City of Atlanta - Dept of Watershed Management

We moved from Atlanta 18 months ago and paid our final water bill. A new water acct, with a different acct #, was opened by the new owners of the house. Now, 18 months later, I receive a bill in WY for $1,022, for a meter reading 2 months ago. Worried abt my credit rating for this incorrect bill, I call the Customer Service #. After listening to all the phone tree options, I choose Customer Service. Alas, their "call volume" is high and the recorded voice tells me to call back between 5pm-8pm M-F. No option to wait on hold. Undaunted, I sent an email - no answer yet.

1/7/09

I reached Customer Service. What might have happened is that the "Document" dept at the City of Atlanta - Dept of Watershed Mgt received closing settlement papers from the closing atty. Instead of entering the NEW owners as the NEW water acct customers, the Document dept might have entered MY name (and SS# !!) by mistake. I was not even the name on the previous water account - my husband was. But somehow the water dept opened an erroneous acct under MY name and SS# WITHOUT my authorization.

BTW, I did receive a reply a week later from my email to Customer Service. Basically they asked me to document my situation: final bill paid, etc. Luckily I have that info, but I resent having to solve a problem that they created.

Comment On This

1/28/09

More than 4 weeks after I informed the Atlanta Dept of Watershed Management of the incorrect billing, I have received no explanation from them. However, I HAVE received a 2nd billing. It seems like my problem fell into a black hole. From the MISSION STATEMENT of the Dept:

"Deliver excellent customer service."

From the VALUES STATEMENT of the Dept:

"We take responsibility for our actions and operate in an open and transparent manner." Actions, however, speak louder than words....