https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:34:56 +0000 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:20:58 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.04 360 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=8704 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=177088&title=muliaga-again#177088 Author: busymum
Subject: 8704
Posted: 11 July 2007 at 1:20pm

Yep, the family said they didn't call an ambulance because it didn't seem necessary at the time - so why should Mercury get the blame if there didn't seem to be a problem until 3 hours later? It's just not on!]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:20:58 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=177088&title=muliaga-again#177088 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=177036&title=muliaga-again#177036 Author: MyBelly
Subject: 8704
Posted: 11 July 2007 at 12:14pm

emz wrote: I feel no compassion for the 'new' information brought to light - no company can, by LAW, release information or let someone act under another's instructions unless the person who's name the account is under has given prior permission. It's as simple as that. It is NOT the power company's fault that these people couldn't understand that. And he was told that was the reason for not being able to do it. It still comes back to the fact that if she was that sick that she couldn't make a simple phone call, then she shouldn't have been at home anyway. They should've taken her to hospital.

i completely agree with you emz, i used to work in the call center for genesis and we CAN NOT give out any information to anyone else other than those listed on the account, for the privacy issue. we also had a system inplace where, if there was a medically dependant person at the home, we requested a med cert to show electricity was needed from a medical point of view, we would then go to extra measures to get in touch with them prior to disconnection.

The family waited for three hours, during that time they could have called an ambulance, asked a neighbour if she could stay at their place to use her machine just until she could call mercury.

i think the whole thing has been truely blown out of proportion, and i have to say i think all parties involved need to move on.
]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:14:41 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=177036&title=muliaga-again#177036 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=177009&title=muliaga-again#177009 Author: .Mel
Subject: 8704
Posted: 11 July 2007 at 11:33am

Yes I have and hubbie and I just looked at each other and went WTF!]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:33:11 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=177009&title=muliaga-again#177009 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=176962&title=muliaga-again#176962 Author: Guests
Subject: 8704
Posted: 11 July 2007 at 10:48am

Has anyone seen the new ads on TV with Jonah Lomu 'On behalf of the NZ electricity industry' ?]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:48:22 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=176962&title=muliaga-again#176962 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171998&title=muliaga-again#171998 Author: caraMel
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 3:15pm

I actually saw a brief interview with Mr Muliaga while I was channel surfing a few nights ago and his english was fine. You could tell he was foreign and he missed out a few words but it wasn't hard to understand what he was saying.]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:15:43 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171998&title=muliaga-again#171998 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171882&title=muliaga-again#171882 Author: fattartsrock
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 1:47pm

lizzle wrote: On the langugae note, being at a high school for six weeks, teaching English - the best girl in the class of kiwi kids was the Thai girl for whom English is a second languae - these kids can barely form full sentences and they were born in this country. will get off soap box now....

I'm with you there liz, I had actually written (but deleted ) that it's often bad enough trying to understand alot of people for whom english is a first language.

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:47:18 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171882&title=muliaga-again#171882 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171870&title=muliaga-again#171870 Author: emz
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 1:38pm

I feel no compassion for the 'new' information brought to light - no company can, by LAW, release information or let someone act under another's instructions unless the person who's name the account is under has given prior permission. It's as simple as that. It is NOT the power company's fault that these people couldn't understand that. And he was told that was the reason for not being able to do it. It still comes back to the fact that if she was that sick that she couldn't make a simple phone call, then she shouldn't have been at home anyway. They should've taken her to hospital.]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:38:44 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171870&title=muliaga-again#171870 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171775&title=muliaga-again#171775 Author: lizzle
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 11:20am

I remember my grandfather had his own business and some ludicriously expensive cell phone. anyway, he died and Nan rang to cancel it and they wouldn't let her! they said they had to speak to the account holder. nana said "well, he's dead", and they refused to cancel it and said she would be charged everyday until a death certificate was shown. she said, well if the account isn't in my name, and you won't let me cancel it, I suppose I don't have to pay it either..." they then made arrangements.

