www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hey Guys,
I've read this article 3 times, and I still can't figure out how this can be possible. After reading this, I can't understand why anyone would even want to pay their bill(s) on time. I don't know....I'm at a loss. ID, let me know your thoughts on this...
From Inside Costa Rica

Consumers Need Only Pay Current Utility Bill, Aresep Says
As of yesterday, the public institutions like the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), Radiografica Costarricense SA (RACSA) and the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL), cannot charge customers for outstanding bills, that is customers are only required to pay the current bill for services.

The decision handed down yesterday by the Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Aresep) and published in the official government newspaper, La Gaceta, says that public companies cannot charge for outstanding bills and must make a judicial claim for any outstanding amount owed to them by their late or non paying customers.

The decision, supported by vote 7970-2001, surprised managers of ICE and Aya for example, who wer not clear what it will mean to their billing rules.

No one at ICE, the CNFL or Aya would comment on what the decision means and what actions they will take to counteract until they have had a chance to study the Aresep decision.

Carolina Mora, of the Aresep press office, said that customers are now required to pay only the current bill for the current month of service and the public utilities cannot include past due bills on their billing, basically eliminating late fees or charges.

Mora added that the decision is to force the public utilities to be more efficient in their billing and collection practices. Mora said that the current billing practice makes the public utilities lazy and stimulates late payment.

In the case of Aya, some 50% of the customers are late in making their payments each month.

What the decision means is that the telephone company or water company, for example, must use the judicial or administrative process to recover unpaid bills if the customers does not pay, which can include the suspension of service and/or filing a claim in court.

Customers are advised that notwithstanding yesterday's decision, it is best to stay current with utility bills or face having their service cut.

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

This will mean that they will want a significant deposit an they will get little or no leeway past the cut off date.


Xman

deposit and/or pre payment of fixed monthly payments for services with a semi-annual/annual adjustment.

I'm just thinking about what that means in terms of financial losses as they can no longer bill for their current delinquent payables. The accountants will be having shit fits.

I thought the same thing when I read the article today. I don't understand everything in CR. Many things seem to be regulated. Well, if you have a past due bill I guess you won't have to worry about paying it.

OK guys....when I chica uses this excuse for needing more money you'll know she is full of sh*t.

Scott,
This is exactly my point. I just don't get it.

If your bill is past due, then why should you pay it? Especially when you know that it'll take an act of congress for the power company to commence a long, tedious judicial action against you to collect their money. Ph*ck it. I'll pay the bill next month (if I have the money). If not, then I'll pay it the month after that. If not, then the month after that, etc. etc...... Something just doesn't sound right. Why should you ever pay the bill? If they catch up to you in a few months, move out, and find another house to live in. Then, do it all over again. There's got to be more to this than was written in this article.

I'd like to know how some of our resident members feel about this article. I just do not understand how the 'powers that be' could pass something like this. I must be missing something.....
MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

that may be true for the current late bills, but on a go forward basis I'm sure it will be either pay right away or play in the dark. Customers won't have that leeway anymore if the company can't bill for past due amounts.

Ahh, the things i have forgotten from living in costa rica. no logic involved.

_________________
The Wizard

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein


Doesnt look like Costa Rica for a while. Got offer 2 years in Singapore. Now what is a good hotel in Thailand. (New Weekend home).

Would not get to worried or excited about it at this time. The head of the Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Aresep) is appointed by the President so at this time the office is vacant.

When a new Director is appointed it is very possible the ruling will be repealed or perhaps one of the companies will appeal the ruling to SalaIV
which decides if the regulation is valid.

If it is and is not repealed by the new Director of Aresep then it will make life harder for the average Tico. The way it has been in the past if you were a little short this month you let the utility bill slide until next month. Your utility would not be shut off during that period. I would imagine if the utility can not carry forward a balance until the next bill they will be very quick to disconnect once you carry a balance past the due date.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Remember that if you have an outstandin biull on your phone, that you got through a TICo. He-she is responsible once you leave. THe guy I got my phone from is owed $250 from a Gringo that went back to the states and didn{t pay his bills.

Oh well...just another highly intelligent legistration from the tained monkeys that pass laws here in CR. Actually my experience living here has been that this legislation will be a non-factor even if it isn't overturned. The phone Co and the power companies,unlike the States are very swift in turning off the customer's service. If you are a week or two late with your payment then sayonara with your service. If you don't have service then there is no worry of a buildup of bills for the utilities. To have your service reinstated is also a pain in the ass.

I know ICE will shut off the cell service if your bill is 2 weeks past the "vencimiento." (Due date)

dapanz1

_________________
Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

Here's a similar story out of Michigan. Just thought this article had some relevance to this thread, since we're talking about overdue utility bills:

Power shut off after woman owes a penny

FLINT, Mich. (AP) -- It was just a penny, but to Consumers Energy it was enough to cut off power in a local home. Jacqueline Williams, 41, of Flint had an electricity bill of $1,662.08 and paid all of it, except for one cent. That wasn't enough for the power company, which blacked her out for seven hours Wednesday.

The CMS Energy Corp. subsidiary told Williams the power would not be turned on until the penny was received. "I went down there, paid my penny and got a receipt," Williams told The Flint Journal. Shortly after, the electricity was turned back on.

"All of this for one penny," said Williams, who went to the state Department of Human Services for help in April and was told the agency would pay most of the bill. But she was still short more than $500.

Williams, a Social Security recipient, went to the Salvation Army, where she received $430.67, and Consumers agreed to match $430.66 toward the bill. However, she was still one cent short.

A Consumers Energy spokesman said that the utility had no choice in the matter, though he was not aware of any similar incidents where service was stopped for one cent.

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

That certainly is a little hard to understand. There is however another interesting little story in that article.



Did she ...............Lets see





It seems she had a bill of $1,662.08 and wound up paying a total of ONE PENNY

The rest was paid by taxpayers, remember the $500.00 from the department of Human Services, the others users of that power company, they waived $430.66, and by people who gave a contribution to the Salvation Army. Not a bad deal

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Whoever had that happen there is more to the story.

If you normally pay on time or do not have a large balance they do not shut off cell phone service until it is 2 months past due.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Well, the person I am referring to in this scenario is chronically late and usually has a pretty hefty balance. HOWEVER, she is not the only person who gets cut after 2 weeks. I know several others whose phone is routinely shut off. In fact, I know how to check anyones cellphone bill in Costa Rica. When it is due and how much is owed. My facts on this one are correct. Not saying that other factors aren't involved. I suppose that it is possible that some others who are not chronically late get some slack.

dapanz1

_________________
Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!