My water company SUCKS..... I didn't think it was possible to suck this much

[aphex]

Not only have they not sent me a bill (neither paper bill nor e-bill) in over 6 months, but they haven't been automatically charging my card, which I have on file with them for the express purpose of paying my bill in full every month.

Their "website" has been semi-under construction for the past 8 months. I can log in once every 20 times i try and see my name, my account number, and the fact that it shows 'AUTOMATIC CREDIT CARD PAYMENT: ACTIVATED" but actually trying to view my bill crashes their system.

I just called and they are going to speak with the manager to get my late fees removed, but he wasn't sure if they could. he's gonna call me back. Gonna raise hell if they don't.

I just happened to work through my budget on Saturday and didn't recall seeing a water bill charge on my monthly bank statement. Sure enough I searched back and the last time it was paid was back in May.

But WTF? Do all water companies suck this much??

Cliffs;
1. They don't send me a bill.
2. They don't charge the credit card I have on file with them for the express purpose of paying my bill automatically (and yes, its still a valid number/exp date)
3. They want to charge me late fees. (possibly)

 

[Modular]

Mine never forgets to send a bill...

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Modular
Mine never forgets to send a bill...

Do any of them? :laugh:

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Modular
Mine never forgets to send a bill...

Do any of them? :laugh:

Well... mine does

 

[Fritzo]

I had this happen too. They actually shut off my water from being one month late. The bastards did it after I called about not getting a bill last month too (meaning they never would have done it if I hadn't called in about my missing bill and brought it to their attention).

Talk about embarrasing---I've never had a utility shut off in my life!

 

[waggy]

i have not paid a water bill in years.


then again i have a well heh.


We has osmething like this happen with garbage service. they were sopposed to bill us every 3 months ($45). well a year latter they discontinue service. When we call to find out they told us we had not paid in a year.

we were on a automatic payment. But they screwed up the system and deleted teh whole town from teh databanks (there are only maybe 30 houses in town. only half of wich used them).

we paid and switched company's.

 

[I Saw OJ]

I had the same thing happen from comcast. I was setup for autopay and for some reason they just stopped... One day I got a call from them saying I owed like 400 bucks. I was not pleased

 

[aphex]

With a natural monopoly like water, is it even possible to petition to get another company to take over? I dunno how it works, do they own the pumping station? We live about 300 miles away from where the company is based (We live in Sarasota, FL -> Company is in Miami)

 

[Kelemvor]

I think there's some legal precedent that if someone is supposed to debit you automatically and they don't, that they can only go back so far to debit you all at once. Don't remember where I heard that though so it could be a figment of my imagination.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I think there's some legal precedent that if someone is supposed to debit you automatically and they don't, that they can only go back so far to debit you all at once. Don't remember where I heard that though so it could be a figment of my imagination.

actually i think i have heard the same.

or maybe read it someplace.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Modular
Mine never forgets to send a bill...

Do any of them? :laugh:

Apparently they do!

 

[kt]

This reminds me I have to go and pay for my water bill. I don't know why is that water companies have the worst payment system of all public utility companies. My previous and current providers are the only one without automatic payment or electronic payment. I actually have to physically drive to the place or mail them the payment.

 

[dainthomas]

Since you were aware of the problem, why didn't you just go down to their office and pay the bill until the problem was resolved? Seems like less hassle than wasting time on the phone trying to get late fees removed (which they don't have to since you knew you had to pay the bill).

 

[FoBoT]

my water is company is great
i can get water from my tap, all the time

no billing problems either

 

[Sphexi]

Mine only bills me once every few months or so, since the charges are generally only $10 or something a month on average.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Since you were aware of the problem, why didn't you just go down to their office and pay the bill until the problem was resolved? Seems like less hassle than wasting time on the phone trying to get late fees removed (which they don't have to since you knew you had to pay the bill).

He was made aware on Saturday.

As for the fees. They offered a service for automatic bill payment. They screwed up their own service. And now you think they shouldn't have to reimburse the late payment fees due to their own screwup?

I could see if they were sending him a statement every month, or at least sending him something letting him now his bill wasn't getting paid. Not when they haven't sent him anything in over 6 months, and probably purposely didn't because this way they could screw him with late payment fees. I mean who else is he going to go with for water?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: aphex
With a natural monopoly like water, is it even possible to petition to get another company to take over? I dunno how it works, do they own the pumping station? We live about 300 miles away from where the company is based (We live in Sarasota, FL -> Company is in Miami)

You could always get a well.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
Since you were aware of the problem, why didn't you just go down to their office and pay the bill until the problem was resolved? Seems like less hassle than wasting time on the phone trying to get late fees removed (which they don't have to since you knew you had to pay the bill).

The office is in Miami, I live in Sarasota, about 250+ miles away.

Also, I ended up paying everything except the late fees in dispute. I've been calling for a few weeks now and the manager is always magically "not in at the moment"

 

[tfinch2]

Even though some of you have automatic bill pay for bills, you don't check your statements to see if they charged you and how much?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Even though some of you have automatic bill pay for bills, you don't check your statements to see if they charged you and how much?

Out of sight, out of mind. I never received any statements, e-mails, nada... I honestly just wasn't even thinking about 1 out of the 15 bills I pay a month.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Even though some of you have automatic bill pay for bills, you don't check your statements to see if they charged you and how much?

Out of sight, out of mind. I never received any statements, e-mails, nada... I honestly just wasn't even thinking about 1 out of the 15 bills I pay a month.

But now you will right?

 

[Xavier434]

I live in South Florida and I have never had this issue.