I called IREA on May 18th to set up new service fo...

I called IREA on May 18th to set up new service for a home we purchased. I was told by the representative on the phone that I had a balance from 2008, I forget the total amount but it was between $40-$50. I was told I was unable to set up service until this was resolved. I paid this past due amount, despite asking for no proof of the owed bill, having never received a bill in 8 years, nothing was reported to my credit bureau, and despite the fact that I lived in another country the entire year of 2008, I still paid this bill in order to get service set up in my new home. I was told by the representative on the phone that if I set up automatic payments through my bank that IREA would waive the $325 deposit required of new service members. I set up automatic withdrawal that same day and faxed everything in as requested. I received a notification on 6/27/16 from IREA asking me to properly set up service and set up automatic withdrawal for the deposit fee of $325. When I called to inquire about this, the representative placed me on hold while they looked into my last call. He then came back to the phone and said, "My supervisor listened to the entire call you had on May 18th and determined that you were told we would waive the fee, but this is incorrect and we won't be waiving the fee because of your past due balance". I then explained that I paid the balance that I had no proof of owing, especially when I didn't even live in the United States at the time. I asked the representative why, if they had audio proof that I was told the fee would be waived, why they aren't honoring it" he said "We did make a mistake, but it's not our policy to waive the fee". I have no other option for electrical service in my home, so we are being held hostage for a down payment from this company after they've already promised to waive the fee. Now they are promising to return this deposit after 12 months of payments. But since they promised to waive this deposit in the first place and refuse to honor it, what keeps them honest when they promise they'll refund me said money in a year? I'll never see this money again. I requested to be removed from automatic payments as they clearly cannot be trusted.