Time to Trump Waste Management

Yeah, it's entirely my fault that the garbage wasn't picked up by Waste Management this morning at our house. I hadn't pay the bill, and they had left me automated messages on the phone. I'd been meaning to call them back to pay. I had lost the previous bill, and just received the new one this week, but instead of mailing in a check, I wanted to take care of the payment and firing them in the same call.

It turns out that would take two separate calls, so I paid by phone, and will call them later to do my best Donald Trump. What happened was that back in early June, my father went to the Maple Grove Waste Management facilities to dump some old concrete blocks. He walked around the building to get some service, but no one responded to his door knocks (or however you're supposed to get them...I don't know if it's a drive-up window or what) and the place appeared vacant. So he started dumping the blocks, when of course, out pops a woman who rudely tells him he can't do that without paying.

He explained that he tried to get some help but no one answered. Then, upon learning from the woman how much it would cost, he decided he would just take the blocks back out of the dumpster and dispose of them elsewhere. So he took the blocks out and drove away, end of story.

Or not. The City of Maple Grove Police Department sent me a letter stating someone driving my vehicle (I traded the car with my dad some time ago) was reported "dumping block material without paying to do so." By the description of the guy, they knew it was not me, but that unless I could identify him, I'm on the hook for the $33.83 in fees. I don't know whether the woman called the police before talking with my dad, but even if she had, she should have cleared it up with them once he explained himself and left.

I gave the letter to my dad and he apparently took care of it, and fired Waste Management as his trash collection service of choice, as I vowed to do. I figure today is as good a day as any, since they finally decided to not take my trash after me not paying for a while.

I am not a rude caller in such conflicts. In fact, I rather enjoy "killing them with kindness," so I look forward to telling them why I will be taking my business elsewhere. I have many choices...too many choices, in fact, for even this capitalist. Our neighborhood roads get beaten down with the several trucks that wake me up every Friday morning. I wouldn't mind a little socialism in the waste collection business - or a private monopoly - just to free our streets a little.

One choice I will not be going with is BP. They laid off my father-in-law a few years back, with a crappy pension and severance. Right now I'm leaning towards LSI, a local company (Lakeville).

Whomever I hire, I promise to pay them on time, unless they call the cops on my dad.