Drama at the start of the week.
“This sort of thing ONLY happens to you lor….” -SC
I was about to log off for a nap two days ago, when I was unceremoniously cut off from the internet. At the same time, the radio went silent and the fan stopped oscillating. The drama began.
1.01pm: SMS “Wah biang. No electricity! Ok ok, I’m very sleepy. Cya after my nap. Por bee the power comes back soon. Very warm man.”
1.05pm: Hears renovation works two floors below me. Ok, it can’t be that the whole block is out of power.
1.06pm: Climbs onto a very unstable chair to check the circuit breaker. Everything’s good wor.
1.08pm: SMS F. “Google the town council’s number for me pls. I don’t know what’s wrong!”
1.10pm: F replies with the town council hotline and some other emergency number.
1.11pm: Town council staff confirms that there isn’t any scheduled maintenance. She sends an electrician over.
1.12pm: Looks at the circuit breaker again and happens to see a letter slipped under the door.
1.12pm: My What The …! probably registered 10 decibels louder than the drilling downstairs. Singapore Power cut my electricity because of outstanding bills! Huh?!
1.13pm: Calls SP and is told an amount of $641.12 (over 6 months) is outstanding. I have to pay up immediately to have the power restored the next working day.
What?!
Yes, I pay the bills at home. But I’m not the owner of the place, so the envelopes aren’t addressed to me. I pay up only when told to do so. Anyway, the last utility bill I saw was dated Sep. It certainly wasn’t a pink letter with a stark warning that my power would be cut! I remember logging on to pay via internet banking a few weeks ago. I wasn’t sure about the sum though- could I have only paid the amount of the current month stated at the bottom of the bill and missed the outstanding amount printed on top? I couldn’t check my account because I didn’t have an internet connection!
Anyway, it didn’t matter at that moment to pinpoint exactly what went wrong along the way. Although I was shocked by the actions of Singapore Power, the truth remained that I owed them money. The only thing to do was to pay up.
I was extremely frustrated and sleepy. And I certainly wasn’t about to drive down to their premises, as suggested on that letter, to admit that my power supply was cut because of a meagre sum of $641.12 and endure dirty looks while paying and begging them to restore my electricity at their earliest convenience. The next option was to pay online and call them again with the transaction number. Either way, I would have to wait till the next day before my fan started to spin again.
And so…
1.25pm: Calls SC. “Help! Call your hotel contacts for me please. Book me a room somewhere. I have no electricity at home till tomorrow! I’m not going to roleplay Survivor in my flat!”
1.27pm: Tells the town council that the assistance of the electrician won’t be required.
1.33pm: The extremely amused yet very efficient SC calls with three offers that comes with corporate discounts. “Huh? You don’t know Ritz Carlton people ah? Oh, you do? Huh? It’s much more expensive than these three ah? Ok lor, I’ll take Sheraton please. King bed. Thanks.”
1.43pm: Ready to leave the house in a fresh top. The laptop and basic toiletries are hastily chucked into the bag. “I’m going to be alone in the room anyway, so a change of clothes isn’t necessary. Change into a bathrobe and wear the same top to work the next day!”
1.47pm: Defends my escape plans to people who accuses me of being a lunatic. “Everyone is at work. Who is going to open their door for me?! And I need to sleep like NOW NOW NOW. I slept for 3 hours last night and I’m going to bite people if I don’t get any sleep soon.”
2.05pm: Arrives at the top floor of Sheraton Towers and logs on to the internet immediately to pay the bill. Gets distracted by online messages, “You’re safely there! Yeah!”.
2.25pm: Pays the miserable $641.12 and informs Singapore Power.
2.26pm: Almost causes Sheraton to lose one star with my verbal outburst. “What do you mean you are going to restore my power at 6pm today?! The letter your guy slipped under my door after sneakily cutting off the mains stated NEXT WORKING DAY. And the guy I spoke to an hour ago said NEXT WORKING DAY too!” Which part of 6pm sounds like NEXT WORKING DAY to you?! If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t be in this hotel room!
No. I didn’t actually say that. How could I fault their apparent efficiency.
I was speechless. And totally defeated.
Why! Why! Why!!!
Fish and chips delivered after my nap.
9.06pm: Downloads Giro form from Singapore Power website.
… … … …
Possibly Related posts:
- Seriously, I need less drama in my life.
- “Missed it by that much…”
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- Sawadeekrup!
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October 15th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
wow.. ur life damn drama man..
