Could it have gotten worse... oh yes it did

I requested utility hook up for the house online last night and received an email back late this afternoon - telling me I need to pay a $535 security deposit! I am pretty flippin' mad about that. I had utilities in the last house with no problems and now I have to pay this. I didn't even have to pay a deposit last time and it was my FIRST hookup!!

I'm lucky that we can pay it. What would people do if they were slapped with this at the last minute and didn't have spare cash to throw at the utilities company?

Thievin' bastards.