# Refusing Service **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898 "2014-05-07T17:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/1 "2014-05-07T17:30:11Z")
I just cancelled my private trash pick up at my old house. They said their policy is charge for a whole month at a time, so I could not cancel until the end of the month. I told them my policy is to not pay companies who force unwanted service on customers. How much trouble am I going to get in for refusing to pay for service I didn’t want to receive? In North Carolina if it matters. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/2 "2014-05-07T17:32:55Z")
Did you already pay for May? ---
**Author:** ![crono35](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@crono35](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crono35)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/3 "2014-05-07T17:50:56Z")
Is there anything in a signed contract that says anything about it? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/4 "2014-05-07T17:56:41Z")
Did you pay for the service monthly? If so you probably have to pay for a whole month. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/5 "2014-05-07T17:56:43Z")
The worst thing that cam happen is they take you to court, win a judgement against you, force you to pay their attorney’s fees, and ruin your credit. Just pay it. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/6 "2014-05-07T18:16:24Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > The worst thing that cam happen is they take you to court, win a judgement against you, force you to pay their attorney’s fees, and ruin your credit. Just pay it. On the one hand, this. OTOH, that’s pretty much what they’re counting on, so if you have the resources to fight this solely on principle, I say go for it. But we all know you’re not going to do that, so just pay it. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/7 "2014-05-07T18:29:45Z")
Or it goes on yor credit report which future utility companies check and then deny you service or require a PITA cosign. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/8 "2014-05-07T18:50:50Z")
Legal advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/9 "2014-05-07T19:15:57Z")
You sign a contract when agreeing to a business service. When you sign the contract you agree to abide by its terms. The fact that you’re confused about what terms you agreed to means to me you didn’t read it fully before signing, which is a very stupid idea. Go read your contract. If it does not list their rules for cancellation you have a case to fight it legally. However, only a really shitty business would not lay out all the rules in their contract so I doubt that will be happening. I’m assuming that what they are telling you is all laid out in the contract as well, in which case pay the money you contractually owe them or you will get a black mark on your credit. ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/10 "2014-05-07T19:31:17Z")
Another voice in the “just pay it” chorus. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/11 "2014-05-07T20:05:04Z")
If waste management is run by the mob in North Carolina, you should get a visit from a customer service representative who’ll help you work out a payment plan. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/12 "2014-05-07T20:14:17Z")
They will probably report you to the credit bureaus then sell your debt to a collection agency who will bug you for the rest of your life. Costs them very little. They can do that whatever the contract says. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/13 "2014-05-07T21:47:32Z")
Well, I never signed a contract, and their was no verbal contract laying out their own policies. Even they never said I had signed a contract, just that it was their policy to charge you for a service even if you cancel and no longer receive that service. I just find it annoying that such petty theft is protected by law, but I do not have the resources to fight it and I definitely dont have the resources to pay legal fees. Sorry for missing apostrophes, my key doesnt work. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/14 "2014-05-07T23:46:00Z")
Did they tell you back in the beginning that the charge would be $x **per month**? If they meant $x/30 per day then they probably would have told you that. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/15 "2014-05-07T23:49:16Z")
You have two choices. 1\> Pay it. 2\> Don’t pay it, and watch them send it to collections, damage your credit rating and ultimately get their money out of you. Which sounds more reasonable to you? ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/16 "2014-05-07T23:57:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If waste management is run by the mob in North Carolina, you should get a visit from a customer service representative who’ll help you work out a payment plan. The Cabuzo Brothers and their “Customer Specialist” Johnny Salami. OP…just allow them to take the trash until the end of the month and move on with your life. This isn’t a matter that needs to go any farther than it has. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/17 "2014-05-08T00:01:48Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > You have two choices. > > 1\> Pay it. > 2\> Don’t pay it, and watch them send it to collections, damage your credit rating and ultimately get their money out of you. > > Which sounds more reasonable to you? Bullshit. More like 1\> Pay it. 2\> Don’t pay it, and laugh as they send it to collections, who gives up after a week, and gets wiped from your credit history after a 2-minute, online protest. They ultimately get nothing out of you, and you sleep the sleep of the just. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/18 "2014-05-08T00:19:19Z")
What does a month of garbage collection set you back, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/19 "2014-05-08T01:12:36Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > What does a month of garbage collection set you back, anyway? I’d guess about $15-20. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898/20 "2014-05-08T01:25:45Z")
I would pay and move on with my life. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refusing-service/687898.md?page=2)