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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
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    2

    Default Water Utility Claims They Forgot to Bill Me for 19 Months

    My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: North Carolina

    I have been a resident of the town of Clayton, located in Johnston County, North Carolina for the last 5 years (60 months). In that time I have never made a late payment on my water & sewer bill. The water & sewer bill is paid directly to the town of Clayton.

    I received a phone call from them last week and they told me that for the last 19 months, although I had been paying my bill on time; they didn't come by and read my water meter and I was only being charged a flat connection fee ($40.00). They said they they thought that nobody lived at my address, yet they picked up my trash and sent me my bill at that address every month.

    Long story short, now they tell my that I owe them $465.00 for the passed 19 months that they 'forgot' to read the meter. They intend to charge me late fees until this amount is paid. They turned off my water yesterday, I had to call them and beg to get it turned back on. Finally, they want me to sign a payment agreement document stating that I will pay my regular bill plus an additional $75 p/month over 6 months!. Late fees are being assessed until the amount is paid, if I am late once they will disconnect my service and they will not reconnect it until the total amount is paid in full.

    What should I do? Am I liable for all of this? Should I agree to these terms and sign?

    Thanks in Advance!

    Bill

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Water Utility Claims They Forgot to Bill Me for 19 Months

    The fact that they didn't fully bill you for sewer and water services does not mean that you did not use those services or incur additional charges. I'm not sure what you're asking - if it's whether you owe the money, yes, you owe the money. If it's whether you can convince them to allow you to pay in installments or waive late fees, that's something you need to work out with them. Presumably they're only proposing to charge late fees from this point (the point at which they caught the error and billed you) forward, correct?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    3,666

    Default Re: Water Utility Claims They Forgot to Bill Me for 19 Months

    This happened to me, but with the electric and gas company.

    They hadn't come to my house in over a year so the meter man would do an estimate of the meter reading every month. After a year they must have got a new guy on the route because my bill came in for $1,100 and stated that it was an actual bill and not an estimate.

    I used the service, so I had to pay the bill, all 1100 of it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    13

    Default Re: Water Utility Claims They Forgot to Bill Me for 19 Months

    Actually I would like to know ---WHY--- when companies make a mistake like this and it is their business to do the job right,( they sure get paid enough, ) why does it turn out to be our fault. When professional people do not do their job, take the cash from them and not the home owner who did nothing wrong. I have found here in Michigan that utility companies can tell any lie they want and jump our bill a hundred dollars. The gas company did that to me and when I found the error and called they said oh my we must have read it wrong. (sitting in a truck with binoculars, right) and it was off over one hundred dollars. They did fix the problem when I offered to contact elder abuse lawyers.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Water Utility Claims They Forgot to Bill Me for 19 Months

    What does "fault" have to do with anything? You order services, you get services, you pay for services. Most people realize when they're not being billed, and life isn't a Monopoly game with "bank error in your favor" cards - you can expect, eventually, to get the bill.

    Had you paid a bill predicated upon an erroneous meter reading, you would have ended up with a credit or correction following the next meter reading. People aren't perfect. Mistakes happen.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    13

    Default Re: Water Utility Claims They Forgot to Bill Me for 19 Months

    Professional people GET PAID TO DO A JOB CORRECTLY and that person said she was paying 40 dollars a month plus the company didn't bother to come read the meter. Of course she owes money but let the fault be the company not the home owner. She will pay but don't blame her for this "mistake" Let it be known that Utility companies are lying and cheating in a big way these days and are getting away with stealing money from many of us. Many elderly people or very busy younger people do not take the time to read their bills to see a huge jump in the amount owed or electric used or same with water. People need to get in the habit of checking and comparing monthly bills. My opinion today is she should pay the bill asap.

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