Without having read the book, the utility story is common in my area or at least it was. The adults run up the bills and can’t pay. Electric or gas is shut off. New account established in child’s name to regain service. No one is telling the utility that it’s a 12 y.o. Very different than trying to get a cable promo.
How many of you know that gas & electric cannot be shut off for nonpayment between 11/1 and 4/1 but promptly will be 4/1? I do. Heating your home is several hundreds of dollars a month here in the Northeast and it gets overwhelming. More people have the savvy to access services now but growing up, there was less available and people didn’t know how to navigate what was there. Not everyone used to have a phone which makes a big difference. Internet too helps.