PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 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\u2019ll have to pay $1,200 to do it, so he messaged On Your Side for help.<\/p>\n
Richard Stewart said his little county island feels like living in the country. \u201cI love it,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cYou know, it\u2019s a county island. We don\u2019t have any services, so we don\u2019t have city trash. We don\u2019t have sewer. It\u2019s a septic tank. And we have to contract our own trash service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three years ago, Stewart contracted with a trash company called Republic Services. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s nearly a 270% increase in just three years. \u201cWhat they\u2019re increasing it to you, just can\u2019t justify it,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Every time Stewart takes his trash out, he says he can\u2019t help but think about his constantly increasing bill. He also wonders why he\u2019s locked into a contract, but the monthly amount he pays isn\u2019t locked in. \u201cThey can increase it as much as they want. They don\u2019t have to tell you how much it\u2019s going to be and that\u2019s what I found out. And it\u2019s a lot,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n
On Your Side got a hold of Republic Services. We wanted to know why their rates spiked so dramatically, why they\u2019re allowed to increase rates during a contract and if they would release Stewart from his contract.<\/p>\n
Republic Services responded with a short explanation.<\/p>\n
\nInitial contract pricing is often discounted to attract new business, and as the contract progresses, prices are adjusted to more closely reflect the cost of service. Pricing is determined based on operating cost, inflation, regulatory changes and other market factors.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Stewart says that\u2019s rubbish and completely unfair to customers. <\/p>\n
But there is good news. Following On Your Side\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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