How to return to the Stone Age, where grass was greener, and no one dreamed of electricity
"How to return to the Stone Age, where grass was greener, and no one dreamed of electricity ”. “How to live? How to work? Every day to go to work 200 km to Melbourne and back? Why, when I know everything and take an interest in everything in time, do I get into such trouble? ”- I had to face such an issue when looking for an apartment for rent and meeting the electricity connection of the distribution network. "If the electricity was disconnected for less than 6 months, then it will not be difficult to connect - 2-5 days" - distribution network consultants told me as a mantra from time to time. "The electricity of your chosen apartment has been switched off for less than 6 months, there should be no problem with the connection" - that's how they inspired me, and I rented an apartment with the electricity turned off. When it came time to connect, the electricity turned out to be turned off for more than 6 months, and various arrangements must be made, you can not even dream of a quick connection. Of course, when checking the situation, the distribution network orally apologized for the inconvenience and deception, justifying the fact that the consultants were wrong, but what does that change for me? The distribution network misled me by saying about electricity connection in 2-5 days, and based on their answer, I rented an apartment that I can now neither use nor live in, unless I want to return to the Stone Age, not to mention that I already have must start working in Melbourne and earn for the family. Dear Distribution Network - Who and how will humanly cover the loss of this error for our family? If people don't pay you, can they just just apologize for it or do they expect other consequences? I don't have the word electricity yet... I haven't collected all the papers yet... Also, some documents look incorrectly written... Foreword. First of all, I would like to thank the distribution network information phone consultants, because they answered all my calls, were kind and tried to help. Even now, they are communicating and trying to help, but nerves, time and money are already lost. I think the problem lies elsewhere - in their system. There were several calls from me during the given period, so for clarification I indicate at what time I was talking (approximately +/- 10 min. ) And what information I received. A new resident of Brisbane. Wanting to rent an apartment in Melbourne, we found an apartment with my wife (I really liked it), but the only thing was that the electricity was turned off there (the meter and the wiring looked in the apartment). After getting acquainted with the lease agreement, we found out that there is a strict agreement - if the tenant does not enter into an agreement with the electricity supplier within 5 working days, the agreement will be considered invalid. Careful approach. Before you even take a look at the apartment, we want to know about the procedure for concluding an electricity supply contract. August 21, 2019 at At 16:08, when calling the distribution network, the answer was direct and precise: 1) you have to contact the electricity trader and conclude a contract (the consultant repeatedly “concluded”) ; 2) the electricity trader himself will send all the necessary information to the distribution network, and there is no need to enter into a separate agreement with the distribution network; 3) in case the electricity was disconnected for no more than 6 months, then within two days the distribution network will connect the electricity, and the amount of the bill for the connection will be 29. 05 €. You will have to pay for the connection in this case only after the connection (the fact that you have to pay "after" the consultant also repeated a few times) ; 4) in case the electricity was disconnected for more than 6 months, then “technical conditions” will be drawn up, and only after completing the “steps”, various approvals, inspections and payments, electricity will be connected in about 1-2 weeks (of course, given to us did not and does not fit, because we have to start working already, in which case we would not rent this apartment) ; 5) in order to clarify the information about the connection, the consultant recommended to write down the meter number and specify the address. If everything is in order, we will connect within 2 days! Looking at the apartment, I found out that the electricity was indeed switched off (the meter did not show anything and a seal was affixed to the automatic switch), I found out the address and wrote down the serial number of the meter. August 22, 2019 at 10: 04, calling the distribution network, I received the following answer and instructions: 1) the electricity was disconnected for less than 6 months (according to the serial number and address of the named meter) ; 2) the staff will look on site or there is a free load on the transformer, or everything can be done, and if everything is in order, then the connection to the meter will cost as mentioned above 29. 05 €, and the fee will have to be paid after that. I received the same answer to the repeated question about the connection sequence as on the previous day: 3) the contract must first be concluded with the trader, then the trader sends the information to the distribution network, and the distribution network employee evaluates on the spot if there is no connection, then technical regulations are sent. the connection costs will be determined, if possible, then simply connect the electricity and then there will be a bill; 4) connection as such will take 2 working days (according to the law 5 working days according to the distribution network), if no additional work is required, but will try to connect within 2 working days (because the electricity is disconnected for less than 6 months) ; 5) the contract with the trader will be concluded immediately, but if it is not possible to connect, the contract will be canceled and everything will have to be arranged on the part of the distribution network, and then the contract with the supplier will have to be re-concluded. I have nowhere to live - congratulations! After receiving such a comprehensive answer, I went to sign a lease agreement and became a "tenant". When visiting the tet customer service center in Melbourne and discussing, I wanted to specify again in what period of time the distribution network master can be expected more accurately, because when moving, it is impossible to live without electricity, only to survive. I contacted again and explained to the distribution network consultant that the meter is in the apartment itself. The answer was as follows: 1) Considering that the meter is in the apartment, the master will contact me on time. A more precise answer can only be given when the distribution network receives a request from the trader and only when a request is received. All other claims can only be added upon receipt of the order; 2) if I manage to enter into an agreement and contact the distribution network after 16:00, then I will be able to add a request for a specific time in the task. No step forward without an agreement. I am already a tet customer, so I also chose the service of this company. Regret it or not will still have to think. Before concluding the contract, I gave the exact address to the consultant and explained that I am already their customer, but electricity is needed at another address - so as not to mix in the system. She said that the contract would have the correct address, that the contract would have to be approved by my tet and then it would count as concluded that the contract would arrive within half an hour. I went to solve other issues with a clear conscience. What I feared it also happened - the contract came with the wrong address and come back to tet, stand in line until 16:00 for them to correct was already impossible for me. When I did, it was already close to 18:00. It appeared in the Tet system that the contract had been approved (it will be important in the future). So thanks tet,one day seemed to have been lost to electricity and timely information. Happy letter. On the same day 22. 