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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
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    florida
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    Default Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

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

    I recently had a misread on my water bill, at least that's what they told me. The bill was $49.00. Paid. No problem. Then the next month the bill was $200. Ok, we called, they came back out, and reread, said the bill the month before was not read correctly. Ok, no biggie. Paid that one. No problem. Then this months bill is $465. Big prob. I checked the meter, it was not spinning, so no leak. I filled up a gallon jug, seems to be accurate. Ok, I did remember increasing the sprinkler system time some, but not that much. Sprinkler system time was increased approx 20%. My water bill is normally around $100.

    So, I called customer service. The lady was real nice. Says that they were out to reread, they checked for leaks and there were none. I said ok, well I guess I have to pay it, but can we pay payments until we get caught up. She transferred me to the accounting dept. I left a message.

    OK, here is the deal. The account is in my wife's grandfathers name, who is deceased. The lady from accounting called me back, but would not talk to me because my name is not on the account. I have been paying the bill for 8 years now, never late, etc... I have excellent credit. She had to ask management and said she would call me back. Calls back, says that they cannot work out a payment plan, I own that $465, plus any current usage. PLUS, I have to come in and put the account in my name , and put down a deposit of $125 (I think that was the amount, smoke was coming out of my ears at this point). Can they get away with this. I have a 2 year old and obviously need water, but I can almost get a well dug for this much. Should I get some legal representation? Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

    You have your past and present water bills. You have access to your water meter. Either the numbers match up or they don't - check and see. If the numbers match up and there are no leaks outside of your house, you (somehow) used the water - check, e.g., for running toilets. No joke, I once had a silent leak in a toilet that cost me $300 in a single month.

    They certainly can close an account that's in the name of a deceased person, and can make you put the account into your own name to continue service. They can require a deposit from a new customer - and as the account wasn't previously in your name, you are a new customer.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

    Yes, the numbers do match, I have checked for leaks, and there are none that I can determine. The sprinklers are not leaking, they were checked also.

    So even if the account is not legally in my name they can make me pay this from a legal standpoint? I mean the customer service lady was nice, and she basically said that they set up payment plans often, but since the account is not in my name, they are forcing me to pay all at once, plus more on top. It just seems extremely aggressive to me.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

    You used the water and admit as much, so yes, they could make you pay. More realistically, they'll decline to open a new account and continue water service unless the arrearage is paid.

    I would have been very surprised if they had a mechanism for you to make payments on a plan that's in somebody else's name, or to somehow transfer that balance over to a new account and allow for payments on it. Absent an existing mechanism, the chances of getting a utilities bureaucracy to fashion a special remedy for a single customer hover between slim and none. (I'm not defending bureaucracies; I'm simply observing how they work.)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    florida
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    4

    Default Re: Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

    Ok, thanks for your help very much. My only hope is that my father-in-law has or had power of attorney. I know he had one over his mother who is also deceased. I know she (acounting rep) asked me if I had power of attorney. If my father in law has power of attorney with his mother who was married to the account holder will this help me any? Assuming they would make arrangements with him, and then I pay him back. Otherwise, I'm sunk.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    98,846

    Default Re: Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

    Any power of attorney that he may have granted during his lifetime was extinguished by his death. Also, even assuming the estate wasn't probated many years ago, water bills incurred eight years after-the-fact aren't obligations of his estate.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Huge Water Bill, Not in My Name

    Ok, thanks again, looks like I'm stuck. The fustrating thing is they had no problem taking my checks for 8 years, now suddenly the are no good at least as far as payment plan.

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