as for the not allowing people to settle with limited english skills - quite often it is the nervousness with dealing with authority, coupled with the phone (VERY hard to speak a foreign language on the phone - much harder than face-to-face) - so I think his english is probably adequate on a day-to-day basis and the circumstances made it hard to communicate. On the langugae note, being at a high school for six weeks, teaching English - the best girl in the class of kiwi kids was the Thai girl for whom English is a second languae - these kids can barely form full sentences and they were born in this country.

will get off soap box now....]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:20:30 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171775&title=muliaga-again#171775 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171691&title=muliaga-again#171691 Author: nuttymama
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 9:26am

We have some in my name and some in troy and yet again some in both, however for everything we have the other person has permission and has been authorized with the company to provide and change details etc.

It's a very valid point though Bombshell, I agree they are no different to any other company right or wrong no company allows you to change things if you are not listed. When you think about it even though he was only trying to make a payment agreement anyone can ring and say that person is in hospital.

Not something most poeple think about I'm guessing.]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:26:03 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171691&title=muliaga-again#171691 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171676&title=muliaga-again#171676 Author: Bombshell
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 8:55am

aak yourselves this...whose name is your power, phone sky etc account in???? now - what would happen if that person got sick or was in an accident....have you planned for that???

Unfortunately mercury were doing what all such companies do and cannot release info due to privacy act - to anyone other than the account holder....they were correct in doing that

theres a lesson in that...now go check out whose name your home accounts are in

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:55:22 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171676&title=muliaga-again#171676 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171673&title=muliaga-again#171673 Author: fattartsrock
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 8:53am

Which makes me (heartlessly, maybe) wonder why it is we allow people to settle here as residents with poor/little/no english skills.]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:53:21 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171673&title=muliaga-again#171673 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171648&title=muliaga-again#171648 Author: newmum
Subject: 8704
Posted: 03 July 2007 at 8:15am

It was heartbreaking to hear that poor man obviously struggling with his english trying to get the message across and then also a neighbour calling just after the power had been cut off. It sounds like they just couldn't make it clear how desperate thesituation was and a lot of it was due to lack of English skills.
]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:15:48 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171648&title=muliaga-again#171648 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171360&title=muliaga-again#171360 Author: Kels
Subject: 8704
Posted: 02 July 2007 at 8:01pm

Im with you Lizzle. Im not sure what I saw the news item on (sunday or 20/20) but it showed the husband had rung and asked to work out payments but was told sorry its not under your name. It also said that her sons tried to go to the neighbours to ring the ambos but they werent home so when back to chk mum and try another neighbours. So yes I have changed my opinion on some of what I was thinking but like Paws said I still dont think we know the full story. ]]> Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:01:21 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=171360&title=muliaga-again#171360 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=170771&title=muliaga-again#170771 Author: Paws
Subject: 8704
Posted: 01 July 2007 at 10:28pm

No becuase I'm not sure we still know all the relevant background.

]]> Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:28:00 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=170771&title=muliaga-again#170771 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=170762&title=muliaga-again#170762 Author: lizzle
Subject: 8704
Posted: 01 July 2007 at 10:11pm

I know that we talked about this previously, with some pretty strong views held on who should be accountable. I was of the view that the company, while not being particulary moral didn't have much responsibility, but that the family should have done a bit more.

Watched the news tonight to hear the report about how they DID ring the company and were basically told "tough! suck it up". am now thinking that perhaps charges should be laid against Mercury. Still think the contractor was not at fault. Yes, maybe should have shown a bit more compassion, but....who knows.
But listening to the phone conversation between this obviously desperate man, and the electricity woman who was unable to help him at all - pretty heartbreaking.

anyone else have a change of opinion?]]> Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:11:54 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8704&PID=170762&title=muliaga-again#170762