Jonathan's Universe

On the 17th, I leased my apartment for two years. Billing effective immediately. This sounds awesome, right? Wrong.

The next day I called PECO to have the unit placed in my name so I can receive electric and gas service. However, there was one problem. The previous tenant has an outstanding balance. Because PECO is a dumb corporation with no common sense, this is, until disputed, my responsibility to pay before I can receive service again. I suppose this might be fair, as far as PECO knows, I could be the same guy trying to clear my balance by cheating the system. But I’ve been jumping through hoops.. I had to fax my lease, two picture IDs and a statement requesting service just to prove I am not the same person. And the cool part is that “the department has received your request and has documented it, however they require up to five business days to process and determine the outcome.” Five days? Five friggen days? Oh and of course Christmas is near, which is not a business day. So I submitted it on Friday, which means that I might not see results until the 29th.

So let’s get this straight. The apartment I leased and paid for the first month, is in an uninhabitable condition. I do have electricity (technically it’s not my electricity) but I do not have gas for heating. In Pennsylvania, it is near zero degrees outside. I’m paying rent on a living space that I can not maintain good health in. Isn’t there some law that says that if a living space (such as an apartment) is unlivable due to lack of heat or water (which I do have – provided by landlord), I am not responsible for costs until the situation is resolved? What’s worse is that PECO is the only power provider in the state, that I am aware of. Which means PECO can take their sweet ol’ time to send a technician out and turn a valve.

Any suggestions, solutions? I’ve called PECO, and gotten the same ol story, as well as “We do not have any appointments available for service restoration until after Christmas.”

Oh. And on the letter they sent me to state that my application has been denied, they spelt my name Joathan. Jerks.

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