[News] Woman dies after not paying electricity bill

[LesMTS]

A woman in New Zealand who required an oxygen machine 16 hours a day died after the power company cut off her electricity due to an outstanding $130.
Most incredibly it's implied in the article that the company were aware of her plight, having been involved in negotiations with her husband to set up a payment plan.
New Zealand's prime minister has described the company's actions as "heartless and intolerable", but no criminal charges can be brought against them.

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/art...ygen19-on.html

[GreatKingRat]

If your life relies on electricity, you pay your fucking bill.

Edit: That sounds a lot more harsh than it should.

If your life relies on electricity, you make sure you've got a back up source.

[LesMTS]

Originally Posted by GreatKingRat

If your life relies on electricity, you pay your fucking bill.

They were obviously in financial difficulty and had been making efforts to make some kind of arrangement.
For the sake of $130? People should probably go to prison for this.

[GreatKingRat]

Ninja edit.

[Posh]

I don't really know what to say to that.

[MarkMono]

I feel that the 16 hours I spend of my life hooked up to a machine will curtail my jobseeking opportunities, thats why I have an emergency generator and solar panels just in case the electricity company make an attempt on my life.

Oh, wait a minute, no I don't, these things cost money.

[Posh]

And apparently I'm a dick for making Robb Idle jokes. Something tells me that, deep down, I have more love for my fellow man, despite my bad taste-tastic public image.

[Awright]

Reminds me of a Judge Dredd comic where these face changing bank robbers rob some bank and whilst yee-hawing over their loot, they can't find the key in amongst it all to get out the room. As the Oxygen Board are cutting of their supply.

But aye that's shady as fuck. You think someone who required oxygen for 16 hours a day would still be in hospital though.

[MarkMono]

Originally Posted by Posh

And apparently I'm a dick for making Robb Idle jokes. Something tells me that, deep down, I have more love for my fellow man, despite my bad taste-tastic public image.

Its complicated: I'd respect someone who claimed to respect all people up until the point where they impinge on others rights and desires, but is actually lying through their teeth and is in reality a self-absorbed sociopath, far less than someone who simply admitted that they think some people are irredeemable fuckheads.

[fallen_nemesis]

Originally Posted by Westy

But aye that's shady as fuck. You think someone who required oxygen for 16 hours a day would still be in hospital though.

not necessarily. If you have terminal lung cancer say they often let you stay at home and just be hooked up to oxygen as that's all they'd be doing in hospital anyway. That's just one example, there's LOADS of others I'm sure.

[Pantgirl]

Sleep apnoea required you to have oxygen at nighttime, also some chronic lung cases like emphysema etc.

[LesMTS]

Where's Addy? There're too many prosecutors in this thread.

[slicer]

That's a shame.

In cases like this, you often get the person's other half end up as a carer, which can make money pretty damn tight.

I know that in a way it's more complicated than this and the company have to take care of their business etc, etc, but it's pretty fuckin disgusting that someone's life and the happiness of others can be valued and stripped away like that.

[L@ur@]

$130?!

oh come on. I see ppl who use their £10,000 Overdrafts daily!

gah

[djtoast]

the worst thing is, she coulda been saved with a $20 extension cable and a bit of goodwill from her next door neighbours.