Unbelievable

[Romulus111VADT]

Lawyer: Man who froze to death left $600,000

93-year-old had power cut off by utility over about $1,000 in unpaid bills
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29033269/?GT1=43001
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Man-Who-Froze-in-Home-Left-600-000/vHRgmI8F4UapPl-grwf-Vw.cspx?rss=785
http://www.ourmidland.com/articles/2009/02/05/local_news/1545358.txt

BAY CITY, Mich - An attorney says a 93-year-old Michigan man who froze to death after a power company restricted electricity to his home over roughly $1,000 in unpaid bills left an estimated $600,000 to a hospital.

Marvin Schur's attorney, Cathy Reder, told the Detroit Free Press the World War II veteran bequeathed his entire fortune to Bay Medical Center.

Schur's frozen body was found Jan. 17, four days after Bay City Electric Light & Power installed a device on his electric meter that cuts power after a predetermined level is reached.

State regulators on Wednesday issued emergency rules designed to protect more people against electricity or heat shutoffs in the winter.

[expat]

I see it both ways, you just can't cut certian people off if they can't pay, but when you are rolling in it and still don't pay...........

Matt

[Romulus111VADT]

One account I read said he had the bill sitting on his table with the check/money attached. I don't know for sure if he did or not. But at 93 years old he may have had difficulty getting the payment in or it may have been the fault of his caregivers.

Irregardless of why the bill wasn't paid. The utility company should have exercised a bit of common sense during a record breaking cold spell and settled up with the man after the temperature was warmer.

[BFMF]

Irregardless of why the bill wasn't paid. The utility company should have exercised a bit of common sense during a record breaking cold spell and settled up with the man after the temperature was warmer.

Sadly, greed triumphs over common sense in today's society... :-/

[H]

I see it both ways, you just can't cut certian people off if they can't pay, but when you are rolling in it and still don't pay...

As Rom further states, it was reported that he had the money at hand with the billing. At 93 he may not have been getting around well anymore and expected someone to come to the door for the payment. I've known of someone to be snowed in and the electrician's only effort was to trudge to the meter and shut it off: fortunately, their telephone was still available to call 911.

8-)