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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    2

    Default Service Charges on Apartment Utility Billing

    Denver, CO

    My apt. building owned and managed by Carmel Partners, selected NW&P as the billing company who issues our monthly billings for water, sewer and gas charges. The billing is based on the RUBS(Ratio Utiility Billing System).
    1. My monthly water portion increased more than double from the past 6 months of living here ie. $12.70 for July billing and previously 5.22, 4.30, 4.01, 3.87, 4.05, 3.99. This seems very wrong. I am the only one living here. Nothing has changed since I moved in.
    2. Sounds like a small problem but I am tired of being hit with one fee after another. On my billing from this billing company (who in essence is really doing the work of what my apt. owner should be doing- billing the residents for their utilities) is a $5.00 service charge. This will appear monthly. This fee, according to the billing company, covers the cost of answering our billing questions to them. Say what? I am paying a fee for their work when they were hired by the owner? This makes no sense. I am paying for the cost they are charging the owner to do their billing. I am refusing to pay this and received a letter telling me if I do not pay the $5.00 by Sept.15, I will be charged a $50.00 late fee. In my lease, the only time they can charge a $50.00 late fee is on rent. This has nothing to do with rent. I pay my rent on time and before time each month. I have never been a problem for them. I just do not want to give them an extra $60.00 a year and not even to my owner but the company they hired to do their work?
    Thank you for your help.
    I appreciate any answer/help you can give me.
    secondmamma

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

    Default Re: Service charges on Utility Billing at Apt.

    There are lots of reasons a bill can go up. Look at the bills - did the rate go up? Did your water consumption go up? If it's water consumption, it could be that the seal in your toilet leaks - that can cause a significant increase in water consumption, but most people don't notice the leak until their bill jumps.

    As for late fees, your late fee for paying utility bills late is normally a separate issue from your late fees for paying your rent late.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Service charges on Utility Billing at Apt.

    I have never seen the total water bill here at the apartment building. We, tenants are not privy to it. This is a service charge this billing company is charging us tenants in addition to the amounts we pay each month in water, sewer and gas utiltities. Our apartment building owner hired the billing company to calculate what each of us tenants owe using the RUB formula for calculating each tenants portion of water, sewer and gasoline. WE are sent a bill from them with said portions and also bill us $5.00 as a service charge lumped on to us tenants to do so. In effect we are paying for the cost of what the billing company is charging the apartment owner to do their work. Plus, when I refused to pay the service charge (which they told us would be billed each month to us) I was given a statement telling me if I did not pay the $5.00 by Sept. 15 I would be charged a $50.00 late fee. I read my lease, it states a $50.00 late fee can be assessed on rent not on utilities. I gladly pay my rent and utility payments each month on time and before it is due usually. I live quietly and alone respecting other tenants and make no trouble for anyone.

    Nothing changed here. I am the sole tenant here. No extra water was used. Plus the management here has never explained what the gas portion of the utility billing represents as everything in my apt. is run electrically including all the appliances.
    Yes, they know I will pay the $5.00 because I will not want to sue them over such a small amount but to also charge me a usurious amount as a late charge is ridiculous at best.
    Since management changed here, services have suffered. As an example of the incompetence here, I told them my refrigerator needed repair as it leaks water inside and drips to the third shelf which then fills up the vegie bin and then onto the kitchen floor each time you open the refrigerator door. (this has gone on for months now) I get a notice on my door yesterday, the apartment repairman came to look at it and said I had too much food so he couldn't look at it nor repair it. This is the type of effort here. Unbelievable.
    Yes, I plan on moving out when my lease is up but feel quite frustrated and angry over feeling I have to do so to keep my sanity.
    Thank you for your help.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Service charges on Utility Billing at Apt.

    My landlord has suddenly decided to start charging for water using a combination of sub-metering and RUBS, so I've been doing some research on the subject. For instance, in California, the PUC has made it unlawful to charge a service fee, which the landlord is attempting to do. I recommend checking with the Colorado PUC, Department of Consumer Affairs and doing an internet seach on this topic. Also, you can call the water utility company to verify rate increases.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Service charges on Utility Billing at Apt.

    > in California, the PUC has made it unlawful to charge a service fee

    Can you post your source for this information? My landlord suddenly
    started charging for water, and my first bill includes a service fee
    and a new account fee.

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