CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Approximately 15 Clinton Township residents say they received mistaken delinquent water bills.
Larry Wilkes says he pays his bills on time, so he was surprised when he received his water bill in January. It stated that he was delinquent and had to pay a 10 percent late fee.
"I was shocked because I've never had a delinquent bill from anybody and I knew there was a problem, so then I went to my neighbor and she found out that she also had one delinquent," Wilkes said.
Wilkes called the Columbus Department of Public Utilities to find out what happened and was told he never paid his December bill. But, Wilkes said he never received one.
He said he knows of up to 20 of his neighbors who've had the same experience.
Public Utilities spokesperson Laura Young Mohr said the department isn't sure what happened, but is willing to give residents the benefit of the doubt.
"We have been giving them the benefit of the doubt because we've seen a pattern. Something apparently did happen. We don't know what it was. We've been waiving the penalties and we have not been doing any shut offs," Mohr said.
She said the residents need to call the department at 614-645-8270 and explain the situation. The department is willing to waive late fees for those who call.
It is currently a busy time of month for the department's call center, with people receiving government checks in early January, but there are 50 employees on staff to answer questions from the public and help them with their concerns.
Mohr reminded residents that they can also pay their bills online at the following: http://utilities.columbus.gov/BillPayment.htm.
Mohr said there are also discounts available for those with low income and senior citizens.
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