PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A homeowner in the north part of the Valley says his garbage service has increased dramatically during the past three years, but if he wants to cancel, he’ll have to pay $1,200 to do it, so he messaged On Your Side for help.
Richard Stewart said his little county island feels like living in the country. “I love it,” Stewart said. “You know, it’s a county island. We don’t have any services, so we don’t have city trash. We don’t have sewer. It’s a septic tank. And we have to contract our own trash service.”
Three years ago, Stewart contracted with a trash company called Republic Services.
For around $76 a month, Stewart used this garbage bin and Republic Services picked up his trash weekly. But Stewart started seeing his bill increase on a routine basis. $76 soon turned into $130 and then $163 and it currently sits at $202.
That’s nearly a 270% increase in just three years. “What they’re increasing it to you, just can’t justify it,” Stewart said.
Stewart contacted Republic Services to cancel his trash services, but he tells On Your Side that the company told him he was automatically renewed recently into another three-year contract. And if he wanted out, he would have to pony up around $1,200.
Every time Stewart takes his trash out, he says he can’t help but think about his constantly increasing bill. He also wonders why he’s locked into a contract, but the monthly amount he pays isn’t locked in. “They can increase it as much as they want. They don’t have to tell you how much it’s going to be and that’s what I found out. And it’s a lot,” Stewart said.
On Your Side got a hold of Republic Services. We wanted to know why their rates spiked so dramatically, why they’re allowed to increase rates during a contract and if they would release Stewart from his contract.
Republic Services responded with a short explanation.
Stewart says that’s rubbish and completely unfair to customers.
But there is good news. Following On Your Side’s involvement, Stewart says Republic Services has agreed to reduce his monthly trash bill to $119 a month. He says it only happened with the help of On Your Side.
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