Open Letter to Dominion East Ohio Gas.

This is my open letter to Dominion Gas. Hello, my name is Kevin Rutan at 843 Carroll St, Akron OH 44305. I would just like to state that I am very dissatisfied with the level of service I have received from your company. I have been a customer for years, I have been a good customer. I have never bounced a check and never had my gas shut off. This February, I had a heart attack. Due to that, I fell behind on some bills, yours included. When I finally got back on my feet, I was anxious to get everyone paid back. In doing so, I cut the bank account to close, when an unexpected yearly subscription hit my account, it caused a rolling overdraft system putting me in the hole $300 and bouncing back payment on 4 different bills. Your bill is the first one I am trying to rectify. Today I got paid. After I got conformation that the check was in the bank, I called in trying to make a payment plan. I was informed that due to the fact that I bounced a check for $105 they could not do anything for me till I paid the $105. You never credited me the $105 but you did ban me from using my checking account for a year, and charged me a $12 Returned check fee. I understand that, although I wish you could be a little more understanding in my case, you guys are not UNICEF, so I shouldn't expect much. What I don't understand is your inability to work with me. First of all, the $105 payment requirement. This is unjust. I am a person in need of help, who has never need a payment plan or help before. I am a med-long time customer with no gaps in service (aside from my move to wadsworth for a year). All I needed was to make a good will payment today of $75 (Which your agents on the phone couldn't handle) and pay the rest of the past due amount on monday the 4th. She said I had to pay it in full by the 1st after paying the $75 today + $4 processing fee. she would have to transfer me, I would need my account information, and then I would have to call back and let them know I made a payment. Otherwise they are going to shut off my gas. I don't even really need gas, I need it for heat in the winter and hot water and clothes drying. At this point, I am going to start looking at alternative heating methods for my home. Not that I am unwilling to pay, just unable this week. I guess my point is. I thought my loyal service meant something, I guess it doesn't, and I am a little hurt by that. You know, the deregulation was supposed to give us options, it doesn't. I still have to pay you even if I think your company is shit, that is an awesome free market system we have here in the US.