Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sineface]

So. The burglary thread prompted this, that and my extortionately high lekkie bill. Basically, if you think someone is skimming your electricity, how do you find out? Also, is it really that common, and is it even possible in a brand new (kind of swanky) apartment complex? I'm kind of puzzled because our bill is consistently much higher than anyone else we know, when both my husband and I are out at work for the majority of the day, leave nothing running, use lights only in the rooms we're in, leave nothing on standby (literally, nothing) but keep getting fucked every bill we get. On our floor, just by the lift, there are three electricity meters, and ours is always about double what every other one is. It's the same on most floors (I've checked). Our building is FULL of famillies with mothers and kids home all day, grandparents living with them, running tvs, cooking, having lights on, playing video games all day, but still the electricity is way lower than ours. We're not entirely sure wtf is going on. Any thoughts?

[spliff]

Waygooks are expected to pay more than Koreans. You're probably paying the electricity for the common hall lighting and the lift as well. The landlord probably told the electric co. to just tack it in w/ your bill. I'd contact the electric co. and ask them if this is the case. Also, ask them why your electricity bill is double all others. Has to be a reason.

[Hanson]

We suspected someone in our building has been ripping off our electricity, so we cut the breakers on our apartment and checked the meter downstairs. The spin-wheel was still spinning quite quickly, so we called the electric company.

They looked into it, and as it turns out, the hallway lights were being tacked on to our bill. Our villa buiilding was recently sold, and the new owners did something screwy (we suspect). We talked to the new owner and they basically said "oops, sorry" and will wave our maintenance fees for a few months to make up for it.

I'd like to think it was an honest mistake, but I doubt it.

Be vigilent with your bills, people.

[spliff]

They would have had to tack the wiring into your circuit so it was most certainly not a mistake. That cutting the circuit breakers is a good idea for testing...gonna try it today at my place. Not a problem I'm sure as my bills aren't very high and I use a lot of electricity.

[sineface]

I'm going to try switching off the circuit breaker. In theory, if that's off, it should stop the meter completely, right? It's entirely possible that it was done when the building was made, as we signed the lease before the building was fully completed, and they were still doing work on the neighbouring apartments. Sucks.

[Hanson]

My conscience won't let me take credit for the circuit breaker idea - that was all my wife's doing. I married her for more than just her good looks!!!

Hope it helps.

[spliff]

Don't forget to turn on as much common power as you can to test...hallway lights, common washer etc.