Haunting Me...

So after nearly 14 months of moving out of my apartment in Berlin, guess what I receive? A bill for 330 euros for payment for water and electricity costs!!

In Germany I think it's pretty standard to pay a certain "flat rate" electricity and water bill each month, roughly calculated based on what appliances you have, how many people live there, etc. Then at the end of the year, the respective utility companies come check the your gauges for the actual amount you've used for the year. You either get charged for using more than that estimated amount, or get reimbursed if you've used less.

But 14 months later? Are the Germans really that insane? And slow?? Not that I'm surprised, but come on - even they must know it's excessive. To make matters even worse, if I do a wire transfer to Germany with this money, it will be exorbitantly higher than 330 euros. With the exchange rate as terrible as it is, it will come to almost $476. Plus, add another $50 to that with the international wiring charge from my bank. That means giving $526 of my very hard earned cash to a stupid apartment agency who thinks they can charge a former tenant who has moved to America over a year ago. Is that right??

Unfortunately, it seems, under German law, it is legal. I moved out on August 31, 2006. Apparently from the December after I moved out to this December, they are allowed to charge me. I also knew there was a possibility of being charged, but hello, I was present when the meter guy came to read the meter right before I moved out. It could be that he really did read it and let it sit for 14 months, or it's also possible they have added costs on from the guy who moved in after me.

So I'm facing a moral dilemma. I don't want to lie, but I would love to just to just ignore it and not pay it at all. I didn't even receive the bill personally. I was forced to give the apartment agency a German contact address since I was leaving the country, so I gave them Matthias' address, so he's the one who received the bill. He's being gracious enough to help take care of this, and it is tempting to have him call them and say he doesn't know where I live anymore. But I certainly don't want them to go after Matthias for the money if they don't get it from me! Like I said, I really don't want to lie (and possibly run the risk of getting arrested the next time I try to fly to Germany!). But, I also know how easy it is for businesses to take advantage of people by demanding unreasonable or inaccurate payments and many people just give in and pay it because it's just easier than fighting it. So the companies win and even though they were dishonest in the first place.

Believe me, I know this based on personal experience since this happened to me for a whole year with the leading German telephone company, Deutsche Telekom. I kept getting charged around 5.50 euros (around $7.75) a month for an Internet security package I did not have or want. So not only did I waste time and money on the phone with Deutsche Telekom (around $2 per minute for "customer service" calls), I also went into the Deutsche Telekom store every month and asked that the charge be removed and that I be reimbursed since they took the payment directly out of my bank account. Each time I talked to them, they reassured me it had been changed permanently in the system, but in actuality, it never was removed. So I, the poor college student, was helping to make it possible for top Telekom execs to live in greater luxury through the dishonest way they ran their company!

I will probably just pay the dumb utility bill, plus all the extra money with the wire transfer and exchange rate. I mean, I could just trust that it is legitimate, just annoyingly slow. It's just so depressing to think a huge chunk of my next paycheck will be going towards this when I'm struggling to get ahead as it is! How appropriate that it's almost Halloween and I'm being haunted by a utility bill ghost! Any suggestions on what I do?

New Set of Wheels

Well, I did it. I bought my very first car. It's a used ( '95 to be exact) Ford Contour but it seems to run fine and despite the scratches, a few minor dents, and broken cup holders, it's not half bad. And, it's mine!

I actually wasn't really in the market for a new car. I had been happily using my mom's little Ford Focus since I've been home. Actually, when I first started working in Sioux City I would regularly ride into work with my dad, who also commutes to around Sioux City. But now with my current job where I work 8-5 instead of 8:30-4:30, it doesn't work as well with his teacher schedule; he would end up waiting for me over an hour each night. So, instead he's been dropping off and picking up my mom from work and I got her car to use.

Well, I guess enough was enough and they decided it was time for me to have my own mode of transportation. The stipulations were that it had to run and be affordable enough for me to pay cash for it since I can't add a monthly car payment to my loan repayments. Also, I really didn't want it to be ugly. My dad proceeded to research some cars online, and after spotting a possibility, we headed to the used car dealership on Monday. After a little negotiating by my dad, I wrote the check and drove my new car home, with bank account feeling more than a little depleted. I will still need to find a solution for my morning coffee mug since cup holders are non-existent, and I also need to have a general inspection to make I'm not driving a time bomb on wheels, but so far I'm happy with my new car.

After my big purchase, I was understandably more than a little irked yesterday as I prepared to get out of my car at the Wal-Mart parking lot. Reaching over to grab my purse from the passenger seat, I noticed a young girl in a sporty car pull into the parking spot next to me. As she flung her car door open and jumped out, I watched the wind whip her car door right into the side of my car. She paused to look at the potential damage on both our vehicles but then hurried off towards the store, with not so much as a look in my direction.

I sat in my car, puzzled, not knowing if I should chase after her or wait and to see if there was any damage. I got out and looked. Sure enough, there was a white paint smudge from her car and the gleam of a fresh dent. I scratched away some of the paint residue and was left with a smaller, but nonetheless noticeable, speck. Uncertain how to react in such a situation, I debated whether or not to leave a note. I didn't know if it was worth making an issue over. So despite being bothered by her rude, indifferent attitude towards the situation, I resisted.

I came back out to the parking lot a little later and drove off to do another errand. I left reluctantly, still feeling frustrated that this rude girl would think she could just get away with turning a blind eye to the situation, even if it had been an accident. Reaching my dad on my cell phone, he suggested at least getting her license plate number.

So on my way back past Wal-Mart, pride for my new little car directed me back into the still-empty spot next to the sports car, which was still there. I scribbled out a short note, letting the girl know I had seen her hit my car and walk away and that I had written down her license number, should I need it. I finished off by suggesting she be more careful next time. A zinger it was not, but I didn't want to be mean, just firm....scare her a little by knowing I could do something. I'm sure I will never pursue fixing the little dent - it's not the first dent on the car and I'm sure it won't be the last one, especially after daily parking in the parking ramp downtown - but it all goes back to the principle. I just felt better knowing the little brat knows she got caught!