Bill Costs Man Pennies -- 52,662 Of Them

The Indy Channel ^ | March 8, 2007

[Abathar]

CARTERVILLE, Illinois -- A southern Illinois man who's fed up with higher electric rates has come up with a way to show his displeasure while paying his bill.

Robert Hancock said his monthly power bill jumped nearly 200 percent -- to $526.62.

So he's going to send Ameren 52,662 pennies.

Hancock said he's worked things out with a local bank to get the coins and with the post office to mail the money.

It will cost about $50 extra for postage. But Hancock said that if he can cause Ameren a little inconvenience, it's worth it to him.

[Keith in Iowa]

The business is free to refuse to accept the payment....and I hope they do.

[dfwgator]

Sorry Robert, but you're an idiot.

[mysterio]

Good for him.

[AppyPappy]

Fine. But I would make him come in and count them out for me.

[Abathar]

Can they? Unless it's stated in the contract I don't think they can legally refuse currency because it happens to be in small denominations, the first time that is.

If they send out a notice after that then thats a different story.

[Vaquero]

Bobby boy....have you checked the price of fuel oil lately or gasoline????

they utilities have the same problem...

[ContemptofCourt]

The local McDonald's around the corner will not accept change for payment...i.e., you can't pay for your value meal with just change. The drunks that bring in their change for a meal always get po'd when the cashier won't take their money.

[reagan_fanatic]

A nice gesture on his part and I fully understand his frustration, but it won't mean jack to Ameren or any other utility company, nor will it change anything.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Good for him.

No, bad on him. If the power company does take his payment, he should be surcharged for the extra time it takes for company employees to process his stunt payment.

[MotleyGirl70]

But Hancock Kramer said that if he can cause Ameren Todd Gack a little inconvenience, it's worth it to him.

[Fresh Wind]

My bill (gas and electric) always doubles in the winter. I've never been able to figure out why.

[HitmanLV]

Companies like that routinely have a policy of not accepting cash payments sent by the mail. It will cost them $50 to return it to him, though!

[brownsfan]

"Can they? Unless it's stated in the contract I don't think they can legally refuse currency because it happens to be in small denominations, the first time that is. "

I think there is some kind of ruling that pennies are not legal tender.

[mysterio]

It's for all debts, public and private.

[L98Fiero]

How exactly is being a jerk to some employees in an office, who have zero control over this matter, "good"?

I'm amazed at the number of FReepers who brag about being discourteous jerks.

[AD from SpringBay]

My bill (gas and electric) always doubles in the winter. I've never been able to figure out why.

I understand the sentiment. But folks in Illinois (Ameren-Cilco customers)are having rates readjusted because government regulations expired this year. So the bills are quite a shock to some - some people are adjusting to in excess of 100% increases. What sucks is that people don't see that the mama-guv'mint caused the problem to beging with. I wonder if this guy pays his income taxes in pennies.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Can they? Unless it's stated in the contract I don't think they can legally refuse currency

My Electric bill, and most of my other bills for that matter, request check or money order and explicitly state Do Not Send Cash.

[JohnnyZ]

The business is free to refuse to accept the payment....

Fine. They can be out $526 then, as far as I'm concerned.

[trisham]

I wonder if they can charge him return postage?