Things I learned about my credit score - Ripple Effects

Okay, this is driving me nuts.

We're in the process of buying a house in Ashburn, Virginia. Keep in mind we lived in Ashburn during our last shore tour in the DC area, so we have "history" with the local utilities. Now, if you ask me, I would characterize it as GOOD history because we had 2 years and 9 months of paying our bill on time every month. However (comma), remember from the previous post that the big BLEMISH on my credit history is the fact that Dominion Power sent our final bill for a whopping $70 to a collection agency when we the bill took a while catching up to us on our PCS move to Hawaii.

Our realtor asked me to go ahead and call the utility companies and set up the services at the house in our name starting on our closing date.

Phone call #1...

I called Dominion Power to set up the service at our new house. They ask for my social security number. I give it to them. Dominion Power proceeds to inform me that because of my "history" with them, they want a

$450

security deposit to set up a new account under my name. You WHAT?!?!?! After TWO YEARS and NINE MONTHS of paying our bill on time every month, just because we were late in paying our final bill for a measley $70 while in transit to Hawaii, you want me to pay SIX TIMES as much as that one delinquent payment???

Phone call #2...

I called Washington Gas. They asked for my social security number. I gave it to them. The Washington Gas customer service representative on the phone proceeded to inform me that because of my "credit history" that he did not have sufficient authority to establish my new account and that I would have to talk to a supervisor. Um... okay... Then, he tells me that the supervisor will call me back.

...They never called.

Eventually, I got it all worked out. I spoke with a supervisor at Dominion and although a supervisor at Washington Gas never called me back, a supervisor reviewed the application and approved my new account. Still, it's just the fact that I have to jump through these extra hoops that's frustrating me.

THE POINT:

Don't let this happen to you! Save yourself the hassle! Be proactive, seek out your final amount due on your utility bills when you transfer and pay them.