I Can't Understand My Electricity Bill

The other day I received my electricity bill. It was $587.70. Here is a breakdown of the bill:
Energy Charge: $297.70
Delivery: $89.12
Regulatory Charges: $$22.37
Debt Retirement: $21.82
Global Adjustment: $125.39
Global Adjustment Recovery: $6.18
Interest Charge on Overdue Amount: $15.56
Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (-10%): -$63.57
HST: $73.13
______________________________________
Total: $587.70

I will be honest, the only charges I understand are the Energy Charge (the cost of my actual energy use), Interest Charge on Overdue Amount (interest accrued on my previous balance outstanding) and H.S.T.(Harmonized Sales Tax).

I have no clue what the rest of my bill means. It's all gibbirish. When I call Veridian for an explanation of what these terms are, they direct me to the back of my bill (which only shows the definition of Delivery, Debt Retirement and Regulatory Charges. Global Adjustment is nowhere to be found - surprise, surprise!! All these charges that my electricity company is charging me is called one thing - profit. Nobody, not the electricity company, not my MPP or my MP can explain why my bill is double the energy use.

I am sick and tired of having to shell out money to large, monopolistic companies, who make their billions in profits off mine and everybody else's hardwork. Are you kidding me? Double my energy charge...when is the money enough? The worst part about this, is that this and many other companies have the Government's blessing to steal from consumers. As an individual, if I was to attempt this type of theft, I would be arrested, labelled a thief and a fraudster and sent to jail. But as a corporation, it's ok. Wrong very wrong!!!

Cashiers and coupons

I've realized why many people are "embarrassed" to use coupons. I mean, who would, with all the attitude you get from some cashiers. I am an avid coupon user, but I don't want to be judged by my "financial savvy". The amount of  roll of the eyes, the huffing and puffing and even a few smirks I've received from cashiers, is enough to make me slap a person.

Sometimes, it's not even the cashier, it's the shopper behind me in line. I can tell because I can hear and see the shifting of the feet and the looking around. I'm sorry, am I taking too long with my transaction? Whatever, kiss my a** and find another line if I'm taking too long. You of all people should be supporting this, not trying to make me feel uncomfortable. 

As for the cashier, don't treat my coupon use like it's food stamps or a welfare cheque. I'm not buying a yacht with the $0.75 I saved on soy milk. However, to save a little bit of money does help in other aspects of life. So next time, I am in line with my coupons, smile, take them and keep your attitude to yourself.


Happy Shopping!!

Free Huggies Rewards Code

All codes expire Dec.31/11.

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Happy Shopping!!

The Lazy Consumer

I just watched an episode of Extreme Couponing. It's the TLC show about what people will do to save money by using coupons. As I watched the show, it got me thinking about my couponing habits and the habits of Canadians in general. Of course, in many stores across the country, we can't double-up and triple-up on coupons, like our US counterparts, but the clever consumer will utilize strategies to get the most bang for their buck. We, as consumers, should demand more from our stores. We should be demanding they be more flexible with their policies. But, as Canadians, we will complain and never do anything about it. We are just lazy consumers.

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

About FCAC

Who we are

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is an independent body working to protect and inform consumers of financial services.
We were established in 2001 by the federal government to strengthen oversight of consumer issues and expand consumer education in the financial sector.

What we do

As a federal regulatory agency, FCAC is responsible for:

• ensuring that federally regulated financial institutions comply with federal consumer protection laws and regulations;
• monitoring financial institutions' compliance with voluntary codes of conduct and their own public commitments;
• informing consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with financial institutions; and
• providing timely and objective information and tools to help consumers understand, and shop around for, a variety of financial products and services.

FCAC Website

Shopping with your rewards points

AirMiles

I just finished doing some online shopping...for gift cards and gift certificates. I enjoy collecting points, because I like knowing my loyalty yields rewards. I just got a $50 gift card from Home Hardware through my CapitalOne Mastercard, and with my AirMiles, I picked up a $25 gift card for Cara foods, a $20 gift certificate for Metro and a $20 gift certificate for Shell.

CapitalOne

Not to mention, the $10 taken off my purchases (a couple days ago) through the Optimum Program at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum

I can't wait for them to arrive. It pays to be a Consumer.

Happy Shopping!!

McDonald's® 2 Can Dine Coupons

McDonald's.ca

McDonald's® recently issued their coupon book of 2 For 1 deals and Buy 1 Get One Free. The deals are pretty good, and would be even better, if McDonald's got their accounting right.

One of the coupons offered is 2 Can Dine For $8.98. Anyone who has taken simple mathematics in school knows that at this price of $8.98, in Ontario with 13% tax equals $10.15 (actually, $10.1474). I received a complaint from a friend that when she had presented this coupon, McDonald's® overcharged her by $0.20. When she tried to bring it to the attention of the cashier and then the manager, they were both rude and unapologetic. The problem here is not the money (although, overcharging customers by a mere $0.20, will add up to a lot over a short period of time.) The problem was the level of customer service she had received from the employees. They did not appear to be knowledgeable and when the error was brought to their attention in a very professional manner, they became rude and belligerent.

McDonald's®, if you are going to have this type of promotion, ensure all your locations are aware of the correct pricing as to not have this type of confusion in the future. In addition, if a discrepancy does occur, your employees (especially those who have the title "manager") should conduct themselves and handle the situation in a professional manner so as to not leave the customer angry and disgruntled.

McDonald's complaints and feedback


Unhappy Shopping!!