My gas just got shut off, owe them $$...freaking out

[FirstLight]

ugh, fuck my whole sob story...

Got $300 out of a $675 bill and reconnection fee...

Afraid to ask my folks for more help

Don't have a job or credit, so the H&R block loan is out

Been waiting for other things to come through (disability and insurance settlement), using most of our little bits of cash here & there for groceries for the last few months.

Now I'm screwn, don't know of social services can help... or if I could try a title loan on my car, but then I'd be screwed of I cant pay that back...

[Dennis Donovan]

1. You could start a gofundme account?

...and link it back here. People can be generous.

[samnsara]

13. heck yeah I'll give!

[tblue37]

26. So would I. nt

[WestLosAngelesGal]

2. Some utility companies have...

...a charity fund so that people don't get their gas shut off. Call and ask if there is help available and let them know the circumstances.

[hlthe2b]

3. Most states have a heating assistance program. Call your gas company and let them know what the

situation is and see if they can refer you or help you apply for that assistance. Good luck.

[Tipperary]

4. Why is your bill so high?

That seems insanely high. Maybe have them check it again?

[FirstLight]

5. because I havent had income to pay for months

been scraping by and I let it get out of hand...my fault...


on the phone with them now

[Tipperary]

7. A lot of utility companies help with heating bills in

the winter. I contribute on my bill for that.

[marble falls]

6. Help is on the way. Please keep your spirits up. DU is chockablock with folks who know how to help.

[FirstLight]

8. called the gas co and they directed me to 211

on hold, they are checking for something in my county...the # re-routed me to Kern County

*fingers crossed*

[FirstLight]

11. cant believe there's nothing in El Dorado county

they have me calling sacramento... still on hold

[Sogo]

9. In my state of IA,

if you are certified LIHEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program), they can’t shut your utilities off from Nov -April. I would think they would have similar programs in other states where winter is also very unforgiving.

[Tipperary]

14. They have that everywhere I have lived.

Even in southern states.

[Kaleva]

10. It's been my experience that gas companies are pretty quick about shutting off service.

I don't know how many times I responded to a no heat call only to see a lock on the gas meter. Told the resident the situation, that there was nothing I could do and I didn't charge them. If they were behind in paying the gas company, I doubted they had the money to pay me.

[samnsara]

12. our community has funds for power..start calling around. There may be grants for...

....emergency situations. Start with crisis line....the volunteers have access to all the resources available. Good luck!

[katmondoo]

15. I donate $5.00 a month to my electric and gas Co. to help people in trouble.

I hope they have used that money to help people. This is Florida so I do not know what they do with that 5.00 dollars.

[FirstLight]

16. El Dorado County only had a voicemail...said they only check it once a day!

I called the county services and found out where the office is, gonna go down there and see if a real person is in the office...

[LisaM]

17. Catholic social services?

They helped a friend get her gas turned on once.

[FirstLight]

18. our catholic church only has a food service

I did call the Lutheran Church I used to belong to, left a message.

Small town, lots of poverty, I am not the only one who is on the skids, social services here are pretty tapped out.

The HEAP office is of course closed from 12-1...so I will be heading back over there in a half hour

[LisaM]

33. I don't think this was through an actual church.

I know that we have a county-wide Catholic Social services, which sounds as if it's more like what you need.

[pnwmom]

41. From your membership info, it appears you live in CA.

Here is the link to the Catholic Charities in CA. They have resources of their own -- beyond that of individual parishes -- all over the state. And they can point you to other resources, too.

You don't need to be a Catholic or Christian or anything to get help from Catholic Charities. Good luck!

https://catholiccharitiesca.org/

(If you live in another state, just google Catholic Charities in your state. They have them everywhere.)

[FirstLight]

19. What sucks is that I am trying to lift up my daughter for her achievements

and here I am falling on my face.

[dustyscamp]

20. If you have plenty of water and are healthy you can donate blood to get some money

[FirstLight]

23. Nobody wants MY blood

...auto-immune disease, and not healthy :/

Nice idea though

[tblue37]

27. Set up a GoFundMe and post the link here! A lot of us would help. nt

[Marthe48]

21. Sorry for your news

Red Cross might help you. If your community has a United Way, they might help. Salvation Army. Most churches used to be helpful. Are you a Veteran?

If you start a Go Fund Me, please post it here. I will chip in.

[DeminPennswoods]

22. LIHEAP would be your best bet

The limits are pretty strict here in PA, but I contribute an extra couple bucks on my gas bill to contribute to the fund to help those who might have trouble paying their winter heating bill.

You might consider calling the local TV news to see if you can tell your story to the reporter who covers those stories where people are frustrated and not able to get the help they need.

[FirstLight]

25. Thanks,

I would sooner die than tell the media about my troubles. (funny, in my former life I was a journalist)

I think my situation is just one of many and there's definitely people who are worse off then me. I could go on & on about my hard-knocks, but it's just bullshit and I think I should be able to do better. The constant wearing down and depression don't help, for sure...but I keep thinking I gotta have some bootstraps somewhere to pull from...
I post here cuz there is a filter of anonymity I won't even post of my personal FB or anything about this stuff. I keep it all stuffed down lol like a "healthy" adult who is supposedly good at adulting...

[tishaLA]

24. California LIHEAP is a great resource

I've had to use it for electricity once. If I were you, I'd go apply for General Relief and when you get the letter of determination from them, use it as proof of income for LIHEAP.

[Faux pas]

28. Do they have a

level pay plan?

[Blcat123]

29. Willing to help

My first post here, been lurking and learning from the people here for a long time. I see you have many posts and have been around for awhile, so I know you are legit. If you sent up a go fund me as someone suggested, I’d be happy to donate 100.00 to your cause. Wishing you the best, this holiday season.

[CurtEastPoint]

31. Also can help.

[grantcart]

43. welcome to du

[gopiscrap]

44. welcome to DU

[chillfactor]

30. same here ...... electricity will be turned off

in a few days and need money for propane before the tank runs dry.

[AJT]

32. Starting a Gofundme may help.

If you live somewhere with severe winters there are usually assistance programs run by the state and utilities.

[FirstLight]

34. Updated Go Fund Me

Had this one going since me car accident...it's been 5 months on and I just saw a Neurologist today for continuing concussion syndrome.

gf.me/u/wdxku3


I managed to pay $200, now gotta try and get it turned back on before 5pm...
I

[DeminPennswoods]

36. Have you considered finding a personal injury

lawyer? I know they can take a big chunk of any settlement, but it might be worth it in your case.

[FirstLight]

38. yeah, got a lawyer...

meeting this friday to discuss wrapping up this whole mess and getting settled.

Im still having issues physically and neurologically, but I'm willing to just be done with it, not gonna get into fighting for money, I'll just take what the insurance has... Their injuries were much worse than mine

[Blcat123]

39. Go fund me

Please pay it forward with any kind gesture that may make another’s day. Best wishes!

[FirstLight]

40. Believe me! I can't WAIT to be in a position to pay forward!!!

:hugs:

It will be one of the first things I do after paying everyone off!

[Amishman]

35. If you end up using space heaters in the interim, use the radiator type

Where the electric heats an oil reservoir and it looks and functions like an old school radiator. They are far more energy efficient than the ones which are a hot wire and fan.

[FirstLight]

37. crisis averted for now

Social services came thru, just have to borrow space heaters for tonight...

thanks for all your support. This has been a shitty year...

[FirstLight]

42. So gas not on till tomorrow, borrowed some space heaters for the night!

Thanks for the DU love,