Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Minnesota

Can a public utility collect against previously-owned property?

I recently sold my house and moved. The city utility

company took a final meter reading and I gave them my

new address to send the final bill. A week later, I

received a phone call from the people who bought my

house. They had received a letter from the city utility

stating how much I owed. It stated that the bill needed

to be paid before a certain date or the amount would be

''assessed to the property.'' Naturally, they called me

and were dismayed that they might have a bill

assessed to their property that wasn't theirs.

The next day, I received the same letter. I have since

paid the bill (that was never a question). I wonder,

though, is it legal for the city to assess a utility bill to a

property that the billee no longer owns? Also, isn't it a

breach of privacy for the utility company to intentionally

send strangers (the new owners) my bill?

1 Answer from Attorneys

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