08. 2019. At At 18:12 I received an interesting letter by e-mail from the distribution network - “within about 5 working days (in complex cases within 20 calendar days) from the date of registration of the application we will send you information about the approximate costs and terms of connection. ”. Find out (if it can be said) what all this means managed only the next day, because the distribution network consultation phone does not work after 18:00. It was also interesting that another contract "for connection" has appeared, which no one even mentioned before. A long story about a short distribution network error. 08/23/2019 At At 12:08 I called the distribution network with questions - well, everything went on here. In response, I received the following: 1) everything will not be so easy for you, because there will be a new connection and technical conditions are being prepared. First of all, all "new" connections are prepared "technical conditions", what you will have to do according to those "technical regulations" can not be said, and they have to wait (well, of course, we sit without electricity otherwise!) ; 2) You can already prepare that you will have to coordinate with the owner some work. You will receive the technical conditions today by 18:00 or Monday (holidays without electricity - that's not what I dream of!). Wait, wait - just don't get old. 08/23/2019 At 16:45 so without receiving anything in the e-mail, again call the distribution network. In response I received: 1) the meter has been disconnected from March 4, 2019 (thus, 6 months have not elapsed). I can't say why you have "technical regulations". The only way I can help is to provide information to the technical staff so that they can contact and explain to you (really thank you, none of the previous consultants even said that they can contact the technical staff) ; 2) your contract with tet is not active; 3) we will not be able to connect electricity on Monday (well, sad at all). The only thing is that you will be contacted by a technician and you will be able to discuss the matter with him. Contract signed? No, we didn't hear! 23. 08. 2019 at 18:51 “string on the cake” - calls from the tet and explains: 1) you only had to apply for the service; 2) since you have the power turned off at the specified address, first, you had to turn to the distribution network (well, generally cool, pointing at each other with your finger!) ; 3) There was no contract with you! (yes, it seems that everything is already clear with them, writes one, but in essence everything is different). Dear tet, interestingly, so how was the contract written "approved" in the system? What about the fact that the customer service consultant also insisted that the contract be concluded immediately? And with that, how should I understand the e-mail “electricity contract has been concluded” and “as of 24. 08. 2019. Will you be an electricity customer ”? Isn't that deceiving the customer? Solutions!? 8/26/2019 At At 9:49 a. m. , Monday finally came, and I got a call from the distribution network: 1) To connect electricity you will have! You have to go through the full connection process, because the disconnection was longer than 6 months!, because the period counts from the day of termination of the contract, not from the day of disconnection of the meter! (Well, a grand answer in general - so on several occasions, various consultants deceived me by giving misleading advice, saying that it should be calculated from the day the meter was turned off. agreement) ; 2) The connection will take more than a couple of days! ; 3) You must agree with the landlord. We will clarify all other information. 8/26/2019 At At 11:16 I received a new call from the distribution network: 1) we offer to send a lease agreement, then we will be able to make a connection without approval (interesting, of course, because the agreement states that without the written permission of the landlord we can do nothing, but well, if it speeds up the process - I sent a copy of the agreement). 2) trying to explain that my lease stipulates a term for concluding an electricity supply contract and that we may lose our rental rights due to a distribution network error, I replied - the distribution network is not responsible for the terms of your contract ”(human or not? First of all, mislead problems and then ‘we do not respond’) ; 3) It should be noted that these documents were indeed sent to me by the distribution network as promised. But being 200 km behind Melbourne, it is not so easy to coordinate everything. 8/26/2019 At 14: 03 new call from the distribution network and the case will be supplemented: 1) you will have to confirm the readiness of electrical installations to receive voltage! (vou, how interesting, so do you take responsibility for what you are not sure about, or pay another master who will check which name to look for - without electricity I have already started thinking about sending a postal swan, mobile phone but no apartment to charge) ; 2) I also mentioned that in accordance with the lease agreement I cannot make any changes in the apartment and in essence I cannot confirm the readiness of electrical installations to receive voltage. 8/26/2019 At 14:27 a new call from the distribution network and the case aaaatkal will add: 1) taking into account that you cannot do “anything” in the apartment, coordination with the landlord is required (I will explain, run, send the required information, but the necessary new papers appear again and again). 2) it is very interesting to mention that in the received “confirmation” form it is written “the user submits a confirmation of the readiness of his electrical installations”. Well, how do I sign such a certificate, because I am a tenant and in my case the electrical equipment is not mine! Or, dear distribution network, do you see it for yourself - every landlord who encounters a new connection pulls in everything related to electricity again and owns their communications? Please make these documents legally correct - I do not want to sign and then be responsible for your mistakes, this problem is enough! 8/26/2019 At 15:16 call from the distribution network and we apologize for the situation, I was informed that they talked to the people in charge and they received a warning. How so? I don't consider it a staff error because some consultants misinformed me in the same way, so isn't there a problem with the system itself? The fact that I potentially have to live in an apartment without electricity for an unknown time, they also do not seem interested? You can also turn on the light on your phone. I'm not sitting on the spot, calling, trying to sort things out. On 26. 08. 2019. There is no electricity yet, I haven't collected all the papers yet. Thanks to the landlord, for now he is going to meet and try to help, but it also takes time - contact, explain, compile the document correctly, receive, check, send... Do I have to connect the "apology" of the distribution network to the meter or "live" under this apology? What to do now - cancel the contract, go to court, look for a new apartment? Unfortunately, small mistakes lead to big problems. Dear Distribution Network, where is your responsibility now?
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