What a scam!!

well, i just got my Nicor Gas bill today. it seems that ever since we went on our "budget plan" in april of 2007 (in anticipation of the huge gas price increases, mind you) Nicor has constantly been increasing our accumulation amount. meaning, we have not had a "zero" balance since april of '07! so i've been paying the amount asked on our bill EVERY MONTH (which is $20).

hey, i didn't come up with that total. it's supposed to be devised by comparing our actual usage levels with their anticipated usage levels for the coming season. is it my fault that they grossly under estimated?!

so now i have an amount due of $865.35. rediculous. i've been taken OFF of their "budget plan" and will now get regular bills for each month. i've also asked to have my meter checked monthly so they can't estimate my use one month, then gouge me the next.

so bottom line is, make sure to read ALL of your bill. even the small print. all i want to know is, how in the hell did they ever expect me to pay off $800-plus by paying $20 a month?! they didn't. and when i asked why my budget payment hadn't been adjusted in 12 months, the response was "it should have been". no shit. it's a shady, shady business i tell you.