The Twitter hammer

I don't follow any more of social media than is required in a first world country especially since I'm retired and don't have to.  But I keep my Twitter account.  And Reddit.  And LJ.  And try to have them serve me rather than own me.

Twitter is a great tool my sister susandennis taught me how to use to good effect when dealing with companies and I've got an excellent example.

We have a cooperative electric here.  They did really well in last winter's grid collapse and are dependable and reasonably priced and I like them.  But I had a payment bounce recently.  An oversight by me.  I had over $3k in an adjacent savings account but did not have overdraft set up.  So for a day or two my electric payment was bouncing around.  It got covered soon as I knew about it.  

Then today I get a letter in the mail threatening disconnect.  I knew it was an automailer thing the computer spit out but after nearly 200 payments without a hitch I get a disconnect threat when one is a couple of days late.  

So I hit them on Twitter saying they might want to reconsider their process.

And got a phone call from a manager type who agreed with me, saw my point, and at least said they would consider a better way to do it.  My point to her was that the policy as currently running was just mean and unnecessary, especially now days (actually I might have also used the word draconian but don't tell anyone).  She said they would refund my penalties ($39 worth) and look at the policy.

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