Legal Question in Consumer Law in Florida

service provider billing
I am a home owner who receives a number of monthly services: utilities (phone, electricity, gas, etc), insurance, community services, etc. All of these providers bill me via an electronice fund transfer(EFT) which enables the provider to withdraw charges directly from my checking account. It is the provider's responsibility to access this process. It is the homeowner's responsibility to monitor his checking account statements to assure that he is not being overcharged or charged by someone who is not authorized to be using the EFT process.
I have now been notified by a provider that they have not been paid for services provided and have have offered two options: (1) make a lump sum back charges payment of $2,000.00 or continue the service at a rate to twice the regular fee until the back charges have been paid.
I don't believe that I should be held responsible for the fact that a provider has not been conducting its business properly. I have offered them a third option: cancel the service.
Do I have any LEGAL obligation to pay the back charges which this provider is requesting?

Asked on 10/23/08, 10:18 am

Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

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0 attorneys agreed

Re: service provider billing

No -- if you received the service, you can't avoid paying for it.

Answered on 10/25/08, 7:08 pm

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