Anyone else have to pay for Fire/Ambulance Dept

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/08/2010 08:37:34 AM · #1

OMG I am so in shock, I bought a house blah blah and just got a letter saying that I am not covered for Fire or Emergency coverage.

I have to pay $400 a year in case I have a fire at the house, I have never heard of this before, anyone else have to pay this>>????

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/08/2010 08:50:55 AM · #2

Do you HAVE to pay it, or is it a donation?

Where we are, we have a fully volunteer fire & ambulance. They send out fund raising letters all the time, to join the "Ambulance Club". Basically, if you send the donation, any ambulance calls you make are free. Otherwise, they bill you or your health insurance company. I don't know what happens with a fire call. Luckily, I've never had to make one of them.

The drawback though, is when you local ambulance isn't available. My sister sent her donation to her local department and when she needed an ambulance, that department didn't have one available, so they sent one from the next town over. She got a bill. I don't know whether she ever got it resolved. i never asked her.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/08/2010 09:20:27 AM · #3

No I have to pay for it, it is a Fire Service Agreement.

Oh well, just gotta suck it up if I want a responder. Which of course would be rather good if the house caught fire!!! lol

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/08/2010 09:22:07 AM · #4

We pay for fire and EMT fees through our personal property taxes and sales tax. Someone has to pay them to save your butt or house when needed.

Matt

PhotoDave

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

01/08/2010 09:49:29 AM · #5

We are also like Matt but Im not sure about fire or police but there is a $550 per ride in the Ambulances. Well thats what it was 6 years ago when they had to rush the wife to the hospital when my son was born...

snaffles

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

01/08/2010 09:49:32 AM · #6

Maybe it's because you live in such a dry state? I imagine wood would get pretty close to being tinder before too long, esp in Arizona.

When I bought my house, I had to figure out how far I am from the Fire Department. And when I shared a house with a paramed some years ago, learned that calling them out anyway for false reasons would cost you about $400+, whereas if you called them out for legit reasons the cost would be about $80.

KarenNfld

01/08/2010 10:01:48 AM · #7

Do you pay municipal taxes? Are you a part of a town or city? Around here it's included in our city taxes. But if you live in a town that is not incorporated you may have to pay those types of fees to a nearby town for their services. That's for fire services, ambulance falls under health care and is totally different.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/08/2010 11:23:31 AM · #8

well this is what it states in the letter

The taxes you pay for you property at kjralrapr aolal aha do not provide fire department services. as the property owner you are responsible for establishing fire department services with Rural metro and paying for service on an annual basis.

So even though I pay the city taxes etc, I still have to pay for Fire Service.

Now, I thought (which seems to be wrong) that if I pay taxes to the city/state/goverment blah blah, that I get service. It would seem I am wrong!!!!

Doh, edited to add in fine print::: This agreement does not include ambulance.

Geeshhh

Message edited by author 2010-01-08 11:24:44.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/08/2010 11:32:43 AM · #9

Just a note, if you live the Ambulance district where I live, you pay a yearly tax on property taxes. If you don't live in the taxed area and call for an ambulance. A 15 mile ride to the hospital will cost you $600.

Matt

CoreyFitz

Nikon D3000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

01/08/2010 11:33:40 AM · #10

Originally posted by JulietNN:

What the hell do we pay taxes for? My understanding is we pay the government to provide services to us. If we have to start paying for individual services then the question is why are they taking a lump sum out of our checks? I would be pretty angry paying that bill.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

01/08/2010 11:34:54 AM · #11

It is because Rural Metro is a private, not public, fire department. A number of years ago they went around the country and convinced some cities that they could provide emergency services cheaper and the city was able to shead the costs of the fire department. States like Arizona were some of the worst and bought into the idea. Most areas of the country the fire department is a basic public service supported by a portion of your property taxes or is an all volunteer service that use a combination of donations and taxes.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/08/2010 11:50:44 AM · #12

Well ouch and double ouch. What you are saying makes sense jb. It really sucks, next thing you will now is that the police will charge to come out to your house

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/08/2010 11:55:41 AM · #13

Originally posted by JulietNN:

Well ouch and double ouch. What you are saying makes sense jb. It really sucks, next thing you will now is that the police will charge to come out to your house

They already do, its in your taxes. :D

Matt

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

01/08/2010 12:09:15 PM · #14

I'm on both the local fire department and ambulance services. Ours is run by the town and the cost for the fire department and basic cost of the upkeep of the ambulances are included in taxes. However, if you call for an ambulance we also charge you regular fees (as allowed by medicare). But only if we transport you. If you don't go anywhere in the ambulance we don't charge you.

