Webster Electric Cooperative Common practice return of LARGE deposit promised--now told "we don't do that anymore" Marshfield, Missouri

I had been fighting for disability for nearly three years and was recently approved.  I had everything but lost it all due to my disability.  Needless to say, my credit was shot but was and am hopeful to get my affairs in order.

I was not surprised when I had to leave a large (250.00) deposit for electric when I was finally able to procure a "home" of my own again and opened an account with Webster Electric Coop.  When I opened the account, Ms. Loralei Blackstock assured me that my deposit would be returned after one year of "on time" payments.

I did not get this in writing as this is a common practice....I have several deposits coming to me next year some time.

I received a bill in the mail even before my first payment was due.  It was for $10 and it showed "PAST DUE".  How can I have a past due bill when I haven't rec'd or even paid a first bill?

I took the bill in for explanation.  I was told it was for the "hook up"......this is the first unexplained charge.  I ASKED SPECIFICALLY....."because this says "past due" will I have a problem getting my deposit back?"  Again, I was assured this would have no affect on that.

Time to pay first bill...I read the meter, calculated the watts, and paid the amount due exactly from the chart that was sent to me....ON TIME.  A few days later I receive "correction notice" saying that I still owe $2.00.

Again, I go to the office.  Evidently, it's a charge for not having service for the whole month of August.......WHAT?!?!  OK, fine.  PAY.  But, again, I ask' "Will this be a problem getting my deposit back?"    THIS TIME....the girl says, "We don't return deposits anymore."    Again......"WHAT?!?!"

It seems the only way to get a deposit back from Webster Electric Coop is if you move out of their service area or DIE.  Can this be right?  Can it be legal?  I'd be willing to bet my next check that my deposit (as well as others) are not sitting in some shoe box in a back office.  It's my guess it has to be in a bank account, no doubt an interest bearing one, so, can they really hold my money indefinitely?

My concern is not so much with the $10 or $2, although an explanation of those charges should have been on the bill and/or explained BEFORE I got the bill, when I opened the account in the first place.  My concern is with the TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS....I don't know about you, but $250.00 is an awful lot of money to me.

I certainly can't be the only person in Webster County with this concern.