Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Arkansas
Can my name be put on a utility bill without my consent?
From May 27 to June 20, 2004, I rented a house that was for sale. The owner had the property listed with a realtor. The owner and I had a verbal agreement, the water bill had to remain in the owner's name due to the rules of the suburban improvement district. The water utility billed every quarter. Since I was in and out in less than one month, I asked the owner to let me know when she received the quarterly bill and I would pay one-third. In late July the property owner contacted me, asking for $62.85, what she stated was my portion of the water bill. I paid her.
In mid September, I received a call from the house owner. She informed me that the water bill in her, as yet, unsold house was extra high. She asked me why I didn't have the water shut off.
I responded that I wasn't the account holder, I didn't have the authority to shut off the water. In my experience with selling property in Oklahoma, it is a contractual obligation of the property owner to keep the utilities on. I explained that to the property owner.
Oct 9, I received a water bill for the 3rd qtr for this property. It shows my name & address on the bill, I never authorized this. Prev bal totalfor 2nd qtr was $62.85. I am unsure how to handle this.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Can my name be put on a utility bill without my consent?
You need to contact the water company first and get your name off the account. Then ask them how they got your name on there to begin with. Tell them you never authorized it. Hopefully, that will take care of it. If not, you may have to try to work it out with the owner. If all else fails, you may need to take legal action.
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