Utility Bills

I´ve just been discusssing the billing systems of the utility companies with my spanish colleague. We seem to disagree on a point. I am labouring under the ill conceived idea that bills should come regularly and with prior notice before my account is debited. But apparently it is my duty to chase bills that don't arrive and inform the companies when they don't charge me! I have in the last three years been cut off from water, natural gas, electricity and the telephone for not paying bills which were never sent or received by either me nor my bank. But as always it appears to be my fault as "atencion al cliente" is only a theoretical concept which really means "sod the customer, let him try buying the service from elsewhere as we have a monopoly". Tomorrow I must go to the water company and ask if I can pay them please!

I was thinking of writing a list of large companies in Spain that provide a good service and don't exploit their monopoly powers - anyone got an old fag packet!