"An openly hostile relationship" -- how consumers are treated by major corporations

[hatrack]

47. Fuck Republic Services with the red-hot cock of Satan!

Last edited Sun May 24, 2026, 10:38 PM - Edit history (1)

They were our trash service, near a fairly small city, but about a mile beyond city limits, so no municipal provider. Over the past 3 to 4 years, prices just went up and up and up - from around $75 to $80 per quarterly billing to more than $160. And it wasn't like we were a major industrial account - just a single home, and we might actually fill our one trash cart once a year for our once-weekly pickup (limited to one cart, of course).l

Finally, enough. Called to cancel in late December, and got another bill in January. So, what was that about? To find out, I'd have to hear repeatedly that my call was very important to them, and they were looking forward to providing excellent customer service.

About an hour later, I reached a human being, who informed me that the $65-odd "bonus dollars" on my January bill was the "Cart Retrieval Fee". That is, walking down the driveway and wheeling the cart back to the truck was a $65 drain on company resources. And I'm still getting voicemails and bills for a service I canceled at the end of last year.

The only consolation has been going online and learning just how much Republic is despised by their past and current local customers.