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.

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City of Atlanta Watershed is quite incompetent. I reported a sewer leak in May of 2011, and they closed the ticket the same day. I found that out this year when sewage was still leaking. Unfortunately, I live on the Dekalb County & City of Fulton County line. I'm stuck in too poorly ran municipalities. Neither could fiqure out if my sewer line was in Dekalb or City of Atlanta.

To make a long story short the Mayor's office contact I spoke with and the diretor of City of Atlanta watershed were of very little help the day I had my plumber out replaceing my sewer line. My line connected to the street under the sidewalk, and sure enough that's where the problem was. Mayor contact and watershed director said they would send someone out the following day and they would report their findings to them. In the meantime my yard and part of my neighbors is dug up. My plumbers were great, and they found a way to make it work. No crew came out today. Called City of Atl contacts and he told me they came out last night. Are you kidding me? In the dark? He told me they have lights and work 24/7. Are you kidding me again? My guys were out there until 7pm and had to come back the next day to finish spreading the dirt back. The only time I see City of Atl crews out late is if it's a gusher or someone's complained and has a TV camera in their faces.

I never understood some of the incompetent leadership in City of Atl government until now. Stories of exhorbitant water bills and city of Atl said people had leaks. It was discovered that the contractor they subbed to replace the water meters put them in backwards. Did City of Atl get their money back? No wonder why most major businesses are settling far north and south of Atlanta. No wonder why small communities want to break off and start their own city goverment. I don't blame them a bit.

I can't say much about Dekalb county either; $1.5 million accounting error. That's for another place and time.

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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....