The Gas Department For The City Of Lawrenceville

My ex-boyfriend and I had service with the City of Lawrenceville for gas. He moved out, and I had to go to the office to get the gas switched to my name.

Granted this was just a switch, the service had never been disconnected, nothing of the sort. Not only did I have to wait for over an hour to have the bill switched into my name, they only helped 3 people in one hour - pathetic, I would be fired - but they charged me a $200 deposit. I have just received my first bill and there is a $30 charge for "miscellaneous". Of course I called on it, only to be smarted off to by some chick named Julie, and when asked to speak with a supervisor was told "I am the supervisor".

She was unhelpful and a smart ***. The miscellaneous charge turned out to be "for connection". I explained that my service had been connected for over a year, that this was just a name change on the account. They said it was to read the meter.

Do they not have to do that anyway????? I mean really, you pay a deposit for services set up. Would that not include connecting those services?????

These people are criminals that know they have a monopoly and can do as they please. It looks as if they will use any excuse to extort your money.

In the winter of 2006, I had to put down a deposit of $900 cash to get the gas turned on at my then, new residence.

They offered no payment plans no assistance programs, nothing.

I had just gone through a messy divorce and my credit was destroyed. I have never had a late payments on any of my utilities before moving to Lawrenceville and have never had my services turned off due to none payment since I've been here. 6 years later, I moved to another home in their service area and they would not give me my deposit back. It should be a crime to make people pay astronomical deposits for needed utilities based on their credit score.

Then they add insult to injury by not having a set time and criteria on getting the extorted deposit/money back! There should be a class action lawsuit brought against the city.

I had to make a $550 deposit for gas service in my new home. I did so and have had problems with staff every since.

Bills terribly too high in the winter and RUDE people if I have a problem. Well, this time around, I had a problem that I must say topped all. I was carjacked a month ago, EVERYTHING was taken, checkbooks too. I notified my bank that flagged my account.

I used that account to pay my small $30 bill. The check came back for some reason. They cut me off. When I realize the problem, I called ASAP to resolve the issue.

The woman on the phone said several rude and nasty things like "well, you're the one that wrote a 'bad check' and "you're bank is the one that did not notify your check was not good. You need to change banks". Beyond rude. Even with letter from the bank, they refused to waive the fee once I arrived.

A $30 bill became $60 and disconnected gas. I feel like a victim all over again.