry, but it's you that seems to be trying to somehow say it wasn't your fault. CPS doesn't know when your lease ends, nor when you move - unless you tell 'em. And, yes - you got VERY lucky. My lesson cost me almost a YEAR of electrical service many moons ago.

[AFMike]

That sucks, I understand your logic but I doubt CPS will be sympathetic.

Dave Ramsey refers to this as the stupid tax...you do something stupid, you pay for it, you learn and you never repeat.