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
songbo. lol “One night in Newton… 我留下许多清… 以为我的账没付, 我家就没有电… One night in Sheraton…”
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
wah… power (pun intended)
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
haha only rich ppl like u are allowed to do this kind of “i am hot” stun!
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
2 & a half hour…..can have so many happenings,
really drama man!!
P/S: of course the SP say the next working day so
u gan chok sure will faster pay mah!
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
this is definitely an awful experience
poor you!
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
u really nd less drama in ur life ~
btw, the new 密碼 ad on radio, the last part that ask weibin not to call in agn
is u or jiafa eh ?
my frend all say is u, but i think is jiafa ~
ha, mind tell me the answer =)
[Reply]
Cruz's reply:
October 15th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
not jf…
[Reply]
capri's reply:
October 15th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
ah… i oso tot it’s jf…
at 1st heard sounds like u… but subsequent, sounds like jf…
[Reply]
Michie's reply:
October 16th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I like that commercial…so cute and can hear is u at the end!
[Reply]
lynn;'s reply:
October 16th, 2008 at 10:04 am
not jf, so its u ?
hmmms, but sound not like u lehs
[Reply]
jason's reply:
October 16th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
is cruz lah… where got sound like jf.
[Reply]
Snowman's reply:
October 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Definitely is Cruz!!
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
hahax.. lucky u nv go down to SP otherwise u will b on d paper d next day!! =x
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Haha really really drama. So how much you had to pay for that hotel stayed? Must be a bomb right???
[Reply]
Cruz's reply:
October 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
heavily discounted.. haa
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
HAHAHAHA.
seriously, i agree with the line “This sort of thing ONLY happens to you lor…”!!!
im not gloating over your predicament but it is honestly quite funny.
didnt know such things actually happen.
are you gonna scold the person who owns the place? xD
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Drama.
You can pen down a script for TV show liao.
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
so happenin..somemore stay in hotel too.
think u pay b4 3pm that why they able to connect by 6pm..
[Reply]
October 15th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
lol… so drama… din expect a power cut coz u din pay bills will happen…
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 12:53 am
they just need to flip a switch only. but only can do at 6pm? i think they “just follow law”. Do paper work 1st.
Bills department ack receipt, then send reconnection form to customer service.
Customer service ack the form then despatch job to technical team.
By the time the form reach a technican to flip the switch, maybe around 6pm liao.
LOL.
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 1:29 am
haha so tml morning will die die listen to ur 933 becos u will tell e whole world wat happen to cruz again…
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 2:21 am
600 plus dollars… Meaning its like how many mth bill not paid…
no wonder kana cut off….
dramatic sia
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Eh…u such a busy man so I think GIRO is really a thing tat works for u hor!!
Heng u got $$$! If not, how to becos of this stay hotel? Sheraton some more leh! LOL!
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 9:27 am
U r the ultimate winner! woohoo… haha..
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 9:47 am
wow… drama mama…
you also have very gd resources! can get any lobang anywhere anytime anyhow~
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Heh..sometimes we need this type of ‘happening’ to make our life more happening!
Cheerz!
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 11:49 am
remember to continue to make the payment via internet banking …. (till the GIRO is being approved)
if not ……. …….
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Drama man .. A sleepy man is an angry man ..
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Wabiang! U make my day.
Bad mood after work but read abt your day, so funnie
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
huh.. Your W&E bills only $650++ over 6 months? cheap liao.. Mine is 180 every month lor…
[Reply]
October 16th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
woah!
relax relax!
anyway, first time hearing SP cut electricity cos nv pay bill!
haha. =x=x=x
[Reply]
October 17th, 2008 at 12:08 am
wa lau eh y u so gao xiao
so power! ahaha
[Reply]
October 17th, 2008 at 9:56 am
you very diao3!
jia you! All the best!
[Reply]
October 17th, 2008 at 10:42 am
never pay bill for 6mths, what do u expect? of course cut off your electricity! so don’t blame S’pore Power for cutting off ur supplies
[Reply]
Cruz's reply:
October 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Which part of these 2 sentences do u not comprehend?
>>Although I was shocked by the actions of Singapore Power, the truth remained that I owed them money. The only thing to do was to pay up.
[Reply]
October 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am
is your whole life a drama like that? if so i think u can write a book out of those thingy…… some more can earn $$$…. Write Song b4 le… so now can write book!!!!
[Reply]
October 21st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
so drama lei….. maybe SP knew they cut Cruz’s power, so did a fast reinstatement lor..
[Reply]
October 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
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