As stated earlier..if you have a privately owned fire/ambulance service they may have extra charges that a municipal service doesn't.

The only time we charge for our fire department is if it's a hiker rescue that is deemed to be totally the hikers fault for not being prepared for what they got themselves into. I.E: hiking up Mt Washington in shorts and sneakers when a blizzard sets in and traps them. They were not properly prepared and we charge them the full cost of the rescue (which can get REALLY expensive).

I don't know where exactly you are, but by the sounds of it you've got a privately run service. You could choose not to pay it, but I'm not sure if they'd respond to your house or not if you had an emergency.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/08/2010 12:12:04 PM · #15

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by JulietNN:
Well ouch and double ouch. What you are saying makes sense jb. It really sucks, next thing you will now is that the police will charge to come out to your house

They already do, its in your taxes. :D

Matt

DOH!!! But it feels like it is free. Sod it, if I am paying I should call them more often!

delin

Canon EOS-40D

01/08/2010 12:12:37 PM · #16

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

This is exactly the case. I've been a Union firefighter for 18 years, the International Union fights Rural Metro tooth and nail. Rural Metro goes in, tells the local jurisdiction they can save them a couple bucks. They hire people for less than half the wages and pocket the rest for profit. So instead of someone making a living at an honorable profession they struggle by at not much more than minimun wage. And the business takes all the money for "administration". The town saves a few percent and people get crap service and bills for more money.

Bottom line is you pay one way or another, be it property tax or higher insurance rates because of the rating of the fire service provided (ISO rating). If you don't pay Rural Ripoff your homeowners insurance may be invalid and they would deny a claim.

I pay $120 a year on my property tax for full time professional Union EMS and fire protection, and it probably lowers my homeowners insurance that much.

Arizona is known as Rural Metro's biggest base, sorry for your situation.

tate

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

01/08/2010 12:17:14 PM · #17

I can't believe this thread didn't become very political! Where's all the people calling for Socialism !!! :D â�¦ Sorry, just feeling chatty.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

01/08/2010 12:18:05 PM · #18

Thanks guys for your insight,

I gotta say, it was a shock to get it. I didn't even know this happened. It also explains a few things about Rural Metro and why they having such big fights right now here, the things you learn from DPC. It just sucks when you are all ready paying 2 grand for property taxes, then 3 grand for HOA and then piddly bills like this come along and it all adds up to bigger bills.

I guess it is just one of those things that you have to pay whether you like it or not, like property taxs and HOA fees. urggggg

edited to add, in fact ALL bills suck

Message edited by author 2010-01-08 12:19:16.

PhotoDave

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

01/08/2010 12:26:38 PM · #19

Originally posted by JulietNN:

edited to add, in fact ALL bills suck

yea that pretty much sums it up :(

RayEthier

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

01/08/2010 01:20:41 PM · #20

Originally posted by dknourek:

Originally posted by JulietNN:
edited to add, in fact ALL bills suck

yea that pretty much sums it up :(

Actually, I am rather selective as to ascribing a value to bills.

Those that I have no control over and seemingly have no redeemable values do indeed fall into the "SUCK" category, whereas those that I incurred whilst travelling to exotic places or enjoying the finer things in life don't.

Ray

PhotoDave

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

01/08/2010 01:26:04 PM · #21

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Originally posted by dknourek:

Originally posted by JulietNN:
edited to add, in fact ALL bills suck

yea that pretty much sums it up :(

Actually, I am rather selective as to ascribing a value to bills.

Those that I have no control over and seemingly have no redeemable values do indeed fall into the "SUCK" category, whereas those that I incurred whilst travelling to exotic places or enjoying the finer things in life don't.

Ray

I kinda see your point but I soooooo wish flights were cheeper to said exotic places

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

01/08/2010 01:36:26 PM · #22

I just had an ambulance ride yesterday, and I had to sign a sheet first saying that I understand that either me or my insurance will be paying for it.

but $3000 to a HOA?! Are you talking about a home owners association? Why in the world is it that high?! and perhaps that might cover the fire aspect. After all, it is in the home owners associations best interest to have their houses covered.

kiwinick

Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

01/08/2010 02:01:36 PM · #23

here we pay a fire sevice levy on the insurance premiums for the house. The ambulance is run by St Johns, and you pay $45.00nz for them, you can join St John @ $45pa and the sevice is free.